IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A DAMSEL OR THE DEVIL--WHICH?
When Paula had said to Leonard that Natalie and Miss Claghorn "hit it
off astonishingly well," she had fairly indicated the harmonious
relations prevailing at the White House, as well as the general
astonishment that the elder lady had so graciously received a religious
outcast. It was true that Miss Achsah's innate benevolence was
habitually shrouded in uncompromising orthodoxy, a tough and
non-diaphanous texture, not easily penetrable by futile concern for
souls preordained to eternal death; but Natalie was of her own blood,
one of a long line of elect; furthermore, she had not been seduced by
the blandishments of the Great Serpent, but had cast her lot, where it
truly belonged, among Claghorns; and, finally, the oldest bearer of that
name was doubtless influenced by the fact that the girl was motherless
and friendless, and that she herself, paying the penalty of
independence, was, except as to Tabitha Cone, with whom she lived in
strife, alone.
Miss Cone also approved of the visitor. This had been originally an
accident. Like the rest of the little world interested, Tabitha had
supposed that Miss Claghorn's reception of a foreign and atheistical
daughter of Beverley Claghorn would be as ungracious as was compatible
with humanity; wherefore Tabitha had been prepared, for her part, to be
extremely affable, foreseeing, with joy, many a battle with her
benefactress wherein she would have an ally; but, taken unawares, by the
time she had grasped the unexpected situation, she had become too
sincere in her admiration to change her role. She chose, however, to
announce an estimate of Natalie's character differing from that of Miss
Claghorn. "She's a Beverley down to her shins," was Miss Cone's
verdict.
"As much of a Beverley as you are a Claghorn," was Miss Achsah's tart
rejoinder.
"Which, thank the Lord, I'm not. One's enough in one house. For my part,
I don't admire your strong characters."
"So that your admiration of Natalie is all pretense. I'm not surprised."
"She strong! Poor dove, she's Susan Beverley to the life." Which may
have been true, though dove-like Natalie was not.
Miss Claghorn made no reply except by means of a contradictory snort.
"Now," gravely continued the inwardly jubilant Tabitha, "I call Paula
Lynford a strong character. There's a girl that'll get what she's
after."
Something ominous in the manner of the speaker arrested the sneer on its
way. "What do you mean?" asked Miss Achsah.
"What do all girls want--though, to be sure, you've had no experience,"
observed Tabitha (who had once contemplated marriage with a mariner, who
had escaped by drowning)--"a husband."
Miss Claghorn laughed. "Very likely. But Paula's husband will need a
dispensation--from the Pope, I suppose--since he calls himself a
Catholic."
Tabitha echoed the laugh, less nervously and with palpable and unholy
enjoyment. "You mean her cap's set for Father Cameril. She's been
throwing dust in your eyes. She's after a minister, sure enough, but not
that one."
"What do you mean, Tabitha Cone?" The tone of the question usually had
the effect of cowing Tabitha, but the temptation was too strong to be
resisted.
"I mean Leonard Claghorn."
Miss Achsah gasped. "You slanderous creature," she exclaimed, "Leonard
will never marry a mock-papist--demure puss!"
"Leonard'll marry to suit himself, and not his forty-fifth cousin." And
with this Tabitha escaped, leaving a rankling arrow.
As an "atheist," Natalie was a surprise to both inmates of the White
House. Their ideas of atheistic peculiarities were probably vague, but
each had regarded the arrival of the unbeliever with dread. Tabitha had
foreboded profanity, perhaps even inebriety, depravity certainly, and
she had been quite "upset," to use her own expression, by the reality.
Miss Claghorn, with due respect for family traits, had never shared
Tabitha's worst fears, but she had anticipated a very different kind of
person from the person that Natalie actually was. She had pictured a
hard, cynical, intellectual creature, critical as to the shortcomings of
creation, full of "science," and pertly obtrusive with views. She had
feared theological discussion, and though convinced that her armory
(comprised in Dr. Hodge's "Commentary on the Confession of Faith") was
amply furnished to repel atheistic assault, yet she dreaded the onset,
having, perhaps, some distrust of her own capacity for handling her
weapons.
But the atheist was neither scientific nor argumentative. She was so
graceful, so amiable, in short, so charming, that both old women were
quickly won; so gay that both were surprised to hear their own laughter.
Sufficiently foreign to be of continual interest, and so pleased and
entertained with her new surroundings that they would have been churlish
indeed not to accept her pleasure as flattering to themselves.
At times, indeed, both had misgivings. The devil is abroad, and it was
conceivable that in the form of this seductive creature he had
audaciously invaded the White House for prey, such as rarely fell into
his toils; but each spinster was too sure of her own call and election
to fear the enemy of souls on her individual account, and Miss Claghorn
doubted whether even the temerity of Satan would suffice for the
hopeless attempt to capture an orthodox Claghorn; and this assurance
aided the belief that Natalie, herself of the elect race, was neither
the devil's emissary, nor in the direful peril that had been feared. She
might think herself an infidel, but her time was not yet come, that was
all.
"I am sure she has workings of the spirit," she observed to Tabitha.
"She's not always as lighthearted as you think."
"I don't happen to think it. A good deal of that's put on."
"Everybody don't experience grace as early as you and I."
"Specially not in Paris," assented Miss Cone.
"She was surely guided of the Lord in leaving the influence of Romanism
to----"
"'Cording to your view she hasn't escaped yet; there's St. Perpetua----"
"She's too true a Claghorn to be led into that folly."
"I don't know," observed Miss Cone meditatively, "that the Claghorns are
less foolish than other people. There was 'Liph, her father; 'n there's
Lettie Stanley--then your brother. St. Perpetua's his monument, you
know."
"Joseph would never have approved St. Perpetua. If he'd been a Catholic,
it wouldn't have been an imitation."
"His wife ought to know the kind of monument he would have liked. I've
known the Claghorns long enough to know----"
"You've known some of 'em, to your eternal welfare, Tabitha Cone."
"I'm not aware that the family was consulted when my election was
foreordained. You think well of 'em, and I won't deny their good
qualities--but I guess the Almighty didn't have to wait until their
creation to manage."
"You seem very sure of election. I hope you are not to be disappointed,
but you might accept the fact with some humility."
"Your brother, Natalie's grandfather, had a license to preach--I'm not
aware that you have--he taught me that the fact was to be accepted with
joy and gladness."
"Joy and gladness are not inconsistent with humility."
"I'm not denyin' your right to be joyful, but your right to preach."
"Tabitha Cone, you'd try the patience of a saint!"
"_If_ I had the opportunity!" And so, with whetted swords they plunged
into the fray.
The newcomer was graciously welcomed at Stormpoint, though Paula
bewailed her selection of abode, tending, as it did, to frustrate
certain plans, which were to result in alluring Natalie to the
sheltering arms of St. Perpetua. Paula was confident of the courage of
Father Cameril, but even a brave man may hesitate to pluck a jewel from
the den of a lion, and she knew that to such a den the good Father
likened the home of Miss Claghorn.
But Mrs. Joe approved Natalie's choice. "Miss Achsah's her blood
relation," she said.
"What is blood? An accident. Friendship is born of sympathy," protested
Paula.
"And since that is the basis of our friendship," observed Natalie, "you
will understand that when my grand-aunt offered me a home on the ground
of duty, I also recognized a duty."
"A home on the ground of duty," repeated Paula, with as near an approach
to a sneer as she was capable of effecting.
"Could she feel affection, who had never seen me? Remember, she stood in
the place of mother to my father. I fear she had reason to believe that
the fact had been forgotten."
Mrs. Joe nodded approval.
"Inclination would have led me to you," Natalie proceeded. "It may be,
too, that I was influenced by the hope that I might, in some degree,
brighten the life of an old woman who had outlived her near relations. I
remembered how Cousin Jared, whom we all liked so well, reverenced her.
And then, I approved her pride in the name. I, too, am a Claghorn."
"In short," commented Mrs. Joe, "you recognized a duty, as I believed
you would, and you did right. Good will come of it," she added, "a bond
between the houses."
Nevertheless, the lady's conscience was troubled. She was naturally
candid and hospitable, yet in respect to Natalie, she had done violence
to both attributes. In that invitation, sent in accordance with her
promise to Paula, she had been careful to recognize the prior claim of
Miss Claghorn, thus virtually indicating Natalie's proper course. It had
been hard for her to close the gates of Stormpoint upon one whom she
regarded with affection, yet Mr. Hacket's counsel had outweighed
inclination. That gentleman was, indeed, teaching some hard lessons to
the lady of Stormpoint. It was almost unbearable that this wooden and
yellow man, who secretly aroused all the antagonism of which she was
capable, should direct her domestic affairs; yet she bore it smilingly,
as was seemly in a politician, whose skin may smart, but who must grin.
For, Mr. Hacket's command was wise. To add an infidel to her household
of religious suspects would be a rash act which Hampton might not
forgive. She had no doubt that Natalie's unbelief would become known,
and if it did not, the fact that she was French would presuppose
Romanism, and excite comment. Were Stormpoint to harbor a Papist, one
concerning whom there could be no saving doubt, such as existed for its
present inmates, all her plans might be jeopardized. In the eyes of the
descendants of the Puritans, the adherents of St. Perpetua would be
convicted as followers of the scarlet woman, and if the red rag of
Romanism were flaunted in seeming defiance, Mark's incipient career of
statesmanship might meet with a serious check.
On the other hand, there was comfort in the thought that all unpleasant
possibilities would be avoided by Natalie's sojourn with Miss Achsah.
Infidel or Romanist, in whatever light regarded, the dwellers in
Easthampton would know with approval that the competent owner of the
White House had the stray sheep in charge, and would anticipate
triumphant rescue of the endangered soul, providentially sheltered where
food of life would be daily offered. There would be also general
satisfaction that to Miss Achsah had been given a task worthy the
exercise of those energies which, in the cause of truth, she was apt to
exhibit in domestic circles not her own, to the great terror of the
members thereof. Mrs. Joe, herself, could find occasion to evince
commendation of the expected efforts of Miss Claghorn, and, while
placating that lady, could emphasize her own Protestantism. In fact,
several birds might be slain with this single stone.