CHAPTER X.

bowsandarrowsareamongtheprettiestweaponsintheworldforfeminineformstoplaywith?Theypromptattitudesfullofgraceandpower,wherethatfineconcentrationofenergyseeninallmarkmanship,isfreedfromassociationsofbloodshed.Thetime-honoredBritishresourceof“killingsomething”isnolongercarriedonwithbowandquiverbandsdefendingtheirpassesagainstaninvadingnationfightunderanothersortofshadethanacloudofarrowsandpoisoneddartsareharmlesssurvivalseitherinrhetoricorinregionscomfortablyremote.Archeryhasnouglysmellofbrimstonebreaksnobody’sshins,breedsnoathleticmonstersitsonlydangeristhatoffailing,whichforgenerousbloodisenoughtomouldskilfulaction.AndamongtheBrackenshawarcherstheprizeswereallofthenoblersymbolickindnotproperlytobecarriedoffinaparcel,degradinghonorintogainbutthegoldarrowandthesilver,thegoldstarandthesilver,tobewornforalongtimeinsignofachievementandthentransferredtothenextwhodidexcellently.Thesesignsofpre-eminencehadthevirtueofwreathswithouttheirinconveniences,whichmighthaveproducedamelancholyeffectintheheatoftheball-room.AltogethertheBrackenshawArcheryClubwasaninstitutionframedwithgoodtaste,soasnottohavebynecessityanyridiculousincidents. Andto-dayallincalculableelementswereinitsfavor.Therewasmildwarmth,andnowindtodisturbeitherhairordraperyorthecourseofthearrowallskillfulpreparationhadfairplay,andwhentherewasageneralmarchtoextractthearrows,thepromenadeofjoyousyoungcreaturesinlightspeechandlaughter,thegracefulmovementincommontowardacommonobject,wasashowworthlookingat.HereGwendolenseemedaCalypsoamonghernymphs.Itwasinherattitudesandmovementsthateveryonewasobligedtoadmithersurpassingcharm. “Thatgirlislikeahigh-mettledracer,”saidLordBrackenshawtoyoungClintock,oneoftheinvitedspectators. “Firstchop!tremendouslyprettytoo,”saidtheelegantGrecian,whohadbeenpayingherassiduousattention“Ineversawherlookbetter.” Perhapsshehadneverlookedsowell.Herfacewasbeamingwithyoungpleasureinwhichtherewasnomalignraysofdiscontentforbeingsatisfiedwithherownchances,shefeltkindlytowardeverybodyandwassatisfiedwiththeuniverse.Nottohavethehighestdistinctioninrank,nottobemarkedoutasanheiress,likeMissArrowpoint,gaveanaddedtriumphineclipsingthoseadvantages.Forpersonalrecommendationshewouldnothavecaredtochangethefamilygroupaccompanyingherforanyother:hermamma’sappearancewouldhavesuitedanamiableduchessheruncleandauntGascoignewithAnnamadeequallygratifyingfiguresintheirwayandGwendolenwastoofullofjoyousbeliefinherselftofeelintheleastjealousthoughMissArrowpointwasoneofthebestarcheresses. EventhereappearanceoftheformidableHerrKlesmer,whichcausedsomesurpriseintherestofthecompany,seemedonlytofallinwithGwendolen’sinclinationtobeamused.ShortofApollohimself,whatgreatmusicalmaestrocouldmakeagoodfigureatanarcherymeeting?TherewasaverysatiricallightinGwendolen’seyesasshelookedtowardtheArrowpointpartyontheirfirstentrance,whenthecontrastbetweenKlesmerandtheaveragegroupofEnglishcountrypeopleseemedatitsutmostintensityinthecloseneighborhoodofhishosts—orpatrons,asMrs.Arrowpointwouldhavelikedtohearthemcalled,thatshemightdenythepossibilityofanylongerpatronizinggenius,itsroyaltybeinguniversallyacknowledged.ThecontrastmighthaveamusedagraverpersonagethanGwendolen.WeEnglishareamiscellaneouspeople,andanychancefiftyofuswillpresentmanyvarietiesofanimalarchitectureorfacialornamentbutitmustbeadmittedthatourprevailingexpressionisnotthatofalively,impassionedrace,preoccupiedw