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quest of cordials with the female domestic who had arrived in
response to the bell and in whom Jasper's appeal aroused no visible
intelligence。
She remained away some time and I talked with her son； who was
sociable but desultory and kept moving over the place； always with
his fan； as if he were properly impatient。 Sometimes he seated
himself an instant on the window…sill； and then I made him out in
fact thoroughly good…lookinga fine brown clean young athlete。 He
failed to tell me on what special contingency his decision depended；
he only alluded familiarly to an expected telegram； and I saw he was
probably fond at no time of the trouble of explanations。 His
mother's absence was a sign that when it might be a question of
gratifying him she had grown used to spare no pains； and I fancied
her rummaging in some close storeroom； among old preserve…pots； while
the dull maid…servant held the candle awry。 I don't know whether
this same vision was in his own eyes； at all events it didn't prevent
his saying suddenly； as he looked at his watch； that I must excuse
himhe should have to go back to the club。 He would return in half
an houror in less。 He walked away and I sat there alone；
conscious； on the dark dismantled simplified scene； in the deep
silence that rests on American towns during the hot seasonthere was
now and then a far cry or a plash in the water； and at intervals the
tinkle of the bells of the horse…cars on the long bridge； slow in the
suffocating nightof the strange influence； half…sweet； half…sad；
that abides in houses uninhabited or about to become so； in places
muffled and bereaved； where the unheeded sofas and patient belittered
tables seem （like the disconcerted dogs； to whom everything is alike
sinister） to recognise the eve of a journey。
After a while I heard the sound of voices； of steps； the rustle of
dresses； and I looked round； supposing these things to denote the
return of Mrs。 Nettlepoint and her handmaiden with the refection
prepared for her son。 What I saw however was two other female forms；
visitors apparently just admitted； and now ushered into the room。
They were not announcedthe servant turned her back on them and
rambled off to our hostess。 They advanced in a wavering tentative
unintroduced waypartly； I could see； because the place was dark and
partly because their visit was in its nature experimental； a flight
of imagination or a stretch of confidence。 One of the ladies was
stout and the other slim； and I made sure in a moment that one was
talkative and the other reserved。 It was further to be discerned
that one was elderly and the other young； as well as that the fact of
their unlikeness didn't prevent their being mother and daughter。
Mrs。 Nettlepoint reappeared in a very few minutes； but the interval
had sufficed to establish a communicationreally copious for the
occasionbetween the strangers and the unknown gentleman whom they
found in possession； hat and stick in hand。 This was not my doing
for what had I to go upon？and still less was it the doing of the
younger and the more indifferent； or less courageous； lady。 She
spoke but oncewhen her companion informed me that she was going out
to Europe the next day to be married。 Then she protested 〃Oh
mother！〃 in a tone that struck me in the darkness as doubly odd；
exciting my curiosity to see her face。
It had taken the elder woman but a moment to come to that； and to
various other things； after I had explained that I myself was waiting
for Mrs。 Nettlepoint； who would doubtless soon come back。
〃Well； she won't know meI guess she hasn't ever heard much about
me；〃 the good lady said； 〃but I've come from Mrs。 Allen and I guess
that will make it all right。 I presume you know Mrs。 Allen？〃
I was unacquainted with this influential personage； but I assented
vaguely to the proposition。 Mrs。 Allen's emissary was good…humoured
and familiar； but rather appealing than insistent （she remarked that
if her friend HAD found time to come in the afternoonshe had so
much to do； being just up for the day； that she couldn't be sureit
would be all right）； and somehow even before she mentioned Merrimac
Avenue （they had come all the way from there） my imagination had
associated her with that indefinite social limbo known to the
properly…constituted Boston mind as the South Enda nebulous region
which condenses here and there into a pretty face； in which the
daughters are an 〃improvement〃 on the mothers and are sometimes
acquainted with gentlemen more gloriously domiciled； gentlemen whose
wives and sisters are in turn not acquainted with them。
When at last Mrs。 Nettlepoint came in； accompanied by candles and by
a tray laden with glasses of coloured fluid which emitted a cool
tinkling； I was in a position to officiate as master of the
ceremonies； to introduce Mrs。 Mavis and Miss Grace Mavis； to
represent that Mrs。 Allen had recommended themnay； had urged them
just to come that way； informally and without fear； Mrs。 Allen who
had been prevented only by the pressure of occupations so
characteristic of her （especially when up from Mattapoisett for a few
hours' desperate shopping） from herself calling in the course of the
day to explain who they were and what was the favour they had to ask
of her benevolent friend。 Good…natured women understand each other
even when so divided as to sit residentially above and below the
salt； as who should say； by which token our hostess had quickly
mastered the main facts： Mrs。 Allen's visit that morning in Merrimac
Avenue to talk of Mrs。 Amber's great idea； the classes at the public
schools in vacation （she was interested with an equal charity to that
of Mrs。 Maviseven in such weather！in those of the South End） for
games and exercises and music； to keep the poor unoccupied children
out of the streets； then the revelation that it had suddenly been
settled almost from one hour to the other that Grace should sail for
Liverpool； Mr。 Porterfield at last being ready。 He was taking a
little holiday； his mother was with him； they had come over from
Paris to see some of the celebrated old buildings in England； and he
had telegraphed to say that if Grace would start right off they would
just finish it up and be married。 It often happened that when things
had dragged on that way for years they were all huddled up at the
end。 Of course in such a case she； Mrs。 Mavis； had had to fly round。
Her daughter's passage was taken； but it seemed too dreadful she
should make her journey all alone； the first time she had ever been
at sea； without any companion or escort。 SHE couldn't goMr。 Mavis
was too sick： she hadn't even been able to get him off to the
seaside。
〃Well； Mrs。 Nettlepoint's going in that ship；〃 Mrs。 Allen had said；
and she had represented that nothing was simpler than to give her the
girl in charge。 When Mrs。 Mavis had replied that this was all very
well but that she didn't know the lady； Mrs。 Allen had declared that
that didn't make a speck of difference； for Mrs。 Nettlepoint was kind
enough for anything。 It was easy enough to KNOW her； if that was all
the trouble！ All Mrs。 Mavis would have to do would be to go right up
to her next morning； when she took her daughter to the ship （she
would see her there on the deck with her party） and tell her fair and
square what she wanted。 Mrs。 Nettlepoint had daughters herself and
would easily understand。 Very likely she'd even look after Grace a
little on the other side； in such a queer situation； going out alone
to the gentleman she was engaged to： she'd just help her； like a
good Samaritan； to turn round before she was married。 Mr。
Porterfield seemed to think they wouldn't wait long； once she was
there： they would have it right over at the American consul's。 Mrs。
Allen had said it would perhaps be better still to go and see Mrs。
Nettlepoint beforehand； that day； to tell her what they wanted： then
they wouldn'