The Daughters of Danaus Part 12

"Oh, Hadria, how _could_ you?" cried Mrs. Gordon, coming up in her elaborate toilette, which expressed almost as much of the character of its wearer as was indicated by her thin, chattering tones, and unreposeful manner. Her mode of dress was rich and florid--very obvious in its effects, very _naf_. She was built on a large scale, and might have been graceful, had not her mental const.i.tution refused to permit, or to inspire, that which physical construction seemed to intend. She distributed smiles on all hands, of no particular meaning. Though still a young woman, she looked worn and wearied. However, her _role_ was cheerfulness, and she smiled on industriously.

"I am so sorry," said Hadria, "the quarrel went clean out of my head.

They are so well matched. But your sister-in-law will never forgive me."

"Oh, well, never mind, my dear; it is your way, I know. Only of course it is awkward."

"What can be done? Shall I run in and separate them?"

"Oh, Hadria, you _are_ ridiculous!"

"I was not meant for society," she said, in a depressed tone.

"Oh, you will soon get into the way of it," cried Mrs. Gordon encouragingly.

"I am afraid I shall."

Mrs. Gordon stared. "Mr. Temperley, I can never make out what Miss Fullerton really means. Do see if you can."

"How could I expect to succeed where you have failed?"

"Oh, you men are so much cleverer than we poor women," cried the lady archly. Temperley was obviously of the same opinion. But he found some appropriate Chesterfieldian reply, while Hadria, to his annoyance, hurried off to her duties, full of good resolutions.

Having introduced a couple of sisters to their brother, she grew desperate. A set had just ended, and the sisters were asked to play.

This time, no mistake had been made in the selection of partners, so far as the question of sentiment was concerned, but they were fatally ill-a.s.sorted as to strength. However, Hadria said with a sigh, if their emotions were satisfied, it was really all they could expect.

Considering the number of family feuds, she did not see her way to arranging both points, to everyone's satisfaction.

Hadria was surrounded by a small group, among whom were Temperley, Harold Wilkins, and Mr. Hawkesley, the brother who had been introduced to his sisters.

"How very handsome Hadria is looking this afternoon," said Mrs. Gordon, "and how becoming that dark green gown is."

Mrs. Fullerton smiled. "Yes, she does look her best to-day. I think she has been improving, of late, in her looks."

"That's just what we have all noticed. There is so much animation in her face; she is such a sweet girl."

Miss Du Prel, who was not of the stuff that martyrs are made of, muttered something incoherent and deserted her neighbour. She came up to the group that had gathered round Hadria.

"Ah, Miss Du Prel," cried the latter, "I am so glad to see you at large again. I was afraid you were getting bored."

"I was," said Miss Du Prel frankly, "so I came away."

The young men laughed. "If only everybody could go away when he was bored," cried Hadria, "how peaceful it would be, and what small tennis-parties one would have!"

"Always excepting tennis-parties at _this_ house," said Hubert Temperley.

"I don't think any house would survive," said Miss Du Prel. "If people do not meet to exchange ideas, I can't see the object of their meeting at all."

"What a revolutionary sentiment!" cried Temperley, laughing. "Where would society be, on that principle?"

Hadria was called away, at that moment, and the group politely wavered between duty and inclination. Temperley and Miss Du Prel strolled off together, his vast height bent deferentially towards her. This air of deference proved somewhat superficial. Miss Du Prel found that his opinions were of an immovable order, with very defined edges. In some indescribable fas.h.i.+on, those opinions partook of the general elegance of his being. Not for worlds would he have harboured an exaggerated or immoderate idea. In politics he was conservative, but he did not abuse his opponents. He smiled at them; he saw no reason for supposing that they did not mean quite as well as he did, possibly better. What he _did_ see reason to doubt, was their judgment. His tolerance was urbane and superior. On all questions, however, whether he knew much about them or little, his judgment was final and absolute. He swept away whole systems of thought that had shaken the world, with a confident phrase.

Miss Du Prel looked at him with increasing amazement. He seemed unaccustomed to opposition.

"A vast deal of nonsense is talked in the name of philosophy," he observed, in a tone of gay self-confidence peculiar to him, and more indicative of character than even what he said. "People seem to think that they have only to quote Spencer or Huxley, or take an interest in heredity, to justify themselves in throwing off all the trammels, as they would regard them, of duty and common sense."

"I have not observed that tendency," said Miss Du Prel.

"Really. I regret to say that I notice everywhere a disposition to evade responsibilities which, in former days, would have been honestly and contentedly accepted."

"Our standards are all changing," said Miss Du Prel. "It does not follow that they are changing for the worse."

"It seems to me that they are not so much changing, as disappearing altogether," said Temperley cheerfully, "especially among women. We hear a great deal about rights, but we hear nothing about duties."

"We are perhaps, a little tired of hearing about duties," said Miss Du Prel.

"You admit then what I say," he returned placidly. "Every woman wants to be Mary, and no one will be Martha."

"I make just the opposite complaint," cried Miss Du Prel.

"Dear me, quite a different way of looking at it. I confess I have scant patience with these interfering women, who want to turn everything upside down, instead of quietly minding their duties at home."

"I know it is difficult to make people understand," said Miss Du Prel, with malice.

"I should esteem it a favour to be enlightened," returned Temperley.

"You were just now condemning socialism, Mr. Temperley, because you say that it attempts to ignore the principle of the division of labour. Now, when you lose patience with the few women who are refusing to be Marthas, you ignore that principle yourself. You want all women to do exactly the same sort of work, irrespective of their ability or their bent of mind. May I ask why?"

"Because I consider that is the kind of work for which they are best fitted," replied Temperley serenely.

"Then _you_ are to be judge and jury in the case; _your_ opinion, not theirs, is to decide the matter. Supposing _I_ were to take upon myself to judge what _you_ were best fitted for, and were to claim, therefore, to decide for you what sort of life you should live, and what sort of work you should undertake----?"

"I should feel every confidence in resigning myself to your able judgment,"

said Temperley, with a low bow. Miss Du Prel laughed.

"Ah," she said, "you are at present, on the conquering side, and can afford to jest on the subject."

"It is no joke to jest with an able woman," he returned. "Seriously, I have considerable sympathy with your view, and no wish to treat it flippantly. But if I am to treat it seriously, I must admit frankly that I think you forget that, after all, _Nature_ has something to say in this matter."

Engrossed in their conversation, they had, without thinking what they were doing, pa.s.sed through the open gate at the end of the avenue, and walked on along the high road.

Swarms of small birds flew out of the hedges, with a whirring sound, to settle further on, while an incessant chatter was kept up on each side.

"I often think that modern women might take example from these little creatures," said Temperley, who, in common with many self-sufficient persons, was fond of recommending humility to others. "_They_ never attempt to s.h.i.+rk their lowly tasks on the plea of higher vocations. Not one turns from the path marked out by our great Mother, who also teaches her human children the same lesson of patient duty; but, alas! by them is less faithfully obeyed."

"If our great Mother wanted instinct she should not have bestowed reason," said Miss Du Prel impatiently.

Temperley had fallen into the dulcet strains of one who feels, not only that he stands as the champion of true wisdom and virtue, but that he is sure of support from the vast majority of his fellows. Miss Du Prel's brusqueness seemed to suit her less admirable _role_.

Temperley was tolerant and regretful. If Miss Du Prel would think for a moment, she could not fail to see that Nature ... and so forth, in the same strain of "pious devotion to other people's duties" as his companion afterwards described it. She chafed at the exhortation to "think for a moment."