[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
seeing you, dear Adeline; and he will wish to congratulate Newland."
The double doors had solemnly reopened and between them appeared Mr. Henry van der Luyden, tall, spare
and frock-coated, with faded fair hair, a straight nose like his wife's and the same look of frozen gentleness in
eyes that were merely pale grey instead of pale blue.
Mr. van der Luyden greeted Mrs. Archer with cousinly affability, proffered to Newland low-voiced
congratulations couched in the same language as his wife's, and seated himself in one of the brocade
armchairs with the simplicity of a reigning sovereign.
"I had just finished reading the Times," he said, laying his long finger-tips together. "In town my mornings
are so much occupied that I find it more convenient to read the newspapers after luncheon."
"Ah, there's a great deal to be said for that plan-- indeed I think my uncle Egmont used to say he found it less
agitating not to read the morning papers till after dinner," said Mrs. Archer responsively.
"Yes: my good father abhorred hurry. But now we live in a constant rush," said Mr. van der Luyden in
measured tones, looking with pleasant deliberation about the large shrouded room which to Archer was so
complete an image of its owners.
"But I hope you HAD finished your reading, Henry?" his wife interposed.
"Quite--quite," he reassured her.
"Then I should like Adeline to tell you--"
Information about Project Gutenberg 26
"Oh, it's really Newland's story," said his mother smiling; and proceeded to rehearse once more the monstrous
tale of the affront inflicted on Mrs. Lovell Mingott.
"Of course," she ended, "Augusta Welland and Mary Mingott both felt that, especially in view of Newland's
engagement, you and Henry OUGHT TO KNOW."
"Ah--" said Mr. van der Luyden, drawing a deep breath.
There was a silence during which the tick of the monumental ormolu clock on the white marble mantelpiece
grew as loud as the boom of a minute-gun. Archer contemplated with awe the two slender faded figures,
seated side by side in a kind of viceregal rigidity, mouthpieces of some remote ancestral authority which fate
compelled them to wield, when they would so much rather have lived in simplicity and seclusion, digging
invisible weeds out of the perfect lawns of Skuytercliff, and playing Patience together in the evenings.
Mr. van der Luyden was the first to speak.
"You really think this is due to some--some intentional interference of Lawrence Lefferts's?" he enquired,
turning to Archer.
"I'm certain of it, sir. Larry has been going it rather harder than usual lately--if cousin Louisa won't mind my
mentioning it--having rather a stiff affair with the postmaster's wife in their village, or some one of that sort;
and whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins to suspect anything, and he's afraid of trouble, he gets up a fuss
of this kind, to show how awfully moral he is, and talks at the top of his voice about the impertinence of
inviting his wife to meet people he doesn't wish her to know. He's simply using Madame Olenska as a
lightning-rod; I've seen him try the same thing often before."
"The LEFFERTSES!--" said Mrs. van der Luyden.
"The LEFFERTSES!--" echoed Mrs. Archer. "What would uncle Egmont have said of Lawrence Lefferts's
pronouncing on anybody's social position? It shows what Society has come to."
"We'll hope it has not quite come to that," said Mr. van der Luyden firmly.
"Ah, if only you and Louisa went out more!" sighed Mrs. Archer.
But instantly she became aware of her mistake. The van der Luydens were morbidly sensitive to any criticism
of their secluded existence. They were the arbiters of fashion, the Court of last Appeal, and they knew it, and
bowed to their fate. But being shy and retiring persons, with no natural inclination for their part, they lived as
much as possible in the sylvan solitude of Skuytercliff, and when they came to town, declined all invitations
on the plea of Mrs. van der Luyden's health.
Newland Archer came to his mother's rescue. "Everybody in New York knows what you and cousin Louisa
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]