The Preliminaries, and Other Stories

as other mail; she glanced at the covers light-heartedly as she went toward the house. She was

nches of a wide-spreading old elm swept one of its chimneys; the lawn was broad, the lilacs and syringas tall; ranks of high hollyhocks in shades of rose and wine, rising against gray lattice, shut off the kitchen gardens at the rear. The beds that bordered the paths were plante

mother's regime; as frigid and uncomfortable during the reign of her Aunt Josephine. She figured herself as always holding her breath, as always waiting for something, while she lived th

Paul could maintain that pose, achieved with great effort, of good-natured, sarcastic scoffing at their tragedy, Clarissa herself did not believe in it wholly. Sometimes they drew very near together. A debonair, indifferent Paul who jested about her "calling" attracted her. A Paul who could demand cheerfully as he took his second cup of coffee, "Well, Clarissa, am I the Tyrant Man this morning?" was not unl

unless, of course, the owner of the temperament decides to be absolute master of himself. Nothing was fu

as she could persuade to see the need of it, and she laid {154} aside the business of looking after her husband and her child. Miss

ome therefrom; on the death of old Dr. Lettarby he succeeded to the full professorship, with the munificent salary of twenty-five hundr

hey really, all of them, worked, and worked well. In the long run they even worked {155} beneficently,

d a definite place in the family life, a position with duties and with compensating pleasures. Her friendships were considered, her friends noticed and welcomed. For the first time she felt herself an individual. Somebody was interested in what she did and said and thought. Her own shy young consciousness of personality was reflected {156} back to her, strengthened, and ador

s upon the satisfactions of home, now tasted thirstily of that delight. And s

of her own; she made a brilliant record as a student; she had the rich endowment of easy popularity. Further, she seemed to possess, so far as slight experiments could demonstrate, that rare thing, the

hout insisting upon an additional degree. She had spent one year abroad since her graduation, part of which was occupied in study. But,

er, enthusiastic, almost effervescent, with her sat

d her father's letters on the desk in his study, and ran upstairs to read her o

down, daughter

t--gave her a thrill of apprehension. She ha

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troubled. Marvel's apprehensive pang mingled with a curious little resentment that her nearest and d

concerns you more than any one. The question it involves is one for you to decide. I ought

oping that this portentous seriousness

ng her preparation for college. Since she desired college training, it was certainly easier and simpler for her to have it at Midwest than elsewhere. I put aside my own preferences, because the arguments in favor of her remaining with you were weighty

apartment in Chicago, and she will find it easy to arrange for post-graduate work if she desires. I shall be less busy than usual, for my health has given way a little und

nt for her to come? I should

, my de

incere

SA CHA

, rea

of belligerence. {162} Her cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes burning, and her head held high w

demand of me. Does n't she realize that I'm a person with a career of my own--and that when I'm not busy with that,

family. They were wont to brighten and become argumentative, even w

eeing eyes. His wife sat at an other window watching him wistfully, while Marvel face

eople, whom she greatly loved, toward the two facts which had made them all one household--her mother's divorce, namely, and her father's remarriage. The whole structure of three united, happy lives was built upon these cataclysmal facts--yet she had never asked w

changed on

ant me to go? Surely--why

ce, "dearest, no. Certainly we

aces, not their words. "I want to do it so much! How can I p

tterness. She did not know its full meaning, but her sympathy leaped to meet it. Evelyn Charleroy, watching her, felt a sudden stirring of pride in the girl's sw

ve you. Still, if I were--what is mother like? Wha

"In many ways you are not unlike her, Marvel, in mental al

166} woman. I'm not quite sure, even, what she does. She lectures? She is

sonal point of view. Her chief interest, however, has been the so-called advancement of women, and you might describe her as one of the many inconspicuous promoters of that movement. Chiefly, at present, she is holding classes, giving parlor-talks, what-not, in which she paraphrases and populariz

not scholarly?" asked the

Of course there are others of whom I would not venture to make such an assertion, but in my judgment your mother belongs to the former class. You will form your own opinion upon the subject. Do not go to her with any bias in your mind. She

about this mother whom they were discussing thus dispassionately. Perhaps it gratified her young dignity that she was

ved gently. "I may be mistaken in deciding offhand

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lf together. Crossing the room, he picked up th

first feeling about the matter. Yet I th

el partly closed the door a

ly ridiculous. Apparently I can't tell father so,--I co

arvel," Mrs. Charler

! Why should she think she could take me back any more than father? Influence me, indeed! She does n't know the A B C of influence! I am made--done--finished. Such as I am, she has had no hand

nt of all the elder types: slight, but strong; her brown hair parted smoothly, and brought back from a h

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pletely finished, dear? I would

n, "there is my work. I have accepted a position in the English department.

ments for foreign study, and I heard it intimated the other day that she regretted resigning when she did. She would be delig

{172} make my going easy? Do

wistfully. "If I remind you that after all she is your mot

wo, the fact no longer carries obligatio

l! You a

I am

arleroy. "But even if it were, your father--I--would rat

ps. "I do not wish to go, not eve

ust telling you what I know. This business of being a child, a parent, a husband, a wife,--no creature can escape that net of human relationships wholly. It is there, right there, that we are knotted fast to the whole unseen order of things. What we make of those ties determines what we

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er after the spirit, to whom are due the great conc

l another reason. It m

f her eyes, startled her stepdaughter. She cou

for blessedness, to us all. I have felt no wrong, have been refused no inner sanction. {175} And yet, I tell you, I am still uncertain of my right to all that your mother threw away, and I do not, even yet, entirely defend my action in taking it! You have been our comfort, our greatest blessing, because it has seem

ke that! Dearest, don't dare to feel like that! There is no need! I won

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