the pit-第35部分

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llowed　her　from　one　to　another　with　uncomplaining　stoicism；　she　felt　his　distress；　and　had　contrived　to　return　home　three　months　ahead　of　time。

It　was　during　this　trip　that　they　had　bought　so　many　of　the　pictures　and　appointments　for　the　North　Avenue　house；　and　Laura's　disappointment　over　her　curtailed　European　travels　was　mitigated　by　the　anticipation　of　her　pleasure　in　settling　in　the　new　home。　　This　had　not　been　possible　immediately　after　their　marriage。　　For　nearly　two　years　the　great　place　had　been　given　over　to　contractors；　architects；　decorators；　and　gardeners；　and　Laura　and　her　husband　had　lived；　while　in　Chicago；　at　a　hotel；　giving　up　the　one…time　rectory　on　Cass　Street　to　Page　and　to　Aunt　Wess'。

But　when　at　last　Laura　entered　upon　possession　of　the　North　Avenue　house；　she　was　notafter　the　first　enthusiasm　and　excitement　over　its　magnificence　had　died　downaltogether　pleased　with　it；　though　she　told　herself　the　contrary。　　Outwardly　it　was　all　that　she　could　desire。　　It　fronted　Lincoln　Park；　and　from　all　the　windows　upon　that　side　the　most　delightful　outlooks　were　obtainablegreen　woods；　open　lawns；　the　parade　ground；　the　Lincoln　monument；　dells；　bushes；　smooth　drives；　flower　beds；　and　fountains。　　From　the　great　bay　window　of　Laura's　own　sitting…room　she　could　see　far　out　over　Lake　Michigan；　and　watch　the　procession　of　great　lake　steamers；　from　Milwaukee；　far…distant　Duluth；　and　the　Sault　Sainte　Mariethe　famous　〃Soo〃　defiling　majestically　past；　making　for　the　mouth　of　the　river；　laden　to　the　water's　edge　with　whole　harvests　of　wheat。　　At　night；　when　the　windows　were　open　in　the　warm　weather；　she　could　hear　the　mournful　wash　and　lapping　of　the　water　on　the　embankments。

The　grounds　about　her　home　were　beautiful。　　The　stable　itself　was　half　again　as　large　as　her　old　home　opposite　St。　James's；　and　the　conservatory；　in　which　she　took　the　keenest　delight；　was　a　wonderful　affaira　vast　bubble…like　structure　of　green　panes；　whence；　winter　and　summer；　came　a　multitude　of　flowers　for　the　house　violets；　lilies　of　the　valley；　jonquils；　hyacinths；　tulips；　and　her　own　loved　roses。

But　the　interior　of　the　house　was；　in　parts；　less　satisfactory。　　Jadwin；　so　soon　as　his　marriage　was　a　certainty；　had　bought　the　house；　and　had　given　over　its　internal　furnishings　to；　a　firm　of　decorators。　Innocently　enough　he　had　intended　to　surprise　his　wife；　had　told　himself　that　she　should　not　be　burdened　with　the　responsibility　of　selection　and　planning。　Fortunately；　however；　the　decorators　were　men　of　taste。　There　was　nothing　to　offend；　and　much　to　delight　in　the　results　they　obtained　in　the　dining…room；　breakfast…　room；　parlors；　drawing…rooms；　and　suites　of　bedrooms。　But　Laura；　though　the　beauty　of　it　all　enchanted　her；　could　never　rid　herself　of　a　feeling　that　it　was　not　hers。　　It　impressed　her　with　its　splendour　of　natural　woods　and　dull　〃colour　effects；〃　its　cunning　electrical　devices；　its　mechanical　contrivances　for　comfort；　like　the　ready…made　luxury　and　〃convenience〃　of　a　Pullman。

However；　she　had　intervened　in　time　to　reserve　certain　of　the　rooms　to　herself；　and　thesethe　library；　her　bedroom；　and　more　especially　that　apartment　from　whose　bay　windows　she　looked　out　upon　the　Lake；　and　which；　as　if　she　were　still　in　her　old　home；　she　called　the　〃upstairs　sitting…room〃she　furnished　to　suit　herself。

For　very　long　she　found　it　difficult；　even　with　all　her　resolution；　with　all　her　pleasure　in　her　new…gained　wealth；　to　adapt　herself　to　a　manner　of　living　upon　so　vast　a　scale。　　She　found　herself　continually　planning　the　marketing　for　the　next　day；　forgetting　that　this　now　was　part　of　the　housekeeper's　duties。　　For　months　she　persisted　in　〃doing　her　room〃　after　breakfast；　just　as　she　had　been　taught　to　do　in　the　old　days　when　she　was　a　little　girl　at　Barrington。　　She　was　afraid　of　the　elevator；　and　never　really　learned　how　to　use　the　neat　little　system　of　telephones　that　connected　the　various　parts　of　the　house　with　the　servants'　quarters。　　For　months　her　chiefest　concern　in　her　wonderful　surroundings　took　the　form　of　a　dread　of　burglars。

Her　keenest　delights　were　her　stable　and　the　great　organ　in　the　art　gallery；　and　these　alone　more　than　compensated　for　her　uneasiness　in　other　particulars。

Horses　Laura　adoredblack　ones　with　flowing　tails　and　manes；　like　certain　pictures　she　had　seen。　　Nowadays；　except　on　the　rarest　occasions；　she　never　set　foot　out　of　doors；　except　to　take　her　carriage；　her　coupe；　her　phaeton；　or　her　dog…cart。　　Best　of　all　she　loved　her　saddle　horses。　　She　had　learned　to　ride；　and　the　morning　was　inclement　indeed　that　she　did　not　take　a　long　and　solitary　excursion　through　the　Park；　followed　by　the　groom　and　Jadwin's　two　spotted　coach　dogs。

The　great　organ　terrified　her　at　first。　　But　on　closer　acquaintance　she　came　to　regard　it　as　a　vast…hearted；　sympathetic　friend。　　She　already　played　the　piano　very　well；　and　she　scorned　Jadwin's　self…playing　〃attachment。〃　　A　teacher　was　engaged　to　instruct　her　in　the　intricacies　of　stops　and　of　pedals；　and　in　the　difficulties　of　the　〃echo〃　organ；　〃great〃　organ；　〃choir；〃　and　〃swell。〃　　So　soon　as　she　had　mastered　these；　Laura　entered　upon　a　new　world　of　delight。　　Her　taste　in　music　was　as　yet　a　little　immatureGounod　and　even　Verdi　were　its　limitations。　　But　to　hear；　responsive　to　the　lightest　pressures　of　her　finger…　tips；　the　mighty　instrument　go　thundering　through　the　cadences　of　the　〃Anvil　Chorus〃　gave　her　a　thrilling　sense　of　power　that　was　superb。

The　untrained；　unguided　instinct　of　the　actress　in　Laura　had　fostered　in　her　a　curious　penchant　toward　melodrama。　　She　had　a　taste　for　the　magnificent。　　She　revelled　in　these　great　musical　〃effects〃　upon　her　organ；　the　grandiose　easily　appealed　to　her；　while　as　for　herself；　the　role　of　the　〃_grande　dame；_〃　with　this　wonderful　house　for　background　and　environment；　came　to　be　for　her；　quite　unconsciously；　a　sort　of　game　in　which　she　delighted。

It　was　by　this　means　that；　in　the　end；　she　succeeded　in　fitting　herself　to　her　new　surroundings。　　Innocently　enough；　and　with　a　harmless；　almost　childlike；　affectation；　she　posed　a　little；　and　by　so　doing　found　the　solution　of　the　incongruity　between　herselfthe　Laura　of　moderate　means　and　quiet　lifeand　the　massive　luxury　with　which　she　was　now　surrounded。　　Without　knowing　it；　she　began　to　act　the　part　of　a　great　lady　and　she　acted　it　well。　　She　assumed　the　existence　of　her　numerous　servants　as　she　assumed　the　fact　of　the　trees　in　the　park；　she　gave　herself　into　the　hands　of　her　maid；　not　as　Laura　Jadwin　of　herself　would　have　done　it；　clumsily　and　with　the　constraint　of　inexperience；　but　as　she　would　have　done　it　if　she　had　been　acting　the　part　on　the　stage；　with　an　air；　with　all　the　nonchalance　of　a　marquise；　within　fineall　the　superb　condescension　of　her　〃grand　manner。〃

She　knew　very　well　that　if　she　relaxed　this　hauteur；　that　her　servants　would　impose　on　her；　would　run　over　her；　and　in　this　matter　she　found　new　cause　for　wonder　in　her　husband。

The　servants；　from　the　frigid　butler　to　the　under　groom；　adored　Jadwin。　　A　half…expressed　wish　upon　his　part　produced　a　more　immediate　effect　than　Laura's　most　explicit　orders。　　He　never　descended　to　familiarity　with　them；　and；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　ignored　them　to　such　an　extent　that　he　forgot　or　confused　their　names。　But　where　Laura　was　obeyed　with　precise　formality　and　chilly　deference；　Jadwin　was　served　with　obsequious　alacrity；　and　with　a　good　humour　that　even　livery　and　〃correct　form〃　could　not　altogether　conceal。

Laura's　eyes　were　first　opened　to　this　genuine　affection　which　Jadwin　inspired　in　his　servants　by　an　incident　which　occurred　in　the　first　months　of　their　occupancy　of　the　new　establishment。　　One　of　the　gardeners　discovered　the　fact　that　Jadwin　affected　gardenias　in　the　lapel　of　his　coat；　and　thereat　was　at　immense　pains　to　supply　him　with　a　fresh　bloom　from　the　conservatory　each　morning。　　The　flower　was　to　be　placed　at　Jadwin's　plate；　and　it　was　quite　the　event　of　the　day　for　the　old　fellow　when　the　master　appeared　on　the　front　steps　with　the　flower　in　his　coat。　　But　a　feud　promptly　developed　over　this　matter　between　the　gardener　and　the　maid　who　took　the　butler's　place　at　breakfast　every　morning。　　Sometimes　Jadwin　did　not　get　the　flower；　and　the　gardener　charged　the　maid　with　remissness　in　forgetting　to　place　it　at　his　plate　after　he　had　given　it　into　her　hands。　　In　the　end　the　affair　became　so　clamourous　that　Jadwin　himself　had　to　intervene。　　The　gardener　was　summoned　and　found　to　have　been　in　fault　only　in　his　eagerness　to　please。

〃Billy；〃　said　Jadwin；　to　the　old　man　at　the　conclusion　of　the　whole　matter；　〃you're　an　old　fool。〃

And　the　gardener　thereupon　had　bridled　and　stammered　as　though　Jadwin　had　conferred　a　gift。

〃Now　if　I　had　called　him　'an　old　fool；'〃　observed　Laura；　〃he　would　have　sulked　the　rest　of　the　week。〃

The　happiest　time　of　the　day　for　Laura　was　the　evening。　In　the　daytime　she　was　variously　occupied；　but　her　thoughts　continually　ran　forward　to　the　end　of　the　day；　when　her　husband　would　be　with　her。　　Jadwin　breakfasted　early；　and　Laura　bore　him　company　no　matter　how　late　she　had　stayed　up　the　night　before。　　By　half…past　eight　he　was　out　of　the　house；　driving　down　to　his　office　in　his　buggy　behind　Nip　and　Tuck。　　By　nine　Laura's　own　saddle　horse　was　brought　to　the　carriage　porch；　and　until　eleven　she　rode　in　the　park。　　At　twelve　she　lunched　with　Page；　and　in　the　afternoonin　the　〃upstairs　sitting…room〃　read　her　Browning　or　her　Meredith；　the　latter　one　of　her　newest　discoveries；　till　three　or　four。　　Sometimes　after　that　she　went　out　in　her　carriage。　　If　it　was　to　〃shop〃　she　drove　to　the　〃Rookery；〃　in　La　Salle　Street；　after　her　purchases　were　made；　and　sent　the　footman　up　to　her　husband's　office　to　say　that　she　would　take　him　home。　　Or　as　often　as　not　she　called　for　Mrs。　Cressler　or　Aunt　Wess'　or　Mrs。　Gretry；　and　carried　them　off　to　some　exhibit　of　painting；　or　flowers；　or　more　rarelyfor　she　had　not　the　least　interest　in　social　affairsto　teas　or　receptions。

But　in　the　evenings；　after　dinner；　she　had　her　husband　to　herself。　　Page　was　almost　invariably　occupied　by　one　or　more　of　her　young　men　in　the　drawing…room；　but　Laura　and　Jadwin　shut　themselves　in　the　library；　a　lofty　panelled　rooma　place　of　deep　leather　cha