Henry James: Complete Stories 1864-1874 (32 page)

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Authors: Henry James

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Page 182
as she was, she was afraid she shouldn't grow any more); but her mother, like the mother in the fairy-tale, was a
femme forte.
Madame de Brives could do nothing for Dora, not absolutely because she was too plain, but because she would never lend herself, and that came to the same thing. Her mother accepted her as recalcitrant, but Cousin Maria's attitude, at the best, could only be resignation. She would respect her child's preferences, she would never put on the screw; but this would not make her love the child any more. So Raymond interpreted certain signs, which at the same time he felt to be very slight, while the conversation in Mrs. Temperly's
salon
(this was its preponderant tendency) rambled among questions of bric-à-brac, of where Tishy's portrait should be placed when it was finished, and the current prices of old Gobelins.
Ces dames
were not in the least above the discussion of prices.
On the 17th it was easy to see that more lamps than usual had been lighted. They streamed through all the windows of the charming hotel and mingled with the radiance of the carriage-lanterns, which followed each other slowly, in couples, in a close, long rank, into the fine sonorous court, where the high stepping of valuable horses was sharp on the stones, and up to the ruddy portico. The night was wet, not with a down-pour, but with showers interspaced by starry patches, which only added to the glitter of the handsome, clean Parisian surfaces. The
sergents de ville
were about the place, and seemed to make the occasion important and official. These night aspects of Paris in the
beaux quartiers
had always for Raymond a particularly festive association, and as he passed from his cab under the wide permanent tin canopy, painted in stripes like an awning, which protected the low steps, it seemed to him odder than ever that all this established prosperity should be Cousin Maria's.
If the thought of how well she did it bore him company from the threshold, it deepened to admiration by the time he had been half an hour in the place. She stood near the entrance with her two elder daughters, distributing the most familiar, most encouraging smiles, together with hand-shakes which were in themselves a whole system of hospitality. If her party was grand Cousin Maria was not; she indulged in no
 
Page 183
assumption of stateliness and no attempt at graduated welcomes. It seemed to Raymond that it was only because it would have taken too much time that she didn't kiss every one. Effie looked lovely and just a little frightened, which was exactly what she ought to have done; and he noticed that among the arriving guests those who were not intimate (which he could not tell from Mrs. Temperly's manner, but could from their own) recognised her as a daughter much more quickly than they recognised Dora, who hung back disinterestedly, as if not to challenge their discernment, while the current passed her, keeping her little sister in position on its brink meanwhile by the tenderest small gesture.
May I talk with you a little, later? he asked of Dora, with only a few seconds for the question, as people were pressing behind him. She answered evasively that there would be very little talkthey would all have to listenit was very serious; and the next moment he had received a programme from the hand of a monumental yet gracious personage who stood beyond and who had a silver chain round his neck.
The place was arranged for music, and how well arranged he saw later, when every one was seated, spaciously, luxuriously, without pushing or over-peeping, and the finest talents in Paris performed selections at which the best taste had presided. The singers and players were all stars of the first magnitude. Raymond was fond of music and he wondered whose taste it had been. He made up his mind it was Dora'sit was only she who could have conceived a combination so exquisite; and he said to himself: How they all pull together! She is not in it, she is not of it, and yet she too works for the common end. And by all he meant also Mademoiselle Bourde and the Marquise. This impression made him feel rather hopeless, as if,
en fin de compte,
Cousin Maria were too large an adversary. Great as was the pleasure of being present on an occasion so admirably organised, of sitting there in a beautiful room, in a still, attentive, brilliant company, with all the questions of temperature, space, light and decoration solved to the gratification of every sense, and listening to the best artists doing their besthappily constituted as our young man was to enjoy such a privilege as this, the total effect was depressing: it made him feel as if the gods were not on his side.
 
Page 184
And does she do it so well without a man? There must be so many details a woman can't tackle, he said to himself; for even counting in the Marquise and Mademoiselle Bourde this only made a multiplication of petticoats. Then it came over him that she
was
a man as well as a womanthe masculine element was included in her nature. He was sure that she bought her horses without being cheated, and very few men could do that. She had the American national qualityshe had faculty in a supreme degree. Facultyfaculty, the voices of the quartette of singers seemed to repeat, in the quick movement of a composition they rendered beautifully, while they swelled and went faster, till the thing became a joyous chant of praise, a glorification of Cousin Maria's practical genius.
During the intermission, in the middle of the concert, people changed places more or less and circulated, so that, walking about at this time, he came upon the Marquise, who, in her sympathetic, demonstrative way, appeared to be on the point of clasping her hostess in her arms. Décidément, ma bonne, il n'y a que vous! C'est une perfection_____ he heard her say. To which, gratified but unelated, Cousin Maria replied, according to her simple, sociable wont: Well, it
does
seem quite a successful occasion. If it will only keep on to the end!
Raymond, wandering far, found himself in a world that was mainly quite new to him, and explained his ignorance of it by reflecting that the people were probably celebrated: so many of them had decorations and stars and a quiet of manner that could only be accounted for by renown. There were plenty of Americans with no badge but a certain fine negativeness, and
they
were quiet for a reason which by this time had become very familiar to Raymond: he had heard it so often mentioned that his country-people were supremely adaptable. He tried to get hold of Dora, but he saw that her mother had arranged things beautifully to keep her occupied with other people; so at least he interpreted the factafter all very naturalthat she had half a dozen fluttered young girls on her mind, whom she was providing with programmes, seats, ices, occasional murmured remarks and general support and protection. When the concert was over she supplied them with further enter-
 
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tainment in the form of several young men who had pliable backs and flashing breastpins and whom she inarticulately introduced to them, which gave her still more to do, as after this serious step she had to stay and watch all parties. It was strange to Raymond to see her transformed by her mother into a precocious duenna. Him she introduced to no young girl, and he knew not whether to regard this as cold neglect or as high consideration. If he had liked he might have taken it as a sweet intimation that she knew he couldn't care for any girl but her.
On the whole he was glad, because it left him freefree to get hold of her mother, which by this time he had boldly determined to do. The conception was high, inasmuch as Cousin Maria's attention was obviously required by the ambassadors and other grandees who had flocked to do her homage. Nevertheless, while supper was going on (he wanted none, and neither apparently did she), he collared her, as he phrased it to himself, in just the right placeon the threshold of the conservatory. She was flanked on either side with a foreigner of distinction, but he didn't care for her foreigners now. Besides, a conservatory was meant only for couples; it was a sign of her comprehensive sociability that she should have been rambling among the palms and orchids with a double escort. Her friends would wish to quit her but would not wish to appear to give way to each other; and Raymond felt that he was relieving them both (though he didn't care) when he asked her to be so good as to give him a few minutes' conversation. He made her go back with him into the conservatory: it was the only thing he had ever made her do, or probably ever would. She began to talk about the great Gregorinihow it had been too sweet of her to repeat one of her songs, when it had really been understood in advance that repetitions were not expected. Raymond had no interest at present in the great Gregorini. He asked Cousin Maria vehemently if she remembered telling him in New Yorkthat night at the hotel, five years beforethat when he should have followed them to Paris he would be free to address her on the subject of Dora. She had given him a promise that she would listen to him in this case, and now he must keep her up to the mark. It was impossible to see her alone, but, at whatever
 
Page 186
inconvenience to herself, he must insist on her giving him his opportunity.
About Dora, Cousin Raymond? she asked, blandly and kindlyalmost as if she didn't exactly know who Dora was.
Surely you haven't forgotten what passed between us the evening before you left America. I was in love with her then and I have been in love with her ever since. I told you so then, and you stopped me off, but you gave me leave to make another appeal to you in the future. I make it nowthis is the only way I haveand I think you ought to listen to it. Five years have passed, and I love her more than ever. I have behaved like a saint in the interval: I haven't attempted to practise upon her without your knowledge.
I am so glad; but she would have let me know, said Cousin Maria, looking round the conservatory as if to see if the plants were all there.
No doubt. I don't know what you do to her. But I trust that to-day your opposition fallsin face of the proof that we have given you of mutual fidelity.
Fidelity? Cousin Maria repeated, smiling.
Surelyunless you mean to imply that Dora has given me up. I have reason to believe that she hasn't.
I think she will like better to remain just as she is.?
Just as she is?
I mean, not to make a choice, Cousin Maria went on, smiling.
Raymond hesitated a moment. Do you mean that you have tried to make her make one?
At this the good lady broke into a laugh. My dear Raymond, how little you must think I know my child!
Perhaps, if you haven't tried to make her, you have tried to prevent her. Haven't you told her I am unsuccessful, I am poor?
She stopped him, laying her hand with unaffected solicitude on his arm.
Are
you poor, my dear? I should be so sorry!
Never mind; I can support a wife, said the young man.
It wouldn't matter, because I am happy to say that Dora has something of her own, Cousin Maria went on, with her imperturbable candour. Her father thought that was the best
 
Page 187
way to arrange it. I had quite forgotten my opposition, as you call it; that was so long ago. Why, she was only a little girl. Wasn't that the ground I took? Well, dear, she's older now, and you can say anything to her you like. But I do think she wants to stay_____ And she looked up at him, cheerily.
Wants to stay?
With Effie and Tishy.
Ah, Cousin Maria, the young man exclaimed, you are modest about yourself!
Well, we are all together. Now is that all? I
must
see if there is enough champagne. Certainlyyou can say to her what you like. But twenty years hence she will be just as she is to-day; that's how I see her.
Lord, what is it you do to her? Raymond groaned, as he accompanied his hostess back to the crowded rooms.
He knew exactly what she would have replied if she had been a Frenchwoman; she would have said to him, triumphantly, overwhelmingly: Que voulez-vous? Elle adore sa mère! She was, however, only a Californian, unacquainted with the language of epigram, and her answer consisted simply of the words: I am sorry you have ideas that make you unhappy. I guess you are the only person here who hasn't enjoyed himself to-night.
Raymond repeated to himself, gloomily, for the rest of the evening, Elle adore sa mèreelle adore sa mère! He remained very late, and when but twenty people were left and he had observed that the Marquise, passing her hand into Mrs. Temperly's arm, led her aside as if for some important confabulation (some new light doubtless on what might be hoped for Effie), he persuaded Dora to let the rest of the guests depart in peace (apparently her mother had told her to look out for them to the very last), and come with him into some quiet corner. They found an empty sofa in the outlasting lamp-light, and there the girl sat down with him. Evidently she knew what he was going to say, or rather she thought she did; for in fact, after a little, after he had told her that he had spoken to her mother and she had told him he might speak to
her,
he said things that she could not very well have expected.
Is it true that you wish to remain with Effie and Tishy?

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