CHAPTER IX.

dcharacterwhooffershimselfasyourbutlerorfootman.Reformation,whereamancanaffordtodowithoutit,canhardlybeotherthangenuine.Moreover,itwasnotcertainonanyothershowinghitherto,thatMr.Grandcourthadneededreformationmorethanotheryoungmenintheripeyouthoffive-and-thirtyand,atanyrate,thesignificanceofwhathehadbeenmustbedeterminedbywhatheactuallywas. Mrs.Davilow,too,althoughshewouldnotrespondtohersister’spregnantremark,couldnotbeinwardlyindifferenttoanadventthatmightpromiseabrilliantlotforGwendolen.Alittlespeculationon“whatmaybe”comesnaturally,withoutencouragement—comesinevitablyintheformofimages,whenunknownpersonsarementionedandMr.Grandcourt’snameraisedinMrs.Davilow’smindfirstofallthepictureofahandsome,accomplished,excellentyoungmanwhomshewouldbesatisfiedwithasahusbandforherdaughterbutthencamethefurtherspeculation—wouldGwendolenbesatisfiedwithhim?Therewasnoknowingwhatwouldmeetthatgirl’stasteortouchheraffections—itmightbesomethingelsethanexcellenceandthustheimageoftheperfectsuitorgavewaybeforeafluctuatingcombinationofqualitiesthatmightbeimaginedtowinGwendolen’sheart.Inthedifficultyofarrivingattheparticularcombinationwhichwouldinsurethatresult,themotherevensaidtoherself,“Itwouldnotsignifyaboutherbeinginlove,ifshewouldonlyaccepttherightperson.”Forwhatevermarriagehadbeenforherself,howcouldshethelessdesireitforherdaughter?Thedifferenceherownmisfortunesmadewas,thatsheneverdaredtodwellmuchtoGwendolenonthedesirablenessofmarriage,dreadingananswersomethinglikethatofthefutureMadameRoland,whenhergentlemotherurgingtheacceptanceofasuitor,said,“Tuserasheureuse,machère.”“Oui,maman,commetoi.” InrelationtotheproblematicMr.GrandcourtleastofallwouldMrs.Davilowhavewillinglyletfallahintoftheaerialcastle-buildingwhichshehadthegoodtastetobeashamedofforsuchahintwaslikelyenoughtogiveanadversepoisetoGwendolen’sownthought,andmakeherdetestthedesirablehusbandbeforehand.SincethatsceneafterpoorRex’sfarewellvisit,themotherhadfeltanewsenseofperilintouchingthemysteryofherchild’sfeeling,andinrashlydeterminingwhatwasherwelfare:onlyshecouldthinkofwelfareinnoothershapethanmarriage. ThediscussionofthedressthatGwendolenwastowearattheArcheryMeetingwasarelevanttopic,howeverandwhenithadbeendecidedthatasatouchofcoloronherwhitecashmere,nothing,forhercomplexion,wascomparabletopalegreen—afeatherwhichshewastryinginherhatbeforethelooking-glasshavingsettledthequestion—Mrs.DavilowfeltherearstinglewhenGwendolen,suddenlythrowingherselfintotheattitudeofdrawingherbow,saidwithalookofcomicenjoyment, “HowIpityalltheothergirlsattheArcheryMeeting—allthinkingofMr.Grandcourt!Andtheyhavenotashadowofachance.” Mrs.Davilowhadnotthepresenceofmindtoanswerimmediately,andGwendolenturnedroundquicklytowardher,saying,wickedly, “Nowyouknowtheyhavenot,mamma.Youandmyuncleandaunt—youallintendhimtofallinlovewithme.” Mrs.Davilow,piquedintoalittlestratagem,said,“Oh,mydear,thatisnotsocertain.MissArrowpointhascharmswhichyouhavenot.” “Iknow,buttheydemandthought.Myarrowwillpiercehimbeforehehastimeforthought.Hewilldeclarehimselfmyslave—Ishallsendhimroundtheworldtobringmebacktheweddingringofahappywoman—inthemeantimeallthemenwhoarebetweenhimandthetitlewilldieofdifferentdiseases—hewillcomebackLordGrandcourt—butwithoutthering—andfallatmyfeet.Ishalllaughathim—hewillriseinresentment—Ishalllaughmore—hewillcallf