The intimacy1 between Mrs. Bartlett Glow and Irene increased as the days went by. The woman of society was always devising plans for Irene's entertainment, and winning her confidence by a thousand evidences of interest and affection. Pleased as King was with this at first, he began to be annoyed at a devotion to which he could have no objection except that it often came between him and the enjoyment2 of the girl's society alone; and latterly he had noticed that her manner was more grave when they were together, and that a little something of reserve mingled3 with her tenderness.
They made an excursion one day to Lake George--a poetical4 pilgrimage that recalled to some of the party (which included some New Orleans friends) the romance of early days. To the Bensons and the artist it was all new, and to King it was seen for the first time in the transforming atmosphere of love. To men of sentiment its beauties will never be exhausted6; but to the elderly and perhaps rheumatic tourist the draughty steamboats do not always bring back the remembered delight of youth. There is no pleasanter place in the North for a summer residence, but there is a certain element of monotony and weariness inseparable from an excursion: travelers have been known to yawn even on the Rhine. It was a gray day, the country began to show the approach of autumn, and the view from the landing at Caldwell's, the head of the lake, was never more pleasing. In the marshes7 the cat-tails and the faint flush of color on the alders8 and soft maples9 gave a character to the low shore, and the gentle rise of the hills from the water's edge combined to make a sweet and peaceful landscape.
The tourists find the steamer waiting for them at the end of the rail, and if they are indifferent to the war romances of the place, as most of them are, they hurry on without a glance at the sites of the famous old forts St. George and William Henry. Yet the head of the lake might well detain them a few hours though they do not care for the scalping Indians and their sometime allies the French or the English. On the east side the lake is wooded to the shore, and the jutting10 points and charming bays make a pleasant outline to the eye. Crosbyside is the ideal of a summer retreat, nestled in foliage11 on a pretty point, with its great trees on a sloping lawn, boathouses and innumerable row and sail boats, and a lovely view, over the blue waters, of a fine range of hills. Caldwell itself, on the west side, is a pretty tree-planted village in a break in the hills, and a point above it shaded with great pines is a favorite rendezvous12 for pleasure parties, who leave the ground strewn with egg-shells and newspapers. The Fort William Henry Hotel was formerly13 the chief resort on the lake. It is a long, handsome structure, with broad piazzas15, and low evergreens16 and flowers planted in front. The view from it, under the great pines, of the lake and the northern purple hills, is lovely. But the tide of travel passes it by, and the few people who were there seemed lonesome. It is always so. Fashion demands novelty; one class of summer boarders and tourists drives out another, and the people who want to be sentimental17 at this end of the lake now pass it with a call, perhaps a sigh for the past, and go on to fresh pastures where their own society is encamped.
Lake George has changed very much within ten years; hotels and great boarding-houses line the shores; but the marked difference is in the increase of cottage life. As our tourists sailed down the lake they were surprised by the number of pretty villas18 with red roofs peeping out from the trees, and the occupation of every island and headland by gay and often fantastic summer residences. King had heard this lake compared with Como and Maggiore, and as a patriot19 he endeavored to think that its wild and sylvan20 loveliness was more pleasing than the romantic beauty of the Italian lakes. But the effort failed. In this climate it is impossible that Horicon should ever be like Como. Pretty hills and forests and temporary summer structures cannot have the poetic5 or the substantial interest of the ancient villages and towns clinging to the hills, the old stone houses, the vines, the ruins, the atmosphere of a long civilization. They do the lovely Horicon no service who provoke such comparisons.
The lake has a character of its own. As the traveler sails north and approaches the middle of the lake, the gems21 of green islands multiply, the mountains rise higher, and shouldering up in the sky seem to bar a further advance; toward sunset the hills, which are stately but lovely, a silent assembly of round and sharp peaks, with long, graceful23 slopes, take on exquisite24 colors, violet, bronze, and green, and now and again a bold rocky bluff25 shines like a ruby26 in the ruddy light. Just at dusk the steamer landed midway in the lake at Green Island, where the scenery is the boldest and most romantic; from the landing a park-like lawn, planted with big trees, slopes up to a picturesque27 hotel. Lights twinkled from many a cottage window and from boats in the bay, and strains of music saluted28 the travelers. It was an enchanting29 scene.
The genius of Philadelphia again claims the gratitude30 of the tourist, for the Sagamore Hotel is one of the most delightful31 hostelries in the world. A peculiar32, interesting building, rambling33 up the slope on different levels, so contrived34 that all the rooms are outside, and having a delightful irregularity, as if the house had been a growth. Naturally a hotel so dainty in its service and furniture, and so refined, was crowded to its utmost capacity. The artist could find nothing to complain of in the morning except that the incandescent35 electric light in his chamber36 went out suddenly at midnight and left him in blank darkness in the most exciting crisis of a novel. Green Island is perhaps a mile long. A bridge connects it with the mainland, and besides the hotel it has a couple of picturesque stone and timber cottages. At the north end are the remains37 of the English intrenchments of 1755--signs of war and hate which kindly38 nature has almost obliterated39 with sturdy trees. With the natural beauty of the island art has little interfered40; near the hotel is the most stately grove41 of white birches anywhere to be seen, and their silvery sheen, with occasional patches of sedge, and the tender sort of foliage that Corot liked to paint, gives an exceptional refinement42 to the landscape. One needs, indeed, to be toned up by the glimpses, under the trees, over the blue water, of the wooded craggy hills, with their shelf-like ledges43, which are full of strength and character. The charm of the place is due to this combination of loveliness and granitic44 strength.
Irene long remembered the sail of that morning, seated in the bow of the steamer with King, through scenes of ever-changing beauty, as the boat wound about the headlands and made its calls, now on one side and now on the other, at the pretty landings and decorated hotels. On every hand was the gayety of summer life--a striped tent on a rocky point with a platform erected45 for dancing, a miniature bark but on an island, and a rustic46 arched bridge to the mainland, gaudy47 little hotels with winding48 paths along the shore, and at all the landings groups of pretty girls and college lads in boating costume. It was wonderful how much these holiday makers49 were willing to do for the entertainment of the passing travelers. A favorite pastime in this peaceful region was the broom drill, and its execution gave an operatic character to the voyage. When the steamer approaches, a band of young ladies in military ranks, clad in light marching costume, each with a broom in place of a musket50, descend51 to the landing and delight the spectators with their warlike manoeuvres. The march in the broom-drill is two steps forward and one step back, a mode of progression that conveys the notion of a pleasing indecision of purpose, which is foreign to the character of these handsome Amazons, who are quite able to hold the wharf52 against all comers. This act of war in fancy, dress, with its two steps forward and one back, and the singing of a song, is one of the most fatal to the masculine peace of mind in the whole history of carnage.
Mrs. Bartlett Glow, to be sure, thought it would be out of place at the Casino; but even she had to admit that the American girl who would bewitch the foreigner with her one, two, and one, and her flourish of broom on Lake George, was capable of freezing his ardor53 by her cool good-breeding at Newport.
There was not much more to be done at Saratoga. Mrs. Benson had tried every spring in the valley, and thus anticipated a remedy, as Mr. Benson said, for any possible "complaint" that might visit her in the future. Mr. Benson himself said that he thought it was time for him to move to a new piazza14, as he had worn out half the chairs at the Grand Union. The Bartlett-Glows were already due at Richfield; in fact, Penelope was impatient to go, now that she had persuaded the Bensons to accompany her; and the artist, who had been for some time grumbling54 that there was nothing left in Saratoga to draw except corks55, reminded King of his agreement at Bar Harbor, and the necessity he felt for rural retirement56 after having been dragged all over the continent.
On the last day Mr. Glow took King and Forbes off to the races, and Penelope and the Bensons drove to the lake. King never could tell why he consented to this arrangement, but he knew in a vague way that it is useless to attempt to resist feminine power, that shapes our destiny in spite of all our rough-hewing of its outlines. He had become very uneasy at the friendship between Irene and Penelope, but he could give no reason for his suspicion, for it was the most natural thing in the world for his cousin to be interested in the girl who was about to come into the family. It seemed also natural that Penelope should be attracted by her nobility of nature. He did not know till afterwards that it was this very nobility and unselfishness which Penelope saw could be turned to account for her own purposes. Mrs. Bartlett Glow herself would have said that she was very much attached to Irene, and this would have been true; she would have said also that she pitied her, and this would have been true; but she was a woman whose world was bounded by her own social order, and she had no doubt in her own mind that she was loyal to the best prospects57 of her cousin, and, what was of more importance, that she was protecting her little world from a misalliance when she preferred Imogene Cypher to Irene Benson. In fact, the Bensons in her set were simply an unthinkable element. It disturbed the established order of things. If any one thinks meanly of Penelope for counting upon the heroism58 of Irene to effect her unhappiness, let him reflect of how little consequence is the temporary happiness of one or two individuals compared with the peace and comfort of a whole social order. And she might also well make herself believe that she was consulting the best interests of Irene in keeping her out of a position where she might be subject to so many humiliations. She was capable of crying over the social adventures of the heroine of a love story, and taking sides with her against the world, but as to the actual world itself, her practical philosophy taught her that it was much better always, even at the cost of a little heartache in youth, to go with the stream than against it.
The lake at Saratoga is the most picturesque feature of the region, and would alone make the fortune of any other watering-place. It is always a surprise to the stranger, who has bowled along the broad drive of five miles through a pleasing but not striking landscape, to come suddenly, when he alights at the hotel, upon what seems to be a "fault," a sunken valley, and to look down a precipitous, grassy59, tree-planted slope upon a lake sparkling at the bottom and reflecting the enclosing steep shores. It is like an aqua-marine gem22 countersunk in the green landscape. Many an hour had Irene and Stanhope passed in dreamy contemplation of it. They had sailed down the lake in the little steamer, they had whimsically speculated about this and that couple who took their ices or juleps under the trees or on the piazza of the hotel, and the spot had for them a thousand tender associations. It was here that Stanhope had told her very fully60 the uneventful story of his life, and it was here that she had grown into full sympathy with his aspirations61 for the future.
It was of all this that Irene thought as she sat talking that day with Penelope on a bench at the foot of the hill by the steamboat landing. It was this very future that the woman of the world was using to raise in the mind of Irene a morbid62 sense of her duty. Skillfully with this was insinuated63 the notion of the false and contemptible64 social pride and exclusiveness of Stanhope's relations, which Mrs. Bartlett Glow represented as implacable while she condemned65 it as absurd. There was not a word of opposition66 to the union of Irene and Stanhope: Penelope was not such a bungler67 as to make that mistake. It was not her cue to definitely suggest a sacrifice for the welfare of her cousin. If she let Irene perceive that she admired the courage in her that could face all these adverse68 social conditions that were conjured69 up before her, Irene could never say that Penelope had expressed anything of the sort. Her manner was affectionate, almost caressing70; she declared that she felt a sisterly interest in her. This was genuine enough. I am not sure that Mrs. Bartlett Glow did not sometimes waver in her purpose when she was in the immediate71 influence of the girl's genuine charm, and felt how sincere she was. She even went so far as to wish to herself that Irene had been born in her own world.
It was not at all unnatural72 that Irene should have been charmed by Penelope, and that the latter should gradually have established an influence over her. She was certainly kind-hearted, amiable73, bright, engaging. I think all those who have known her at Newport, or in her New York home, regard her as one of the most charming women in the world. Nor is she artificial, except as society requires her to be, and if she regards the conventions of her own set as the most important things in life, therein she does not differ from hosts of excellent wives and mothers. Irene, being utterly74 candid75 herself, never suspected that Penelope had at all exaggerated the family and social obstacles, nor did it occur to her to doubt Penelope's affection for her. But she was not blind. Being a woman, she comprehended perfectly76 the indirection of a woman's approaches, and knew well enough by this time that Penelope, whatever her personal leanings, must feel with her family in regard to this engagement. And that she, who was apparently77 her friend, and who had Stanhope's welfare so much at heart, did so feel was an added reason why Irene was drifting towards a purpose of self-sacrifice. When she was with Stanhope such a sacrifice seemed as impossible as it would be cruel, but when she was with Mrs. Bartlett Glow, or alone, the subject took another aspect. There is nothing more attractive to a noble woman of tender heart than a duty the performance of which will make her suffer. A false notion of duty has to account for much of the misery78 in life.
It was under this impression that Irene passed the last evening at Saratoga with Stanhope on the piazza of the hotel--an evening that the latter long remembered as giving him the sweetest and the most contradictory79 and perplexing glimpses of a woman's heart.
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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alders
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| n.桤木( alder的名词复数 ) | |
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maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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piazzas
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| n.广场，市场( piazza的名词复数 ) | |
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evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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incandescent
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| adj.遇热发光的， 白炽的，感情强烈的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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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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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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granitic
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| 花岗石的，由花岗岩形成的 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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54
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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corks
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| n.脐梅衣；软木( cork的名词复数 )；软木塞 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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Bungler
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| n.笨拙者，经验不够的人 | |
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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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74
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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75
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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76
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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77
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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78
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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79
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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