It was indeed a busy day for Jack1. Great injustice2 would be done him if it were supposed that he did not take himself and his occupations seriously. His mind was not disturbed by trifles. He knew that he had on the right sort of four-in-hand necktie, with the appropriate pin of pear-shaped pearl, and that he carried the cane3 of the season. These things come by a sort of social instinct, are in the air, as it were, and do not much tax the mind. He had to hasten a little to keep his half-past-eleven o'clock appointment at Stalker's stables, and when he arrived several men of his set were already waiting, who were also busy men, and had made a little effort to come round early and assist Jack in making up his mind about the horse.
When Mr. Stalker brought out Storm, and led him around to show his action, the connoisseurs4 took on a critical attitude, an attitude of judgment5, exhibited not less in the poise6 of the head and the serious face than in the holding of the cane and the planting of legs wide apart. And the attitude had a refined nonchalance7 which professional horsemen scarcely ever attain8. Storm could not have received more critical and serious attention if he had been a cooked terrapin9. He could afford to stand this scrutiny10, and he seemed to move about with the consciousness that he knew more about being a horse than his judges.
Storm was, in fact, a splendid animal, instinct with life from his thin flaring11 nostril12 to his small hoof13; black as a raven14, his highly groomed15 skin took the polish of ebony, and showed the play of his powerful muscles, and, one might say, almost the nervous currents that thrilled his fine texture16. His large, bold eyes, though not wicked, flamed now and then with an energy and excitement that gave ample notice that he would obey no master who had not stronger will and nerve than his own. It was a tribute to Jack's manliness17 that, when he mounted him for a turn in the ring, Storm seemed to recognize the fine quality of both seat and hand, and appeared willing to take him on probation18.
"He's got good points," said Mr. Herbert Albert Flick19, "but I'd like a straighter back."
"I'll be hanged, though, Jack," was Mr. Mowbray Russell's comment, "if I'd ride him in the Park before he's docked. Say what you like about action, a horse has got to have style."
"Moves easy, falls off a little too much to suit me in the quarter," suggested Mr. Pennington Docstater, sucking the head of his cane. "How about his staying quality, Stalker?"
"That's just where he is, Mr. Docstater; take him on the road, he's a stayer for all day. Goes like a bird. He'll take you along at the rate of nine miles in forty-five minutes as long as you want to sit there."
"Jump?" queried20 little Bobby Simerton, whose strong suit at the club was talking about meets and hunters.
"Never refused anything I put him at," replied Stalker; "takes every fence as if it was the regular thing."
Storm was in this way entirely21 taken to pieces, praised and disparaged22, in a way to give Stalker, it might be inferred from his manner, a high opinion of the knowledge of these young gentlemen. "It takes a gentleman," in fact, Stalker said, "to judge a hoss, for a good hoss is a gentleman himself." It was much discussed whether Storm would do better for the Park or for the country, whether it would be better to put him in the field or keep him for a roadster. It might, indeed, be inferred that Jack had not made up his mind whether he should buy a horse for use in the Park or for country riding. Even more than this might be inferred from the long morning's work, and that was that while Jack's occupation was to buy a horse, if he should buy one his occupation would be gone. He was known at the club to be looking for the right sort of a horse, and that he knew what he wanted, and was not easily satisfied; and as long as he occupied this position he was an object of interest to sellers and to his companions.
Perhaps Mr. Stalker understood this, for when the buyers had gone he remarked to the stable-boy, "Mr. Delancy, he don't want to buy no hoss."
When the inspection23 of the horse was finished it was time for lunch, and the labors24 of the morning were felt to justify25 this indulgence, though each of the party had other engagements, and was too busy to waste the time. They went down to the Knickerbocker.
The lunch was slight, but its ordering took time and consideration, as it ought, for nothing is so destructive of health and mental tone as the snatching of a mid-day meal at a lunch counter from a bill of fare prepared by God knows whom. Mr. Russell said that if it took time to buy a horse, it ought to take at least equal time and care to select the fodder26 that was to make a human being wretched or happy. Indeed, a man who didn't give his mind to what he ate wouldn't have any mind by-and-by to give to anything. This sentiment had the assent27 of the table, and was illustrated28 by varied29 personal experience; and a deep feeling prevailed, a serious feeling, that in ordering and eating the right sort of lunch a chief duty of a useful day had been discharged.
It must not be imagined from this, however, that the conversation was about trifles. Business men and operators could have learned something about stocks and investments, and politicians about city politics. Mademoiselle Vivienne, the new skirt dancer, might have been surprised at the intimate tone in which she was alluded30 to, but she could have got some useful hints in effects, for her judges were cosmopolitans31 who had seen the most suggestive dancing in all parts of the world. It came out incidentally that every one at table had been "over" in the course of the season, not for any general purpose, not as a sightseer, but to look at somebody's stables, or to attend a wedding, or a sale of etchings, or to see his bootmaker, or for a little shooting in Scotland, just as one might run down to Bar Harbor or Tuxedo32. It was only an incident in a busy season; and one of the fruits of it appeared to be as perfect a knowledge of the comparative merits of all the ocean racers and captains as of the English and American stables and the trainers. One not informed of the progress of American life might have been surprised to see that the fad33 is to be American, with a sort of patronage34 of things and ways foreign, especially of things British, a large continental35 kind of attitude, begotten36 of hearing much about Western roughing it, of Alaska, of horse-breeding and fruit-raising on the Pacific, of the Colorado River Canon. As for stuffs, well yes, London. As for style, you can't mistake a man who is dressed in New York.
The wine was a white Riesling from California. Docstater said his attention had been called to it by Tom Dillingham at the Union, who had a ranch37 somewhere out there. It was declared to be sound and palatable38; you know what you are drinking. This led to a learned discussion of the future of American wines, and a patriotic39 impulse was given to the trade by repeated orders. It was declared that in American wines lay the solution of the temperance question. Bobby Simerton said that Burgundy was good enough for him, but Russell put him down, as he saw the light yellow through his glass, by the emphatic40 affirmation that plenty of cheap American well-made wine would knock the bottom out of all the sentimental41 temperance societies and shut up the saloons, dry up all those not limited to light wines and beer. It was agreed that the saloons would have to go.
This satisfactory conclusion was reached before the coffee came on and the cigarettes, and the sound quality of the Riesling was emphasized by a pony42 of cognac.
It is fortunate when the youth of a country have an ideal. No nation is truly great without a common ideal, capable of evoking43 enthusiasm and calling out its energies. And where are we to look for this if not in the youth, and especially in those to whom fortune and leisure give an opportunity of leadership? It is they who can inspire by their example, and by their pursuits attract others to a higher conception of the national life. It may take the form of patriotism44, as in this country, pride in the great republic, jealousy45 of its honor and credit, eagerness for its commanding position among the nations, patriotism which will show itself, in all the ardor46 of believing youth, in the administration of law, in the purity of politics, in honest local government, and in a noble aspiration47 for the glory of the country. It may take the form of culture, of a desire that the republic-liable, like all self-made nations, to worship wealth-should be distinguished48 not so much by a vulgar national display as by an advance in the arts, the sciences, the education that adorns49 life, in the noble spirit of humanity, and in the nobler spirit of recognition of a higher life, which will be content with no civilization that does not tend to make the country for every citizen a better place to live in today than it was yesterday. Happy is the country, happy the metropolis50 of that country, whose fortunate young men have this high conception of citizenship51!
What is the ideal of their country which these young men cherish? There was a moment--was there not for them?--in the late war for the Union, when the republic was visible to them in its beauty, in its peril52, and in a passion of devotion they were eager--were they not?--to follow the flag and to give their brief lives to its imperishable glory. Nothing is impossible to a nation with an ideal like that. It was this flame that ran over Europe in the struggle of France against a world in arms. It was this national ideal that was incarnate53 in Napoleon, as every great idea that moves the world is sooner or later incarnated54. What was it that we saw in Washington on his knees at Valley Forge, or blazing with wrath55 at the cowardice56 on Monmouth? in Lincoln entering Richmond with bowed head and infinite sorrow and yearning57 in his heart? An embodiment of a great national idea and destiny.
In France this ideal burns yet like a flame, and is still evoked58 by a name. It is the passion of glory, but the desire of a nation, and Napoleon was the incarnation of passion. They say that he is not dead as others are dead, but that he may come again and ride at the head of his legions, and strike down the enemies of France; that his bugle59 will call the youth from every hamlet, that the roll of his drum will transform France into a camp, and the grenadiers will live again and ride with him, amid hurrahs, and streaming tears, and shouts of "My Emperor! Oh, my Emperor!" Is it only a legend? But the spirit is there; not a boy but dreams of it, not a girl but knots the thought in with her holiday tricolor. That is to have an abiding60 ideal, and patiently to hold it, in isolation61, in defeat, even in an overripe civilization.
We believe--do we not?--in other triumphs than those of the drum and the sword. Our aspirations62 for the republic are for a nobler example of human society than the world has yet seen. Happy is the country, and the metropolis of the country, whose youth, gilded63 only by their virtues64, have these aspirations.
When the party broke up, the street lamps were beginning to twinkle here and there, and Jack discovered to his surprise that the Twiss business would have to go over to another day. It was such a hurrying life in New York. There was just time for a cup of tea at Mrs. Trafton's. Everybody dropped in there after five o'clock, when the duties of the day were over, with the latest news, and to catch breath before rushing into the program of the evening.
There were a dozen ladies in the drawing-room when Jack entered, and his first impression was that the scream of conversation would be harder to talk against than a Wagner opera; but he presently got his cup of tea, and found a snug65 seat in the chimney-corner by Miss Tavish; indeed, they moved to it together, and so got a little out of the babel. Jack thought the girl looked even prettier in her walking-dress than when he saw her at the studio; she had style, there was no doubt about that; and then, while there was no invitation in her manner, one felt that she was a woman to whom one could easily say things, and who was liable at any moment to say things interesting herself.
"Is this your first appearance since last night, Mr. Delancy?"
"Oh no; I've been racing66 about on errands all day. It is very restful to sit down by a calm person."
"Well, I never shut my eyes till nine o'clock. I kept seeing that Spanish woman whirl around and contort, and--do you mind my telling you?--I couldn't just help it, I" (leaning forward to Jack) "got up and tried it before the glass. There! Are you shocked?"
"Not so much shocked as excluded," Jack dared to say. "But do you think--".
"Yes, I know. There isn't anything that an American girl cannot do. I've made up my mind to try it. You'll see."
"Will I?"
"No, you won't. Don't flatter yourself. Only girls. I don't want men around."
"Neither do I," said Jack, honestly.
Miss Tavish laughed. "You are too forward, Mr. Delancy. Perhaps some time, when we have learned, we will let in a few of you, to look in at the door, fifty dollars a ticket, for some charity. I don't see why dancing isn't just as good an accomplishment67 as playing the harp68 in a Greek dress."
"Nor do I; I'd rather see it. Besides, you've got Scripture69 warrant for dancing off the heads of people. And then it is such a sweet way of doing a charity. Dancing for the East Side is the best thing I have heard yet."
"You needn't mock. You won't when you find out what it costs you."
"What are you two plotting?" asked Mrs. Trafton, coming across to the fireplace.
"Charity," said Jack, meekly70.
"Your wife was here this morning to get me to go and see some of her friends in Hester Street."
"You went?"
"Not today. It's awfully71 interesting, but I've been."
"Edith seems to be devoted72 to that sort of thing," remarked Miss Tavish.
"Yes," said Jack, slowly, "she's got the idea that sympathy is better than money; she says she wants to try to understand other people's lives."
"Goodness knows, I'd like to understand my own."
"And were you trying, Mr. Delancy, to persuade Miss Tavish into that sort of charity?"
"Oh dear, no," said Jack; "I was trying to interest the East End in something, for the benefit of Miss Tavish."
"You'll find that's one of the most expensive remarks you ever made," retorted Miss Tavish, rising to go.
"I wish Lily Tavish would marry," said Mrs. Trafton, watching the girl's slender figure as it passed through the portiere; "she doesn't know what to do with herself."
Jack shrugged73 his shoulders. "Yes, she'd be a lovely wife for somebody;" and then he added, as if reminiscently, "if he could afford it. Good-by."
"That's just a fashion of talking. I never knew a time when so many people afforded to do what they wanted to do. But you men are all alike. Good-by."
When Jack reached home it was only a little after six o'clock, and as they were not to go out to dine till eight, he had a good hour to rest from the fatigues74 of the day, and run over the evening papers and dip into the foreign periodicals to catch a topic or two for the dinner-table.
"Yes, sir," said the maid, "Mrs. Delancy came in an hour ago."
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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connoisseurs
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| n.鉴赏家，鉴定家，行家( connoisseur的名词复数 ) | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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terrapin
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| n.泥龟；鳖 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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nostril
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| n.鼻孔 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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manliness
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| 刚毅 | |
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probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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disparaged
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| v.轻视( disparage的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cosmopolitans
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| 世界性的( cosmopolitan的名词复数 )； 全球各国的； 有各国人的； 受各国文化影响的 | |
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tuxedo
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| n.礼服，无尾礼服 | |
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fad
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| n.时尚；一时流行的狂热；一时的爱好 | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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evoking
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| 产生，引起，唤起( evoke的现在分词 ) | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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adorns
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| 装饰，佩带( adorn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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54
incarnated
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| v.赋予（思想、精神等）以人的形体( incarnate的过去式和过去分词 )；使人格化；体现；使具体化 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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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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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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71
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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72
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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73
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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74
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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