"You are the wand then," he said, laughing.
"What is the wand without the magician?" she asked, shyly watching the effect of her speech.
His quick flush bespoke1 the sensitive nature that it was becoming her delight to play upon, but he said: "According to legends, magic power was exerted in two ways,—by a magician, as you suggested, and by ordinary mortals who happened to find a wand or spell or some potent2 secret by which they and any one could perform marvels3. Now I assure you that I am the most ordinary of mortals, and without my wand I could not conjure4 at all."
Lottie gave him a look at this point which heightened his color, but he continued: "Miss Marsden, in her generosity5, shall not give to me the credit for events which I trust will add a little sunlight to your life this winter, Mrs. Dlimm. It is to be shared chiefly by herself and that manly6 young fellow there, who is a member of your church, I suppose. It was Miss Marsden who brought us the tidings of the evil out of which this good has come. She not only took up the collection with such a grace that no one could resist, but she suggested the collection in the first place."
"What do you know about my irresistible7 grace? You haven't given me anything."
"You will place me in an awkward dilemma8 if you ask anything, for
I have given you all the money I have with me," he said, laughing.
"Perhaps he would give himself," said simple, innocent Mrs. Dlimm, who, from Lottie's coquetry and the expression of Hemstead's eyes, imagined that an understanding or an engagement existed between them.
Lottie laughed, till the tears came, at Hemstead's blushing confusion, but said after a moment, "That would be a graceless request from me."
"I don't think you would have to ask twice," whispered Mrs. Dlimm.
"Did you ever hear of the man who was given a white elephant?" asked Lottie, in her ear.
"No, what about him?" said Mrs. Dlimm, simply.
Lottie laughed again, and putting her arm around the little lady said, aloud:
"Mrs. Dlimm, you and your baby could go right back to the Garden of Eden, and I rather think Mr. Hemstead could be your escort."
"I trust we are all going to a far better place," she replied, quickly.
"I fear I'm going the other way," said Lottie, shaking her head. But she was surprised at the expression of honest trouble and sympathy that came out upon the face of the pastor's wife.
"Miss Marsden does herself injustice," said Hemstead, quickly. "You have seen her action. All that I have seen of her accords with that."
"But you have not known me two days yet altogether," said Lottie.
"No matter. The last time I was in a picture gallery, I spent most o the time before one painting. I did not require weeks to learn its character."
"I shall judge you by your action, Miss Marsden," said Mrs. Dlimm, gratefully. "My creed10 forbids me to think ill of any one, and my heart forbids me to think ill of you. Those tears I saw in your eyes a short time since became you better than any diamonds you will ever wear. They were nature's ornaments11, and proved that you were still nature's child,—that you had not in your city life grown proud, and cold, and false. It is a rare and precious thing to see outward beauty but the reflex of a more lovely spirit. Keep that spirit, my dear, and you will never lose your beauty even though you grow old and faded as I am. I wish I could see you again, for your full, sunny life has done me more good than I can tell you."
Again, Lottie's warm heart and impulsive12 nature betrayed her, and, before she thought, she exclaimed in sincerity13: "I wish I deserved what you say, and I might be better if I saw more of such people as you and Mr. Hemstead. If he will drive me over to-morrow, I will come and see you. I think he will, for I haven't told you that he is a minister, and would, no doubt, like to talk to your husband."
"I might have known it," said the little woman, stepping forward and shaking Hemstead's hand most cordially. "I congratulate you, sir. You have chosen a princely calling,—a royal one, rather,—and can tread directly in the steps of the Son of God. I predict for you success,—the success a true minister craves14. You have the promise within you of winning many from evil."
"Believe me," said he, earnestly, "I would rather have that power than be a king."
"You may well say that, sir," she replied, with a dignity of which Lottie did not think her capable. "Any common man may have kingly power, and the meanest have cursed the world with it. But the power to win men from evil is godlike, and only the godlike have it."
Lottie looked curiously15 at the object of her practical jest. The words of the pastor's wife seemed to have drawn16 his thoughts away from the speaker and herself, and fixed17 them on his future work and its results. It is in such moments of abstraction—of self-forgetfulness, when one's mind is dwelling18 on life's purposes and aims—that the spirit shines through the face, as through a transparency, and the true character is seen. Lottie saw Hemstead's face grow so noble and manly, so free from every trace of the meanness of egotism and selfishness, that in the depths of her soul she respected him as she had never any man before. Instinctively19 she placed Julian De Forrest, the rich and elegant idler, beside this earnest man, self-consecrated to the highest effort, and for the first time her soul revolted from her cousin with something like disgust.
What she had imagined became real at that moment, and De Forrest appeared, looking bored and uneasy.
"I have found you at last," he said. "We became so wedged in the parlor21 that there was no getting out, but now they have completed the laborious22 task of counting a sum that a bank clerk would run over in two minutes, and it is to be announced with a final flourish of trumpets23. Then the stingy clodhoppers that you have inveigled24 into doing something that they will repent25 of with groanings that cannot be uttered to-morrow will go home resolving to pinch and save till they make good what they have given." He then added carelessly to Mrs. Dlimm, not waiting for an introduction, "I am surprised that you and your husband are willing to stay among such a people."
Before she could answer, he said to Lottie, "Are you ready to go home? Harcourt and Addie say we ought to start at once."
Lottie was provoked at his rudeness, and furtively26 watched Mrs. Dlimm's face, to see what impression he made upon her. Indeed her face was a study for a moment as she measured De Forrest's proportions with a slow, sweeping27 glance, which he thought one of admiration28. But, instead of turning contemptuously or resentfully away, her face was pitiful.
They were now summoned to hear the result, but Lottie found opportunity to whisper to Mrs. Dlimm, "What do you think of him?"
"I don't know what to think. It is painfully evident that he is not a man."
Mrs. Dlimm's verdict had a weight with Lottie that she would hardly have believed possible a few hours before. There was a quaint29 simplicity30 and sincerity about her, an unworldliness, that gave her words something of the authority of the other world.
The abstraction that had been on Hemstead's face passed to Lottie's, and she heard with inattentive ear the young farmer say with hearty31 emphasis, "We present you, as an expression of our good-will, with two hundred and fifty dollars."
She heard, but still did not heed32 the pastor's grateful reply. De Forrest whispered to her often, but her brow only contracted at his interruption to her busy thought. Suddenly she noted33 Hemstead's eye resting on her with a questioning expression. Then with a seeming effort she came out of her revery, and tried to be her old self again.
When Mr. Dlimm ceased, the farmer called out heartily34: "Good for you, dominie. Now I call for a vote of thanks to the stranger who showed us a way out of our scrape. I understand that his name is the Rev20. Mr. Hemstead. Also a vote of thanks to such a young lady as the city doesn't often send us, who, if she will permit a country compliment, is like the rose, good enough for a king, yet sweet to all. I call on both for a speech."
Lottie, blushing and laughing, declared that she was one who believed "that a woman should keep silence in meeting," and requested Hemstead to answer for both.
"Miss Marsden does not need words," said Hemstead. "She has a better kind of eloquence35, and speaks to us through good and kindly36 deeds. My part in the happy results of this evening is slight. It is comparatively easy to suggest good and generous action, but it is harder to perform. It is one thing to preach, and quite another to practise. You have had the hard part,—the practising,—and yet have done it as if it were not hard, as duty seldom is when performed in the right spirit; and therefore deserve the greater credit. If what you have done from generous impulse to-night you will henceforth do from steady principle, you will all have cause to remember this evening gratefully. That 'it is more blessed to give than receive' is true, not only because the Bible declares it, but because human experience proves it."
Loud applause followed these words, and then the farmer said, "Now,
Mr. Harcourt, you are welcome to publish all you have seen at Scrub
Oaks to-night."
At this Harcourt stepped forward and said: "Although not called on for a speech, I shall make a short one. I have learned a thing or two this evening. When I make a blunder I am not ashamed to acknowledge it. Mr. Hemstead and I both wished to bring about the same thing, only I went about it the wrong way, and he the right. What I then said as a threat, I now say as a promise. I shall write for our country paper a report of this meeting, and it will be greatly to your credit. I take back my former harsh words. I congratulate you on your action, and commend you for it."
"Give me your hand on that," cried the farmer. "Three cheers for Tom Harcourt. If you are ever up for office, sir, you may count on the vote of Scrub Oaks."
Thus, with cheery laughter and mutual37 good feeling, the eventful donation party broke up, leaving a happier family in the little parsonage than had ever dwelt there before.
In a few moments the party from Mrs. Marchmont's were on the road, though it proved difficult to hold the chilled and spirited horses long enough for them to get seated. De Forrest again took his place by Lottie, but she determined38 to make the conversation general.
"I've had a splendid time," she exclaimed, "and am very much obliged to you, Addie and Mr. Harcourt, for bringing me."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," said Addie, "and hope that you have now had enough of the 'other set,' as you call them. I don't see how you can endure them."
"Nor I either," said Bel, "although I suppose we ought to mingle39 with them occasionally. But I am tired to death."
"I was disgusted with them from first to last," said De Forrest,—"the uncouth40, ill-bred crew. I couldn't endure to see you, Miss Lottie, going around with that clodhopper of a farmer, and, worst of all, how could you touch that great mountain of flesh they called Auntie Lammer?"
"Many men of many minds," trilled out Lottie; but she thought of
Hemstead's treatment of the poor old creature in contrast.
"Whoa there, steady now," cried Harcourt to the horses; and Hemstead, though sitting with his back to him, noted that he was too much engrossed41 with their management to speak often, even to Addie who sat beside him.
"Mr. Hemstead said that Auntie Lammer was more than a duchess," added Lottie, laughing.
"True, she's a monster. Bat what did Mr. Hemstead call her?"
"He said she was a 'woman,' and was as polite is if paying homage42 to universal womanhood."
"I think," said De Forrest, satirically, "that Mr. Hemstead might have found a better, if not a larger type of 'universal womanhood' to whom he could have paid his homage. I was not aware that he regarded bulk as the most admirable quality in woman. Well, he does not take a narrow view of the sex. His ideal is large."
"Come, Mr. De Forrest," said Hemstead, "your wit is as heavy as
Mrs. Lammer herself, and she nearly broke my back going down stairs."
"O, pardon me. It was your back that suffered. I thought it was your heart. How came you to be so excessively polite then?"
"I think Miss Marsden is indulging in a bit of fun at my expense. Of course a gentleman ought to be polite to any and every woman, because she is such. Would it be knightly43 or manly to bow to a duchess, and treat some poor obscure woman as if she were scarcely human? Chivalry," continued he, laughing, "devoted44 itself to woman in distress45, and if ever a woman's soul was burdened, Aunt Lammer's must be. But how do you account for this, Mr. De Forrest? It was Miss Marsden that took pity on the poor creature and summoned me to her aid. She was more polite and helpful than I."
"I have just said to her that I do not understand how she can do such things save in the spirit of mischief," he replied, discontentedly. "It really pained me all the evening to see you in contact with such people," he added tenderly, aside to Lottie.
"Well, I can understand it," said Hemstead, emphatically.
"I suppose Mr. Hemstead believes in the brotherhood46, and therefore the sisterhood of the race. I was, in his estimation, taking care of one of my little sisters "; and Lottie's laugh trilled out upon the still night.
"Whoa now, steady, steady, I tell you," cried Harcourt; and all noted that at Lottie's shrill47 laugh the horses sprang into a momentary48 gallop49.
After a moment Hemstead replied, "You are nearer right than you think. In weakness, helplessness, and childish ignorance, she was a little sister."
"Well, so be it. I have had enough of Mrs. Lammer and undeserved praise. Now all join in the chorus.
"Three fishers—" and she sang the well-known song, and was delighted when Hemstead, for the first time, let out his rich, musical bass50.
But before they had sung through the first stanza51, Harcourt turned and said, "You must be still, or I can't manage the horses."
In fact, they were going at a tremendous pace, and Hemstead noted that Harcourt was nervous and excited. But no one apprehended52 any danger.
"How cold and distant the stars seem on a winter evening!" said Lottie, after a moment's silence. "It always depresses me to come out into the night after an evening of gayety and nonsense. There is a calm majesty53 about the heavens which makes my frivolity54 seem contemptible55. The sky to-night reminds me of a serene56, cold face looking at me in silent scorn. How fearfully far off those stars are; and yet you teach, do you not, Mr. Hemstead, that heaven is beyond them?"
"But that Limbo," added De Forrest, with a satirical laugh, "is right at hand in the centre of the earth."
"The real heaven, Miss Marsden," said Hemstead, gently, "is where there are happy, trusting hearts. Where the locality is I do not know. As to that nether57 world, if you know its location you know more than I do, Mr. De Forrest. I don't propose to have anything to do with it. Prisons may be a painful necessity, but we don't fear them or propose to go to them. On the same principle we need not trouble ourselves about God's prison house."
At this moment from an adjacent farm-house, a large dog came bounding out with clamorous58 barking. The excited horses were ready at the slightest provocation59 to run, and now broke into a furious gallop. Harcourt sawed on the bits and shouted to them in vain. He was slight in build, and not very strong. Moreover, he had grown nervous and chilled and had lost his own self-control, and of course could not restrain the powerful creatures that were fast passing from mere60 excitement into the wild terror which is akin9 to a panic among men when once they give way before danger.
"Good God!" exclaimed Harcourt, after a moment; "I can't hold them, and we are near the top of a long hill with two sharp turnings on the side of a steep bank, and there's a bridge at the bottom. Whoa! curse you, whoa!"
But they tore on the more recklessly. Bel and Addie began to scream, and this increased the fright of the horses. Hemstead looked searchingly for a moment at Lottie, and saw with a thrill that her white face was turned to him and not to De Forrest.
"Is there danger?" she asked, in a low tone.
"Good God!" exclaimed Harcourt again, "I can't hold them."
Hemstead rose instantly, and turning with care in the swaying sleigh braced61 himself by planting one foot on the middle of the seat. He then said quietly, "Will you give me the reins62, Mr. Harcourt? I am well braced and quite strong. Perhaps I can manage them."
Harcourt relinquished63 the reins instantly.
"Hush64!" Hemstead said sternly to Addie and Bel, and they became quiet,—the weaker minds submitting to the roused and master mind.
Fortunately the trouble had occurred where there was a straight and level road, and a little of this still remained. The question with Hemstead was whether he could get control of the rushing steeds before they reached the hill.
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1
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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14
craves
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| 渴望，热望( crave的第三人称单数 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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15
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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16
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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23
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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24
inveigled
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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27
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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31
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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32
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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33
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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39
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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40
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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41
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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42
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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43
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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44
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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45
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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46
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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47
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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48
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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49
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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50
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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51
stanza
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| n.（诗）节，段 | |
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52
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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53
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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54
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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55
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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56
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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57
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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58
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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59
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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60
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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61
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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62
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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63
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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64
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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