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〃And you；〃 he said at last； 〃I suppose you're either a broker or
lawyer； most men are down here。〃
〃I am neither one nor the other；〃 stated Gerald。 〃I am possessed of
a sufficient income from a legacy to make business unnecessary。〃
〃I don't believe I'd care tobe idle；〃 said Orde vaguely。
〃There is plenty to occupy one's time；〃 replied Gerald。 〃I have my
clubs； my gymnasium； my horse； and my friends。〃
〃Isn't there anything that particularly attracts you？〃 asked Orde。
The young man's languid eyes grew thoughtful； and he puffed more
strongly on his cigarette。
〃I should like；〃 said he slowly； at last； 〃to enter the navy。〃
〃Why don't you？〃 asked Orde bluntly。
〃Certain family reasons make it inexpedient at present；〃 said
Gerald。 〃My mother is in a very nervous state； she depends on us；
and any hint of our leaving her is sufficient to render her
condition serious。〃
By this time the two young men were well uptown。 On Gerald's
initiative； they turned down a side street； and shortly came to a
stop。
〃That is my gymnasium；〃 said Gerald； pointing to a building across
the way。 〃Won't you come in with me？ I am due now for my
practice。〃
XVII
Orde's evening was a disappointment to him。 Mrs。 Bishop had； by
Carroll's report； worked feverishly at the altar cloth all the
afternoon。 As a consequence； she had gone to bed with a bad
headache。 This state of affairs seemed to throw the entire family
into a state of indecision。 It was divided in mind as to what to
do； the absolute inutility of any effort balancing strongly against
a sense of what the invalid expected。
〃I wonder if mother wouldn't like just a taste of this beef；〃
speculated the general； moving fussily in his chair。 〃I believe
somebody ought to take some up。 She MIGHT want it。〃
The man departed with the plate； but returned a few moments later；
impassivebut still with the plate。
〃Has she got her hot…water bag？〃 asked the boy unexpectedly。
〃Yes； Master Kendrick；〃 replied the butler。
After a preoccupied silence the general again broke out：
〃Seems to me somebody ought to be up there with her。〃
〃You know； father； that she can't stand any one in the room；〃 said
Carroll equably。
Toward the close of the meal； however； a distant bell tinkled
faintly。 Every one jumped as though guilty。 Carroll said a hasty
excuse and ran out。 After ringing the bell； the invalid had
evidently anticipated its answer by emerging from her room to the
head of the stairs； for Orde caught the sharp tones of complaint；
and overheard something about 〃take all night to eat a simple meal；
when I'm lying here suffering。〃
At the end of an interval a maid appeared in the doorway to say that
Miss Carroll sent word she would not be down again for a time； and
did not care for any more dinner。 This seemed to relieve the
general's mind of responsibility。 He assumed his little fussy air
of cheerfulness； told several stories of the war； and finally； after
Kendrick had left； brought out some whisky and water。 He winked
slyly at Orde。
〃Can't do this before the youngsters； you know；〃 he chirruped
craftily。
Throughout the meal Gerald had sat back silent； a faint amusement in
his eye。 After dinner he arose； yawned； consulted his watch； and
departed； pleading an engagement。 Orde lingered some time；
listening to the general； in the hope that Carroll would reappear。
She did not； so finally he took his leave。
He trudged back to his hotel gloomily。 The day had passed in a most
unsatisfactory manner； according to his way of looking at it。 Yet
he had come more clearly to an understanding of the girl； her
cheerfulness； her unselfishness； and； above all； the sweet；
beautiful philosophy of life that must lie back； to render her so
uncomplainingly the slave of the self…willed woman； yet without the
indifferent cynicism of Gerald； the sullen； yet real； partisanship
of Kendrick； or the general's week…kneed acquiescence。
The next morning he succeeded in making an arrangement by letter for
an excursion to the newly projected Central Park。 Promptly at two
o'clock he was at the Bishops' house。 To his inquiry the butler
said that Mrs。 Bishop had recovered from her indisposition； and that
Miss Bishop would be down immediately。 Orde had not long to wait
for her。 The SWISH； PAT…PAT of her joyous descent of the stairs
brought him to his feet。 She swept aside the portieres； and stood
between their folds； bidding him welcome。
〃I'm so sorry about last night；〃 said she； 〃but poor mother does
depend on me so at such times。 Isn't it a gorgeous day to walk？ It
won't be much like OUR woods； will it？ But it will be something。
OH； I'm so glad to get out！〃
She was in one of her elfish moods； the languid grace of her sleepy…
eyed moments forgotten。 With a little cry of rapture she ran to the
piano； and dashed into a gay； tinkling air with brilliancy and
abandon。 Her head； surmounted by a perky； high…peaked； narrow…
brimmed hat； with a flaming red bird in front； glorified by the
braid and 〃waterfall〃 of that day； bent forward and turned to flash
an appeal for sympathy toward Orde。
〃There； I feel more able to stay on earth！〃 she cried； springing to
her feet。 〃Now I'll get on my gloves and we'll start。〃
She turned slowly before the mirror； examining quite frankly the
hang of her skirt； the fit of her close…cut waist； the turn of the
adorable round； low…cut collars that were then the mode。
〃It pays to be particular； we are in New York；〃 she answered； or
parried； Orde's glance of admiration。
The gloves finally drawn on and buttoned； Orde held aside the
portieres； and she passed fairly under his uplifted hand。 He wanted
to drop his arm about her； this slender girl with her quaint
dignity； her bird…like ways； her gentle； graceful； mysterious；
feminine soul。 The flame…red bird lent its colour to her cheeks；
her eyes； black and fathomless； the pupils wide in this dim light；
shone with two stars of delight。
But； as they moved toward the massive front doors； Mrs。 Bishop came
down the stairs behind them。 She； too； was dressed for the street。
She received Orde's greeting and congratulation over her improved
health in rather an absent manner。 Indeed； as soon as she could
hurry this preliminary over； she plunged into what evidently she
considered a more important matter。
〃You aren't thinking of going out； are you？〃 she asked Carroll。
〃I told you； mother； don't you remember？ Mr。 Orde and I are going
to get a little air in the park。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Mrs。 Bishop； with great brevity and decision； 〃but
I'm going to the rectory to help Mr。 Merritt； and I shall want you
to go too； to see about the silver。〃
〃But； mother；〃 expostulated Carroll； 〃wouldn't Marie do just as
well？〃