The Stoic

THE STOIC

«Everything!» commented Cowperwood, banteringly. «And so soon? If only I knew how to do that!»

«Well, nearly everything», she went on, picking up a decanter containing his favorite wine and pouring a drink for each of them. «You see, strange as it may seem, I have been thinking. And when I think... ». she stopped and looked upward at the ceiling. He seized the glass she was holding, and kissed her, as she knew he would.

«Back, Caesar!» she teased. «We are not to drink yet. You are to sit down there; I will sit here. And then I will tell you all. I’ll confess».

«Imp! Be serious, Bevy».

«Never more so», she said. «Now listen, Frank! It was this way. On board our steamer were a half-dozen Englishmen, old and young, and all of them handsome; at least, those with whom I flirted were handsome».

«I’m sure of that», said Cowperwood, tolerantly, and still a little dubiously. «And so?»

«Well, if you’re going to be as generous as all that, I’ll have to tell you that it was all flirtation in your behalf, and innocent, too, although you needn’t believe that. For instance, I found out about a little suburban place called Boveney on the Thames, not more than thirty miles from London. The most attractive young bachelor, Arthur Tavistock, told me about it. He lives there with his mother, Lady Tavistock. He’s sure I’d like her. And my mother likes him very much. So you see... ».

«Well, I see we live at Boveney, Mother and I», said Cowperwood, almost sarcastically.

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«Precisely!» mocked Berenice. «And that’s another important point – you and Mother, I mean. From now on you’re going to have to pay a good deal of attention to her. And very little to me. Except as my guardian, of course», and she tweaked his ear.

«In other words, Cowperwood, the guardian and family friend». He smiled dryly.

«Exactly!» persisted Berenice. «And what’s more, I’m to go punting with Arthur very soon. And, better still», and here she chuckled, «he knows of a lovely houseboat which will be ideal for Mother and me. And so, moonlight nights, or sunny afternoons around teatime, while my mother and his mother sit and crochet or walk in the garden, and you smoke and read, Arthur and I... ».

«Yes, I know, a charming life together: houseboat, lover, spring, guardian, mother. Quite an ideal summer, in fact».

«It couldn’t be better», insisted Berenice vehemently. «He even described the awnings, red and green. And all of his friends».

«Red and green, too, I suppose», commented Cowperwood. «Well, practically; flannels and blazers, you know. And all perfectly proper. He told Mother so. A host of friends to whom

Mother and I are to be introduced». «And the wedding invitations?»

«By June, at the latest, I promise you». «May I give the bride away?»

«You could, of course», replied Berenice, without a smile. «By George!» and Cowperwood laughed loudly. «Quite

a successful voyage, I must say!»

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«You haven’t heard a fraction of it», she went on blatantly, and almost contentiously. «Not a fraction! There’s Maidenhead – I blush to mention it – –»

«You do? I’ll make a note of that».

«I haven’t told you yet about Colonel Hawkesberry, of the Royal something-or-other», she said, mock-foolishly. «One of those regiment things; knows a fellow officer who has a cousin who has a cottage in some park or other on the Thames».

«Two cottages and two houseboats! Or are you seeing double?»

«At any rate, this one is rarely let. Vacant for almost the first time, this spring. And a perfect dream. Usually loaned to friends. But as for Mother and myself... ».

«We now become the daughter of the regiment!»

«Well, so much for the colonel. Then there’s Wilton Braithwaite Wriothesley, pronounced Rotisly, with the most perfect little mustache, and six feet tall, and... ».

«Now, Bevy! These intimacies! I’m getting suspicious!» «Not of Wilton! Never, I swear! The colonel, maybe, but

not Wilton!» She giggled. «Anyway, to make a long story five times as long, I already know of not only four houseboats along the Thames, but four perfectly appointed houses in or near the most exclusive residential squares of London, and all of them to be had for the season, or the year, or forever, if we should decide to stay here forever».

«If you say so, darling», interpolated Cowperwood. «But what a little actress you are!»

«And all of them», continued Berenice, ignoring his admiring comment, «if I should trouble to give my London ad-

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dress – which I haven’t as yet – will be shown to me by one or all of my admirers».

«Bravo! My word!» exclaimed Cowperwood.

«But no commitments as yet, and no entanglements, either», she added. «But Mother and I have agreed to look at one in Grosvenor Square and one in Berkeley Square, after which, well, we shall see what we shall see».

«But don’t you think you’d better consult your aged guardian as to the contract and all that sort of thing?»

«Well, as to the contract, yes, but as to all else... ».

«As to all else, I resign, and gladly. I’ve done enough directing for one lifetime, and it will amuse me to see you try it».

«Well, anyway», she went on, quite impishly, «suppose you let me sit here», and she seated herself in his lap, and reaching over to the table picked up the goblet of wine and proceeded to kiss the rim. «See, I am wishing into it». She then drank half. «And now you wish», she said, handing him the glass and watching him drink the remainder. «And now you must throw it over my right shoulder against the wall, so that no one will ever drink out of it again. It’s the way the Danes and the Normans did. Now... ».

And Cowperwood threw the glass.

«Now, kiss me, and it will all come true», she said. «For I am a witch, you know, and I make things come true».

«I am prepared to believe that», said Cowperwood affectionately, as he solemnly kissed her.

After dinner they discussed the matter of their immediate movements. He found Berenice strongly against any plans for leaving England at this time. It was spring, and she had always

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wanted to make a tour of the cathedral towns – Canterbury, York, Wells; visit the Roman baths at Bath; Oxford and Cambridge; and some of the old castles. They could make the trip together, but only, of course, after he had looked into the possibilities which were confronting him in connection with this London project. Incidentally, she would also like to inspect the cottages she had mentioned. And then, once placed, they could immediately begin their holiday together.

And now he must go in to see her mother, who was a little upset and brooding these days, fearing she scarcely knew what for all of them. And after that he was to come back to her, and then... and then... .

Cowperwood gathered her up in his arms.

«Well, well, Minerva!» he said, «it may be possible to arrange things the way you want them. I don’t know. But one thing is sure: if there is too much of a hitch here, we’ll make a tour of the world. I will arrange with Aileen somehow. And if she won’t agree, well, then, we’ll go in spite of her. The publicity she’s always threatening can probably be overcome in some fashion. I’m sure of it. It has so far, anyway».

He kissed her gently, and with great comfort to himself, and then went in to speak to Mrs. Carter, whom he found sitting near an open window, reading a novel by Marie Corelli. She was obviously dressed and coiffed for his coming, and bent on him a most optimistic smile. Nevertheless, he sensed a nervous speculation on her part as to the practicability and danger of all that he and Berenice were doing. In fact, he thought he saw strain and depression in her eyes. So after making a few remarks on the prospects for a pleasant spring in

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Chapter 25

The following week end found both of the Cowperwoods in the midst of an interesting group as Lord Haddonfield’s guests at Beriton Manor. This was, in truth, a distinguished pile of sixteenth century English architecture, at the southeast corner of Hardown Heath, and the center of a well-preserved patrimony. Approaching it from the northwest was the bleak, almost sea-like heath itself, with its rolling green expanses which remained, after hundreds of years, historically defiant of the plow, the sower, and the builder. Its chief value, to the rich as well as the poor, was the free range it provided for the hare, the deer, and other game, and the hunting parties, with their mounts and hounds and redcoated riders. To the southwest, in which direction the manor faced, were wooded slopes and fields, in the center of which lay Little Beriton, a small thatched market town, giving the impression of a hospitable countryside.

Haddonfield, who met the Cowperwoods at Beriton Station, was the same sophisticated, cheerful individual of five years before. Because of pleasant memories, he was delighted to see them, and while showing the really impressive lawns and courtyards, he remarked to Aileen: «I’ve been thinking, Mrs. Cowperwood, the heath is likely to prove a sober outlook

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for you and your husband. So I’m giving you rooms overlooking the garden. There’s tea now in the drawing room, if you’re tired after the journey».

In spite of her splendid mansion and many servants in New York, and the really much inferior wealth of this man, Aileen, for the moment, at least, was convinced that this was much more desirable. Oh, to have such a place as this, with the social security and connections of this man! Not to have to struggle any more. Forever to be at peace. On the other hand, while Cowperwood’s mood welcomed a scene such as this, he was not overawed or even impressed by either title or unearned increment. He had created wealth and fame for himself.

The guests of Lord Haddonfield for this week end were varied, but distinguished. From London, the day before, had come Sir Charles Stoneledge, an actor of position and fame in the London theatrical world, but a stagey and affected individual who seized every opportunity to visit aristocratic friends or acquaintances. He had brought with him Miss Constance Hathaway, an actress then playing in the popular success, Sentiment .

By way of contrast, there were Lord and Lady Ettinge, he rather prominent in railway and shipping interests – a large, florid, dictatorial man, inclined to drink heavily and, when sufficiently in his cups, genial in a limited way. When cold sober, he was given to sharp obiter dicta rather than to facile argument. Lady Ettinge, on the other hand, was extremely diplomatic, and on this occasion had been invited by Lord Haddonfield to act as hostess. Well aware of her husband’s moods and habits, and bearing with them tolerantly, she in no way

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submerged her own personality. She was tall and heavily built, blue veined, red cheeked, and having rather hard blue eyes. Once she had been as fair and engaging as any lovely maid of sixteen, and remembered it well, as did Ettinge. He had courted her earnestly. She had a better sense of proportion than her husband. He, being one of a long line and inheriting wealth, was inclined to give weight and precedence to primogeniture rather than to immediate achievement, even though he himself was active enough commercially. His wife, however, though as wellborn as himself, was more interested and aware of the changing forces of the day, and inclined to admire such untitled giants as Cowperwood.

Also present were Lord and Lady Bosvike, both young and smart and very popular. They were clever at all sports, enjoyed gambling and the races, and were valuable in any gathering because of their enthusiasm and gaiety. Secretly they laughed at Ettinge and his wife, though at the same time they valued their position and liberately set themselves out to be agreeable to them.

A really important guest – decidedly so in the eyes of Haddonfield and Ettinge – was Abington Scarr. A man of rather dubious origin – no title, no family – nevertheless he was making quite a financial stir at this time. For one thing, in the past four years, he had been successful in organizing a cat- tle-raising company in Brazil. The profits from this were already yielding his investors a handsome return. He was now interested in sheep-raising in Africa, where, by reason of almost unheard-of concessions from the government and the methods he had devised for reducing costs and finding mar-

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kets, he was looked upon as one who might shortly come to be a millionaire. The shrewdest criticism of his ventures on the part of those who were inclined to doubt had not yet developed anything seriously inimical to his claims. Haddonfield, as well as Ettinge, was impressed by his success, but at the same time both were wary of following him. They did speculate in some of his shares but jumped in and out quickly. One thing that Scarr was seeking to promote at this time – but with less success than in the case of most of his earlier ventures – was the Baker Street & Waterloo Line, a new London underground, for which he had secured a franchise from Parliament. And it was in connection with this that the unexpected appearance of Cowperwood interested him.

Because of Aileen’s determination to make an elaborate toilet, the Cowperwoods were late in coming down to dinner. When they entered the drawing room, most of the other guests had assembled and were somewhat annoyed at having to wait. Ettinge, in particular, had decided to pay no great attention to the Cowperwoods. But when they appeared, and Haddonfield called out a hearty welcome, the others turned at once, resumed their amiability and took an unaffected interest in the Americans. Ettinge, slouching to a standing position and bowing stiffly as he was introduced, nevertheless studied Cowperwood intently. And Lady Ettinge, who had been following the recent English comments on his affairs, decided at once that, her husband excepted, Cowperwood was the leading personality at this gathering. Instinctively, she forgave him for Aileen, judging that he had married young and later philosophically decided to make the best of an unfortunate union. As for Scarr,

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