按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The opening and shutting of the door； the stamping of feet； the general imprecations hurled at the climate； and the scattering of wet snow and rain…drops about the entrance became constant。 Crug bustled ina short； thick…set； rosy…cheeked young fellow in a black mackintosh and a white silk mufflera 'cellist of repute； who had spent two years at the conservatoire； and who had once played for Eugenie at one of her musicales at the Tuileries； a fact he never let you forget。 And close behind him came Watson； the landscape…painter； who had had two pictures accepted by the Royal Academyone of them hung on the line； a great honor for an American； and after them blue…eyed； round…faced Munson； a pupil of Kaulbach； and late from Munich； as well as Harry Stedman； Post； the art…critic； and one or two others。
Each man as he entered divested himself of his wet garments； warmed his hands at the blazing grate… fire； and； reaching over the long table； picked up a clay or corn…cob pipe； stuffing the bowl full of tobacco from a cracked Japanese pot that stood on the mantel。 Then striking a match he settled himself into the nearest chair； joining in the general talk or smoking quietly； listening to what was being said about him。 Now and then one would walk to the window； raise the sash； uncork a bottle of beer where Fred had placed it； empty its contents into one of the mugs； and resume his seatmug in one hand； pipe in the other。
Up to this time no work had been done； the courtesies of the club permitting none to begin until the member whose night it was had arrived。
As the half…hour slipped away the men began to grow restless。
〃If it's Horn's night why the devil doesn't he come； Fred？〃 asked Waller； in a querulous tone。 Although the great sheep…painter had lost his sobriquet since the old days； he had never parted with his right to growl。
〃He'll be here；〃 cried Simmons from his seat by the piano。 His fingers were still rippling gently over the keys； although he had stopped once just long enough to strip off his wet overcoat。 〃I met him at Margaret Grant's this afternoon。 She had a little tea。〃
〃There every afternoon； isn't he； Simmons？〃 asked Munson； who was smoking quietly：
〃Shouldn't wonder；〃 came the response between the trills。
〃How's that affair coming on？〃 came a voice out of the tobacco…smoke。
〃Same old way；〃 answered someone at the lower end of the table〃still waiting for the spondulix。〃
〃Seen her last picture？〃 remarked Watson； knocking the ashes from his pipe。 〃The one she scooped the medal with？〃
〃Yes。 Rouser； isn't it？〃 called out Waller。 〃Best thing she has done yet。 She's a great woman。 Hello！ there he is！ This is a pretty time for him to put in an appearance！〃
The door opened and Oliver walked in； a wet umbrella in one hand； his coat…collar turned up； his mustache beaded with melted snow…drops。
〃What's it doing outside； Ollie； raining cats and dogs？〃 Jack called out。
〃No； going to clear up。 It's stopped snowing and getting colder。 Oh； what a night！ I love a storm like this； it sets my blood tingling。 Sorry to keep you waiting； gentlemen； but I couldn't help it。 It won't make any difference； I can't begin； anyway。 Bianchi won't be here for an hour。 Just met him on the street he's going to bring a guest； he says。〃
〃Who's he going to bring？〃 shouted Simmons； who had risen from his seat at the piano； and was now sorting out some sheets of music that Fred had just laid on its top。
〃He won't tell； says it's a surprise；〃 answered Oliver； slipping off his coat。
〃A surprise； is it？〃 grumbled Waller。 〃I'll bet it's some greasy foreigner。〃 He had left Simmons's side and was now standing by the mantel； filling a pipe from the bowl。 〃Bianchi has always got a lot of cranks about him。〃
Oliver hung his wet coat among the row of garments lining the wallhe had come twice as far as the otherscrowded his dripping umbrella into a broken Chinese jar that did duty as a rack； and； catching sight of the canvas； walked toward the easel holding the thirty by forty。
〃Where did you get it； Freddie？〃 he said； putting his arms around the shoulders of his old chum and dragging him toward the easel for a closer inspection of the grain of the canvas。
〃Snedecor's〃
〃Just right； old man。 Much obliged；〃 and he felt the grain of the cloth with his thumb。 〃Got a ruff？〃 and he glanced about him。 〃Oh； yes； I see。 Thanks。〃
The men； now that Oliver had arrived； drew up around the long table。 Some began setting their palettes； others picked out； from the common stock before them； the panels； canvases； china plates； or sheets of paper； which； under their deft touches； were so soon to be covered with dainty bits of color。
It was in many ways a remarkable club。 Most of its members had already achieved the highest rank in their several professions and outside the walls of this eyrie were known as earnest； thoughtful men； envied and sought after by those who respected their aims and successes。
Inside these cosey rooms all restraint was laid aside and each man's personality and temperament expressed itself without reserve。 Harry Stedman； who； perhaps； had been teaching a class of students all the morning in the new building of the National Academy of Design； each one of whom hung upon his words as if he had been inspired； could be found here a few hours later joining in a chorus with a voice loud enough to rattle every mug on the table。
Waller； who doubtless that same night； had been the bright particular star at some smart dinner uptown； and whose red ribbon had added such eclat to the occasion； and whose low voice and quiet manners and correct； conventional speeches had so charmed and captivated the lady on his right； would； when once in this room； sit astride some chair； a pipe in one hand； a mug of beer in the other。 Here he would discuss with Simmons or Jack or Oliver his preference of Chopin over Beethoven； or the difference between Parepa…Rosa and Jenny Lind； or any topic which had risen out of the common talk； and all too with a grotesqueness of speech and manner that would have frozen his hostess of the dinner…table dumb with astonishment could she have seen him。
And so with the others。 Each man was frankly himself and in undress uniform when under Fred's skylight； or when the club was enjoying any one of its various festivals and functions。
Oliver's election into the organization had； therefore； been to him one of the greatest honors he had received since his skill as a painter had been recognized by his fellowsan honor not conferred upon him because he had been one of the earlier members of the old Union Square organization； many of whom had been left out； but entirely because he was not only the best of fellows； but among the best of painters as well。 An honor too； which brought with it the possibility of a certain satisfying of his tastes。 Only once before had he found an atmosphere so congenial and that was when the big hemlocks that he loved stood firm and silent about himcompanions in a wilderness that rested him。
The coming together of such a body of men representing； as they did； the choicest the city afforded in art； literature and music； had been as natural and un