CHAPTER VI.

eek,Oriental,andComposite,inwhichGwendolenattitudinizedandspeechifiedbeforeadomesticaudience,includingeventhehousekeeper,whowasoncepressedintoitthatshemightswellthenotesofapplausebuthavingshownherselfunworthybyobservingthatMissHarlethlookedfarmorelikeaqueeninherowndressthaninthatbaggythingwithherarmsallbare,shewasnotinvitedasecondtime. “DoIlookaswellasRachel,mamma?”saidGwendolen,onedaywhenshehadbeenshowingherselfinherGreekdresstoAnna,andgoingthroughscrapsofsceneswithmuchtragicintention. “YouhavebetterarmsthanRachel,”saidMrs.Davilow,“yourarmswoulddoforanything,Gwen.Butyourvoiceisnotsotragicashersitisnotsodeep.” “Icanmakeitdeeper,ifIlike,”saidGwendolen,provisionallythensheadded,withdecision,“Ithinkahighervoiceismoretragic:itismorefeminineandthemorefeminineawomanis,themoretragicitseemswhenshedoesdesperateactions.” “Theremaybesomethinginthat,”saidMrs.Davilow,languidly.“ButIdon’tknowwhatgoodthereisinmakingone’sbloodcreep.Andifthereisanythinghorribletobedone,Ishouldlikeittobelefttothemen.” “Oh,mamma,youaresodreadfullyprosaic!Asifallthegreatpoeticcriminalswerenotwomen!Ithinkthemenarepoorcautiouscreatures.” “Well,dear,andyou—whoareafraidtobealoneinthenight—Idon’tthinkyouwouldbeveryboldincrime,thankGod.” “Iamnottalkingaboutreality,mamma,”saidGwendolen,impatiently.Thenhermammabeingcalledoutoftheroom,sheturnedquicklytohercousin,asiftakinganopportunity,andsaid,“Anna,doaskmyuncletoletusgetupsomecharadesattherectory.Mr.MiddletonandWarhamcouldactwithus—justforpractice.MammasaysitwillnotdotohaveMr.Middletonconsultingandrehearsinghere.Heisastick,butwecouldgivehimsuitableparts.Doask,orelseIwill.” “Oh,nottillRexcomes.Heissoclever,andsuchadearoldthing,andhewillactNapoleonlookingoverthesea.HelooksjustlikeNapoleon.Rexcandoanything.” “Idon’tintheleastbelieveinyourRex,Anna,”saidGwendolen,laughingather.“Hewillturnouttobelikethosewretchedblueandyellowwater-colorsofhiswhichyouhangupinyourbedroomandworship.” “Verywell,youwillsee,”saidAnna.“ItisnotthatIknowwhatisclever,buthehasgotascholarshipalready,andpapasayshewillgetafellowship,andnobodyisbetteratgames.HeisclevererthanMr.Middleton,andeverybodybutyoucallMr.Middletonclever.” “Sohemaybeinadark-lanternsortofway.Butheisastick.Ifhehadtosay,‘Perditioncatchmysoul,butIdoloveher,’hewouldsayitinjustthesametoneas,‘Hereendeththesecondlesson.’” “Oh,Gwendolen!”saidAnna,shockedatthesepromiscuousallusions.“Anditisveryunkindofyoutospeaksoofhim,forheadmiresyouverymuch.IheardWarhamsayonedaytomamma,‘MiddletonisregularlyspooneyuponGwendolen.’ShewasveryangrywithhimbutIknowwhatitmeans.Itiswhattheysayatcollegeforbeinginlove.” “HowcanIhelpit?”saidGwendolen,rathercontemptuously.“PerditioncatchmysoulifIlovehim.” “No,ofcoursepapa,Ithink,wouldnotwishit.Andheistogoawaysoon.Butitmakesmesorrywhenyouridiculehim.” “WhatshallyoudotomewhenIridiculeRex?”saidGwendolen,wickedly. “Now,Gwendolen,dear,youwillnot?”saidAnna,hereyesfillingwithtears.“Icouldnotbearit.Buttherereallyisnothinginhimtoridicule.Onlyyoumayfindoutthings.FornooneeverthoughtoflaughingatMr.Middletonbeforeyou.Everyonesaidhewasnice-looking,andhismannersperfect.IamsureIhavealwaysbeenfrightenedathimbecauseofhislearningandhissquare-cutcoat,andhisbeinganephewofthebishop’s,andallthat.ButyouwillnotridiculeRex—promiseme.”AnnaendedwithabeseechinglookwhichtouchedGwendolen. “Youareadearlittlecoz,”shesaid,justtouchingthetipofAnna’schinwithherthumbandforefinger.“Idon’teverwanttodoanythingthatwillvexyou.EspeciallyifRexistomakeeverythingcomeoff—charadesandeverything.” AndwhenatlastRexwasthere,theanimationhebroughtintothelifeofOffendeneandtherectory,andhisreadypartnershipinGwendolen’splans,lefthernoinclinationforanyridiculethatwasnotofanopenandflatteringkind,suchashehimselfenjoyed.Hewasafineopen-heartedyouth,withahandsomefacestronglyresemblinghisfather’sandAnna’s,butsofterinexpressionthantheone,andlargerinscalethantheother:abright,healthy,lovingnature,enjoyingordinaryinnocentthingssomuchthatvicehadnotemptationforhim,andwhatheknewofitlaytooentirelyintheoutercourtsandlittle-visitedchambersofhismindforhimtothinkofitwithgreatrepulsion.Vicioushabitswerewithhim“whatsomefellowsdid”—“stupidstuff”whichhelikedtokeepalooffrom.HereturnedAnna’saffectionasfullyascouldbeexpectedofabrotherwhosepleasuresapartfromherweremorethanthesumtotalofhersandhehadneverknownastrongerlove. Thecousinswerecontinuallytogetherattheonehouseortheother—chieflyatOffendene,wheretherewasmorefreedom,orratherwheretherewasamorecompleteswayforGwendolenandwhatevershewishedbecamearulingpurposeforRex.Thecharadescameoffaccordingtoherplansandalsosomeotherlittlescenesnotcontemplatedbyherinwhichheractingwasmoreimpromptu.ItwasatOffendenethatthecharadesandtableauxwererehearsedandpresented,Mrs.DavilowseeingnoobjectioneventoMr.Middleton’sbeinginvitedtoshareinthem,nowthatRextoowasthere—especiallyashisserviceswereindispensable:Warham,