What Will People Say? A Novel 21 – Hughes · Verses Across
Literature · Romance
What Will People Say? A Novel 21Chapter 21
18
Literature · Romance
What Will People Say? A Novel 21
Chapter 21
HughesEnglish
Persis had not misjudged Forbes. If she had told him then that she was another man's betrothed, he would have changed his whole attitude toward her. He would have flirted with her no more. He would have ceased to regard her with ambition or desire. She would have become again only another piece of jewelry in a shop-window--beautiful, but not for him; beautiful, but already bespoken. He was not of the covetous and burglarious type that always wants other people's property.
Equally, the romance would have ended before it began if Forbes had told Persis that he was not rich, as Ten Eyck had carelessly assumed.
Persis might have liked him and admired him and been great friends with him; but she would not have admitted him to the anteroom that all hearts have where those eligible to the inner soul are first admitted to wait their time.
Persis did not make a test of money any more than the rest of her set did. Many enormously wealthy strugglers were wasting coin and labor in a vain effort to bribe a smile from these really unimportant persons. Many poor artists, actors, authors, town wits, were welcomed to their boon companionship. These latter paid their way by bringing along their charm or notoriety as their contribution to the picnic. But they rarely married into the set.
In spite of all the talk of snobbery and wealth-worship, it is really very simple. People are people, and classes are merely clubs where more or less congenial neighbors coagulate, more or less haphazard. Those that cannot pay the dues drop into other clubs. Even labor-unions are run in that way.
And in classes as well as in clubs two kinds of persons are most offensive: those who try to force their way in unsolicited, and those who do not keep up their end of the expenses. The social struggler and the man who never stands treat when it comes his turn are welcome nowhere, from the slums up.
Some such thought as this came by coincidence into Forbes' mind. He realized suddenly that he was accepting a deal of hospitality and repaying none. He knew that he could do nothing to dazzle these people, but he could not endure to take their favors as charities or tips. He was wondering vaguely just what he could do when the problem was solved for him.
He was resolved not to relinquish what he had gained in Persis' esteem. He would cling to her, keep at her heels, till the chance came to prove how dear he held her.
He had dropped the question of her betrothal to Enslee, sure that it was a paradox. Now he realized that he had no further promise of meeting Persis except on horseback and with her father alongside. He put forth an antenna.
"Am I ever going to see you again?"
"I shouldn't be at all surprised," she answered, blowing neither cold nor hot.
"To-morrow?"
"Maybe."
"Where?"
"Oh, I'll probably be dancing at some tea-place or other, as usual."
"Don't you ever stop dancing?"
"Sometimes."
"Could I see you one of those times?"
"Why, yes, of course."
"When?"
"Oh, almost any time."
"Any time is no time."
"I haven't my engagement-book here. I can't remember."
He was hoping that she would ask him to call, but she failed to take the hook. He surprised himself by saying with an abrupt rashness:
"Will you take lunch with me to-morrow?"
He had a vision of a charming little hour alone with her in the solitude made by a crowd. She missed the point, and asked:
"Do you mean all of us?"
"I suppose I do. I reckon I wouldn't dare ask you alone."
"I reckon you betta hadn't," she said, mocking his accent as best she could.
"When will you-all come?"
"Oh, it would be right smart of a job to get us-all together at the same time."
He smiled at her burlesque, but persisted:
"How would you like to--to give the party and order the fodder? I'm just back from the Philippines, you know. I could get up a mess for my company, but I'm afraid I couldn't feed you people to your liking."
"Oh, nobody eats anything any more, or drinks much of anything."
"All the more reason for having what you do have right. Won't you order it for me, and tell me where to have it?"
She was tempted to seize the chance. It was a delight to her to compose a meal. It was a kind of millinery or dressmaking in its art of arrangement. She checked herself on the brink of acceptance, realizing that it would set people to talking if she conducted Forbes' entertainments for him. Even Willie, who was neither very observing nor very jealous, would raise a row at that.
"I'll tell you," she said. "Ask Mrs. Neff to be the hostess. You're under some obligations to her, and none to me."
"May I ask her to order the luncheon, too?" said Forbes, with dwindled enthusiasm.
"Oh no; you must do that!"
"I'm afraid I don't know what to have."
"It's the simplest thing in the world. Just go to the Ritz-Carlton and ask for Fernand. Tell him I'm coming, and I said for him to take good care of you--of us. And now let's see who can come."
She strolled about with him while he made his invitations. Everybody had engagements of various sorts, but they were brittle. Mrs. Neff was flattered immeasurably, and asked if she could bring Alice along. She was afraid to leave her lest she connive with Stowe Webb at some escapade. Bob Fielding could not come so far up-town from his office, and Winifred could be present only if she were permitted to be late.
"I'm not allowed to eat anything, anyway," she moaned, "except a little dried toast and some lemon-juice; and the waiters treat me like a dog. But I'll be there if you'll protect me."
Ten Eyck had planned to run down to Piping Rock, but he would not desert Forbes in his hour of peril. Willie had an important engagement with one of the executors of his father's estate, but he quickly shifted it when he found that Persis was to be present. This made seven all told, four women and three men.
"I could get more if you want," said Persis; "but seven is lucky, and more is no fun."
"Seven is just right," said Forbes, with a little premonitory chill at the thought of the probable cost.
It was finally agreed that they were to lunch late, take a little spin round town, and then turkey-trot again in the afternoon.
Forbes was amazed at himself. Now he was to play the host, and Persis was to be at his elbow! Or should he put her opposite him, as if she were his wife? What a decoration she would be at a man's home table!
The word "home" took a new timbre in his soul. Hitherto home had meant the tall, white columns and broad lawns where his mother lived. Now it began to mean almost any place--soldiers' quarters, hotel--any place where Persis would rest awhile. Even the humming-bird has a nest to go to when its wings are tired. Some day Persis must nest, too. Her wings could not beat on forever.
