At first Alora was heart-broken over her mother's loss. She lived in a sort of stupor1 for weeks after the funeral. Her father's presence she accepted without comment or emotion, for it had been arranged by "Mamma Tone." She did not consider, in those first weeks, whether she cared for her newly found father or not. Her mother's statement that he was a "good man" and would love Alora dearly was taken by the child as a matter of fact, while her mother's injunction to love him and confide2 in him in her stead was for the present ignored.
Indeed, during those first weeks Lory had no fault to find with her new protector, for she saw little of him. Jason Jones retained his room at the hotel and allowed Alora and her governess to inhabit the handsome suite3 her mother had occupied, although they were much too small for the big apartments. However, Lory would have felt uncomfortable, just then, in any other place. Her mother's chamber4 was closed and the curtains drawn5, but every night before she retired6 to her own little room the child would steal in, in the dark, and feel her way to the empty bed and kiss the pillow on which her dear mother's head had rested. Miss Gorham, the governess, was aware of these evening excursions, but offered no objection. Indeed, the woman objected to nothing that did not interfere7 with her own personal comfort and convenience. Under the eyes of Mrs. Jones she had been prim8 and dutiful, but there was no one to chide9 her now, however neglectful she chose to be, and it was true that during these days the little girl required no particular care. Alora resumed her morning studies with meekness10 a week after her mother had been laid away, and in the afternoons she rode or walked with Miss Gorham or received the callers who came to "console poor Antoinette Seaver Jones' child."
Despite her haughty11 reserve, Mrs. Antoinette Seaver Jones had accumulated a wide circle of acquaintances—if not friends—who sincerely mourned her untimely death and would have been glad to befriend her little girl were such services needed. But it was known that Alora's father had now appeared to guard her welfare and there was "so much money in the Jones family" that no financial aid was required; therefore, these acquaintances could only call to see Alora and profess12 their friendship.
The child listened gravely to their stilted13 praises of her mother and accepted their platitudes14 in good faith. It was indeed comforting to hear so many nice things said of her loved one.
Her father was never present on these occasions. He was by no means a sociable15 man. Sometimes he came in for a few minutes, in the morning, and sat down and stared at the girl in a way half curious and half speculative16, and said little, and presently went away as quietly as he had come.
The nurse, Janet Orme, left on the day that Mrs. Jones died, and Alora had almost forgotten the young woman when one afternoon she came to see her. Janet no longer wore her nurse's uniform but was dressed in ultra-fashionable apparel and to the child's amusement affected17 the manners of a lady. She talked more with Miss Gorham than with the little girl and was keen to know what arrangements had been made for their future. Miss Gorham admitted that she had no idea of Mr. Jones' intentions. Of course they could not remain long in this elaborate suite; a smaller one would be more satisfactory in every way; but Mr. Jones had not as yet mentioned the subject.
A few days afterward18, during one of their walks, Alora was surprised to see her father and nurse Janet riding past in a hired automobile19. The two seemed engaged in earnest conversation and neither noticed Alora or her governess. Miss Gorham snorted rather disdainfully but without remark, and Lory was not especially interested in the matter.
Meantime, letters of administration had been issued to Jason Jones and the control of his wife's—now Alora's—property legally placed in his hands. Judge Bernsted attended to all the necessary details and, while he did not admire the artist and secretly believed he was unfitted for the task of handling so much money, he loyally insisted that the dead woman's wishes be obeyed to the letter.
Dr. Anstruther had called on the attorney and had ventured to state his misgivings20 concerning Jason Jones, pleading that Alora was likely to suffer through the man's indifference21 and lack of culture, but Judge Bernsted declared it was not his duty to criticise22 character but to see that the wishes of his clients were obeyed. In this case doubtless the man's wife knew him more intimately than anyone else and if she trusted him, aware as she must be of his faults and virtues23, it would be presumptuous24 for anyone to try to break her will or otherwise interfere with her carefully planned arrangements.
But Jason Jones was improving, in a way. He had bought new clothes and a supply of linen25, and although he did not wear them with the ease of one accustomed to modish26 dress they certainly improved his appearance. He was quiet and unassuming; he made no friends and few acquaintances; he never mentioned himself or his personal history and never referred to his wife except when forced to do so by some of "her meddling27 friends"—well meaning people who sought his acquaintance to condole28 with him or perhaps to attempt to "cultivate" him for Antoinette Seaver Jones' sake. But these found him so unresponsive that they soon left him alone.
The legal business, even though it progressed smoothly29, required time for consummation, so it was somewhat more than three months before all the details were complete. Alora, a sad-faced child with no especial interest in life, kept no track of time and plodded30 along in her morning-studies and took her afternoon drives or walks in a perfunctory manner that rendered Miss Gorham's duties light indeed. But all this ended suddenly, and Jason Jones ended it.
"Just what I say. Get the child's things and your own ready to move out of this place by Saturday. Also pack the personal belongings33 of Mrs. Jones. Put them in separate trunks and boxes, so I can have them stored. Do you understand me?"
"Then get a maid—or a porter—or both—to help you."
Alora was present and listened with awakening35 interest. A change of any sort would be pleasant, she reflected.
"Where are we going?" she asked, as her father turned away.
It was the one question Miss Gorham wanted to ask, too, but Mr. Jones left the room without reply.
Three days was little enough time to gather up and pack the accumulation of years. The governess knew there were many big trunks in the storeroom of the hotel belonging to Mrs. Jones, and these she ordered brought up to the rooms. Then she procured36 two maids, told them what and how to pack, and composedly resumed her reading.
"I am no menial," she told Alora, with a lofty air of superiority; "these persons will do their work properly, I'm sure."
On Saturday morning Mr. Jones appeared again.
"Is everything ready?" he demanded.
"Ask Susan and Jane," replied Miss Gorham.
"But where are we going?" inquired the governess.
"You are going wherever you please," said Jason Jones. "I do not require your services longer."
"You're going to discharge me?" she said, startled.
"You are already discharged."
"But who will look after poor Lory? Who will attend to her education, and to—to—her comforts?"
"I will. Here is your money. I have paid you a week in advance, in lieu of notice."
"Have you a written contract?"
"No; a verbal contract is just as good."
"It won't hold in law. Take your traps and go—at once."
The governess looked at him. He was absolutely calm and determined39. Instinctively40 she knew that any protest would be unavailing.
Alora regarded the dismissal of her governess with as much unconcern as her father displayed. Miss Gorham had been her companion for years, but had never won the smallest corner of the girl's heart. Although she was not aware of the fact, the woman's constant presence and lack of interest in her had become oppressive. The child's first sensation, on realizing their future separation, was one of distinct relief.
When Miss Gorham had gone, seeming to begrudge41 the terse42 "good-bye" she gave her pupil, the girl's father quietly said: "Come, Alora," and walked away.
She followed him to a waiting taxicab, in which had been heaped her hand luggage and his own, and they drove away from the grand hotel where she had lived in luxury for so long, and where so many indelible memories had been impressed upon her childish mind, with as little ado as if they had been transient guests.
When the cab drew up at a railway station, Alora asked:
"Are we leaving town, then, father?"
"Yes," he replied; "I am returning to New York."
She felt a slight sinking of the heart, just then, but it was followed by a sense of elation43. The old life, in which her adored mother had played so prominent a part, was being abandoned forever, and this troubled her, she knew not why.
But since Mamma Tone had gone away the old life had lost its charm and become dull and stupid. Lory was not sure she could be happier elsewhere, but her crushed and dispirited nature responded to the suggestion of change. It was interesting to have something different to look forward to.
The man beside her was no more congenial than Gorham had been, but he was her father; he was the guardian44 selected by her dead mother, and in obeying his wishes she might find her future life more grateful than had been the dreadful dreary45 months since Mamma Tone had left her.
Somehow, Jason Jones seemed uneasy in the presence of his daughter. During the journey to New York he rode most of the time in the smoking compartment46, only appearing to take Alora to the diner for her meals. The child was equally uncomfortable in her father's society and was well pleased to be left so much alone.
So, with very little questioning or conversation on either side, father and daughter came to their destination and Alora found herself deposited in a small suite of rooms on the third floor of a grimy and dingy47 house in East Sixty-seventh Street—one of a long row of similar houses that were neither residences nor business establishments, but hovered48 between the two. There were several little tin signs nailed beside the entrance and Lory noticed that one of these read: "Jason Jones. Studio. 3rd Floor." It was an old sign, scarcely legible, while others beside it seemed bright and new, and when the girl had climbed laboriously49 up the three flights and the artist had unlocked the door at the head of the stairs, with a key which he took from his pocket, she found everything about the rooms she entered as old and faded as the sign on the door.
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1
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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8
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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stilted
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| adj.虚饰的；夸张的 | |
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platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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15
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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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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presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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modish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的 | |
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meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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28
condole
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| v.同情；慰问 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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32
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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35
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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satchels
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| n.书包( satchel的名词复数 ) | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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41
begrudge
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| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
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42
terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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43
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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44
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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45
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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46
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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47
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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48
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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49
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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