THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A MAID
No trace of the uneasiness of the afternoon remained, as Evarne--clad in
a Parisian triumph, a loosely-falling dinner-gown of fragile black
chiffon and lace--took her seat that evening opposite Morris in the cosy
little anteroom in which he had ordered meals to be served in preference
to the ordinary dining-room. She was bright and smiling and
appreciative, as throughout that first evening beneath his own roof he
exerted himself particularly to please and entertain her.
Not that this called for much additional effort. Evarne invariably found
her guardian's society to be more inspiring and exhilarating than his
own champagne. Even in his ordinary converse with this unusual young
girl, the whole of his knowledge of men and matters, his wide
experience, his original ideas, all his natural wit and brightness ever
flowed forth readily and unrestricted. True, this implied not only the
teachings of some doctrines more or less heretical, but a certain
element of looseness of speech and the recounting of anecdotes and
incidents not usually deemed appropriate to the ears of sweet seventeen.
So, albeit the previous delicacy of her every thought unavoidably gave
place to something less ethereal, her character developed and matured by
leaps and bounds.
"Reading maketh a full man, conversation a ready man."
The girl's nature--rendered, perhaps, somewhat over-serious by solitude
and much deep reading--only needed the mental stimulant of a brilliant
and clever man's society, to grow rapidly bright and alert. She learnt
to find interest in many a subject hitherto sealed. From dress to
politics--from hard facts to vague fancies--from logical deducing to
limitless speculating, her mind was daily led over fresh fields and
pastures new, and rejoiced in this wandering.
Morris and Evarne sat up later that night than they had ever yet done
together. Within these walls Morris alone held sway, and both felt the
subtle influence of this state of affairs, so opposed to the constant,
comparative surveillance of life in hotels. At length the musical notes
of the clock chimed the hour past midnight, and Evarne sprang from her
low chair, startled by the flight of time.
Morris went upstairs with her. Standing on the threshold of her room she
touched the knob of the electric burners, then held out both hands with
her usual frankness to bid him good-night.
He held them for a few seconds with that firm and affectionate clasp in
which she so delighted. But then, suddenly transferring both her hands
into one of his, he put the first two fingers of his free hand to his
own lips and immediately pressed them gently upon Evarne's rosy mouth.
It was at most a mere suggestion of a kiss, yet with a startled glance
she jerked her hands away, stepped back quickly, instinctively slamming
the door, and Morris, standing outside with a little grimace of
amusement on his countenance, heard the key turn in the lock.
It was apparently a decided rebuke, yet he went downstairs well pleased
by the very violence of her reception of this experimental advance.
Easily enough had he conquered any temptation to kiss the girl as long
as there remained the fear that she might accept his kisses dutifully,
as mere fatherly salutes. But the light that had darted into her
eloquent eyes at the simple pressure of his fingers upon those fresh,
unsullied lips of hers, satisfied him that such an idea--had it ever
existed--had been got rid of forever.
Evarne flung herself amid the purple cushions of a big chair and shut
her eyes. Ere long one idea evolved itself from the tangle of confused
thought, and placed itself--clearly and shamelessly--before the bar of
her reason, to be relentlessly judged. Did she indeed owe all that Mr.
Kenyon was doing for her--was giving her--simply to the fact that she
was Leo Stornway's daughter, or were her own youth--her beauty--her
sex--the real forces that prompted his generous actions?
Scarcely one second for calm deliberation was granted her. The very
process of actually formulating such a question, brought into conscious
existence a knowledge that was both crushing and exalting--terrifying
and delightful. Doubtless it had been forming itself in her heart and
brain for many a long day, but its appearance as a fully-fledged
fact--something that had to be acknowledged and reckoned with--came with
the dazzling sharpness of lightning athwart a summer sky.
Whatever might be the nature of her guardian's feelings, this one fact
she knew all too well. Come what might _she_ loved _him_--loved him
devotedly--passionately--with all the ardour of youth and a nature
formed for loving. She realised that if in his eyes she was not the
fairest amid women, she might as well be possessed of no beauty; if he
did not seek and enjoy her society before that of any other creature
alive, she was worthless in her own sight; if all this divine emotion
that had come to her could touch no answering chord within his breast,
life would be as a weed, worthless, without colour, perfume or
sweetness.
To realise so much during a single tick of the clock was overwhelming!
Instinctively concealing her face in the cushions Evarne found her
breathing oppressed, while as to her heart--it stood quite still for one
brief moment, apparently daunted by the magnitude of the additional task
suddenly imposed upon it. Then loyally rising to the occasion, it
continued to beat, but with altogether unusual violence and rapidity, as
wishing defiantly to show that it could bear up with a good grace even
under this double duty.
Ere long Evarne sat erect again, while then and there her soul soared
aloft into vaporous and shining realms of happiness. Yet no white angel
would have veiled its face before this sweet maiden's thoughts and
ideals in her first love. Not for some time did she so much as remember
that Morris was married, and even then she was in no mood to actively
regret Mrs. Kenyon's existence.
That lady's rights were so unquestioned; Evarne would have shrunk with
horror at the mere notion that she should ever come to resent the wife
as either a rival or a hindrance.
The fact that she believed Morris was a kind, affectionate and faithful
husband, was quite consistent with his returning her love--at all
events, love as she conceived it and desired it in return.
Notwithstanding her classical reading, the girl failed to realise that
her passion--youthful, virginal and absolutely spiritual, yet ardent and
enthralling--was an emotion absolutely unknown to any male mind.
Long she sat, enchanted by the fair landscapes of this unexplored
country across whose borders her feet had newly strayed. When at length
she nestled down into her soft, scented bed, still the same soft visions
gladdened her mind.
Next morning, after finishing her coffee and roll, she lay back lazily
and reflected with the clearer, more rational, thoughts of the early
hours of the day, upon the one topic that now appeared of paramount
importance.
After a while Bianca, her little maid, entered, and with painstaking
effort repeated in English a short message that she had evidently just
learnt. "Master wishes come pay his respects to signorina."
Evarne renounced day-dreams and meditations and arose immediately.
Blissfully independent of hair-curlers or any other such artificial
accessories, her toilette could be completed with marvellous rapidity.
Now, in considerably less than half an hour, she issued from her room
fresh and blooming as a spring flower, and all unconsciously greeted
Morris with the richest smile she had ever flashed upon him.
He looked bright and _debonnairé_ that morning, and it was difficult to
realise that he was in fact the contemporary of the girl's father. He
seemed so glad to behold her again after the few hours' separation,
asked with such evident interest and concern if she had slept well, held
her hand for so long and finished by pressing it so warmly between his
own, that Evarne blushed slightly for very happiness, as with unerring
instinct her heart answered its own question, "He does care--he does--he
does!"
In her previous notions concerning both men and women who had attained
to the mature and dignified age of five-and-forty, she had unconsciously
taken it for granted that Cupid always observed a due respect for such
elderly hearts. True, she was well-informed respecting poor Hera's
troubles. Zeus had surely been old--quite old and grey-bearded--yet
apparently he could not ever look down from high Olympus, even on
business, without his eye falling on some fair damsel who promptly
became entitled to a place amid the crowd of rival fair ones who packed
that miraculously capacious heart. Nevertheless, despite this seemingly
instructive knowledge, it was only as she grew to know Morris that her
ideas became revolutionised on the subject of middle-aged men who were
not divinities, but merely modern and mortal. Now, her guardian's years,
viewed with the eyes of affection, appeared simply as an additional
fascination.
After a while he proceeded to consult her regarding their plans for the
day. Would she like to go sight-seeing that morning, or rest after the
fatigues of yesterday's journey?
Evarne was still amused at this novel notion, evidently entertained by
Morris, that she was a fragile blossom requiring to be carefully tended
and cherished. The idea flashed across her: "How different life will be
in a year or two when I am all alone in cheap little rooms in London,
earning a precarious living by Art."
This led her to recall what her guardian had told her last night
concerning the two most celebrated Art masters in Naples.
"They are very different one from another, both in their style of work
and their method of teaching," he had said. "I will take you to visit
both studios, and you can see if one appeals to you more than the
other."
Now she reminded him of this promise.
"I want to oversee the unpacking of my boxes," she said, "and then, if
you please, I should like to visit the studios you spoke of. I want to
start working in all seriousness almost at once."
"Oh, no hurry; postpone that!" was the lazy advice. But she shook her
head with righteous emphasis.
"I don't mean to delay and delay like the foolish virgins in the Bible.
You remember that story?"
"I can't say I remember those particular damsels," rejoined Morris, with
a twinkle in his eye; "but candidly I maintain that _all_ virgins are
foolish."
"That's a very debatable point!" retorted Evarne, smiling, yet slightly
biting her under-lip. "Seriously, I want to start work at once. Now, let
me go and put on my hat, and we will place business before pleasure,
like good people."
This time Morris wisely checked the response that rose to his lips.
The rival studios both got visited that day, and the one wherein Evarne
was to experience the pangs and delights of the aspiring Art student was
duly settled upon. It was really somewhat absurd that a mere beginner,
totally untrained in the very rudiments of drawing, should be introduced
into such an advanced coterie as that of Florelli's.
As Evarne gazed with admiring yet somewhat saddened eyes at the work of
the other students, she felt this herself. To her they all seemed
finished artists already! She could certainly get herself up in a loose
overall plentifully besmeared with paint and charcoal, she could allow a
curl of hair to escape from its confining bonds, and thus--as far as
appearance went--be on an artistic equality with those of her new
companions who were of the feminine persuasion. But would she ever be
able to work as beautifully as did these young men and women? She
doubted it, and yet, appalling realisation! these superior young people
were not winning fame and fortune. Alack and alas, they were still
studying--still knew their work imperfect--were still striving to
attain!
The momentary wave of despair was followed by a somewhat frantic
impatience to make an immediate start along this far-stretching road
that lay before her. She wanted to return at once to "Mon Bijou," to set
up a pot or vase and endeavour to make a drawing of it in which the two
sides should at least decently resemble one another. It was all very
nice and amusing to sketch pretty little faces with huge eyes, tiny
mouths and masses of very curly hair; to cover sheets of notepaper with
angels whose big, feathery wings and vapoury bodies conveniently
vanished into nothing. But one day in Paris she had tried to make a
correct drawing of a dull, unimaginative vase, and her effort had been
brought to an abrupt and highly unsatisfactory conclusion by the
much-employed indiarubber working a hole in the paper.
That evening, as she and Morris walked in the garden star-gazing, she
honestly confided to him her fear that the attaining of artistic
excellence would be a longer task than she had at all realised. He did
not appear to sink under the shock, but, on the contrary, inquired
calmly enough "what that mattered." Hesitatingly, Evarne broached the
subject of expense. It was a matter that pressed rather heavily upon her
mind.
His answer was unexpected. Half opening his lips as if to speak, he
closed them again firmly, looked frowningly into her tremulous, upturned
countenance, then suddenly slipping his arm round her waist, drew her
closely to him. Her instantaneous impulse was to free herself--not
because she wanted to, far from it--but because she knew well enough
that such were dull duty's dictates. Still, she hesitated a moment, and
thereby lost the strength of mind necessary to maintain strict propriety
upon its lofty pedestal. On the contrary, she rested quite impassive,
and Morris felt her soft uncorseted waist heave slightly with the deep,
quivering breath she drew. Somewhat fiercely clasping her yet closer, in
a second his other arm was also around her, and he was straining the
flexible young form to his breast with all the abandon of a man who,
having reluctantly practised self-control for long, lets himself go at
last.
But his very ardour and heedless violence frightened Evarne immediately.
Using the whole of her considerable strength she endeavoured to break
away from his clasp. "Don't, don't!" she cried in unmistakable
earnestness, and besides genuine alarm there was a touch of decided
anger in her voice.
As soon as she had freed herself she stood irresolute--motionless and
fascinated--yet obviously prepared at any second to dart away. Indeed,
unconsciously, prompted by her athletic instincts, she rested, poised
with her heels already slightly raised off the earth.
She looked more Greek than ever at that moment; fitted indeed to form
part of some legend--
"Of deities or mortals, or of both;
In Temple, or the dales of Arcady."
Morris gazing at her with eager, ardent appreciation, yet read a warning
that he must venture no farther that night! Trusting and confiding
though Evarne might be, she was too serious, too thoughtful, to accept
such overtures with childish carelessness.
Her expression gradually clouded, for the unknown Mrs. Kenyon rose in
indignant might before her mind's eye! Morris, guessing the nature of
some of her thoughts, knew that in dealing with a young woman possessed
of such painfully lofty principles, discretion was indeed the better
part of valour. Moreover, he was far too genuinely attached to her to
wish to cause her undue distress, and, however strong she might be
physically, he knew well that where her feelings were concerned, Evarne
was in deed a "fragile flower," to be guarded well and treated tenderly.
So he just smiled calmly and reassuringly, and into his eyes came that
kindly, indulgent look that always stirred the girl's very heart.
"Come, pretty one," he said, "hold my hand quietly, and go on telling me
the troubles about the drawing."
Such a sudden change of manner and topic was quite bewildering; Evarne
could not accommodate herself to it all with equal rapidity. There was a
considerable pause, while he stood waiting with his hand outstretched.
The imprint of very varying emotions passed over the girl's gentle
countenance. By the brilliant light of the moon every fleeting
expression could be seen, and the look with which she at length laid her
hand in his could not have been displeasing even to the chaste goddess
whose clear rays rendered it visible.
Somewhat hastily Evarne proceeded to chatter about the studio, but her
nerves were overwrought, and her voice sounded strange to her own ears.
"Let us go in," she urged ere long; "I'm cold."
"Cold now, perhaps," murmured Morris softly, "but, if I mistake not,
magnificently capable of burning with the most divine of all fires."
She made no answer. He could not be sure that she had heard, or if she
had, that she understood. Neither was he at all sure that the time had
even yet come when it was really desirable that she should hear and
understand.