Suppose if you were to tell your wife I was going to reform, said Demorest, it might be different, eh? Shed want to take me into the churchanother sinner saved, and all that, eh?
No, said Blandford, earnestly. Joan isnt as rigid as all that, Dick. What shes got against you is the common report of your free way of living, and thatcome now, you know yourself, Dick, that isnt exactly the thing a woman brought up in her style can stand. Why, she thinks Im unregenerate, andwell, a man cant carry on business always like a class meeting. But are you thinking of reforming? he continued, trying to get a glimpse of his companions eyes.
Perhaps. It depends. Nowtheres a woman I know
What, another? and you call this going to reform? interrupted Blandford, yet not without a certain curiosity in his manner.
Yes; thats just why I think of reforming. For this one isnt exactly like any otherat least as far as I know.
That means you dont know anything about her.
Wait, and Ill tell you. He drew the reins tightly to accelerate the horses speed, and, half turning to his companion, without, however, moving his eyes from the darkness before him, spoke quickly between the blasts: Ive seen her only half a dozen times. Met her first in 6.40 train out from Boston last fall. She sat next to me. Covered up with wraps and veils; never looked twice at her. She spoke firstkind of half bold, half frightened way. Then got more comfortable and unwound herself, you know, and I saw she was young and not bad-looking. Thought she was some school-girl out for a larkbut rather new at it. Inexperienced, you know, but quite able to take care of herself, by George! and although she looked and acted as if shed never spoken to a stranger all her life, didnt mind the kind of stuff I talked to her. Rather encouraged it; and laughedsuch a pretty little odd laugh, as if laughing wasnt in her usual line, either, and she didnt know how to manage it. Well, it ended in her slipping out at one end of the car when we arrived, while I was looking out for a cab for her at the other. He stopped to recover from a stronger gust of wind. II thought it a good joke on me, and let the thing drop out of my mind, although, mind you, shed promised to meet me a month afterwards at the same time and place. Well, when the day came I happened to be in Boston, and went to the station. Dont know why I went, for I didnt for a moment think shed keep her appointment. First, I couldnt find her in the train, but after wed started she came along out of some seat in the corner, prettier than ever, holding out her hand. He drew a long inspiration. You can bet your life, Ned, I didnt let go that little hand the rest of the journey.
His passion, or what passed for it, seemed to impart its warmth to the vehicle, and even stirred the chilled pulses of the man beside him.
Well, who and what was she?
Didnt find out; dont know now. For the first thing she made me promise was not to follow her, nor to try to know her name. In return she said she would meet me again on another train near Hartford. She didand again and againbut always on the train for about an hour, going or coming. Then she missed an appointment. I was regularly cut up, I tell you, and swore as she hadnt kept her word, I wouldnt keep mine, and began to hunt for her. In the midst of it I saw her accidentally; no matter where; I followed her towell, thats no matter to you, either. Enough that I saw her againand, well, Ned, such is the influence of that girl over me that, by George! she made me make the same promise again!
Blandford, a little disappointed at his friends dogmatic suppression of certain material facts, shrugged his shoulders.
If thats all your story, he said, I must say I see no prospect of your reforming. Its the old thing over again, only this time you are evidently the victim. Shes some designing creature who will have you if she hasnt already got you completely in her power.
You dont know what youre talking about, Ned, and youd better quit, returned Demorest, with cheerful authoritativeness. I tell you that thats the sort of girl Im going to marry, if I can, and settle down upon. You can make a memorandum of that, old man, if you like.
Then I dont really see why you want to talk to ME about it. And if you are thinking that such a story would go down for a moment with Joan as an evidence of your reformation, youre completely out, Dick. Was that your idea?
Yesand I can tell you, youre wrong again, Ned. You dont know anything about women. You do just as I saydo you understand?and dont interfere with your own wrong-headed opinions of what other people will think, and Ill take the risks of Mrs. Blandford giving me good advice. Your wife has got a heap more sense on these subjects than you have, you bet. You just tell her that I want to marry the girl and want her to help methat I mean business, this timeand youll see how quick shell come down. Thats all I want of you. Will you or wont you?
With an outward expression of sceptical consideration and an inward suspicion of the peculiar force of this mans dogmatic insight, Blandford assented, with, I fear, the mental reservation of telling the story to his wife in his own way. He was surprised when his friend suddenly drew the horse up sharply, and after a moments pause began to back him, cramp the wheels of the buggy and then skilfully, in the almost profound darkness, turn the vehicle and horse completely round to the opposite direction.
Then you are not going over the bridge? said Blandford.
Demorest made an imperative gesture of silence. The tumultuous rush and roar of swollen and rapid water came from the darkness behind them. Theres been another break-out somewhere, and I reckon the bridge has got all it can do to-night to keep itself out of water without taking us over. At least, as I promised to set you down at your wifes door inside of the hour, I dont propose to try. As the horse now travelled more easily with the wind behind him, Demorest, dismissing abruptly all other subjects, laid his hand with brusque familiarity on his companions knee, and as if the hour for social and confidential greeting had only just then arrived, said: Well, Neddy, old boy, how are you getting on?
So, so, said Blandford, dubiously. You see, he began, argumentatively, in my business theres a good deal of competition, and I was only saying this morning
But either Demorest was already familiar with his friends arguments, or had as usual exhausted his topic, for without paying the slightest attention to him, he again demanded abruptly, Why dont you go to California? Here everythings played out. Thats the country for a young man like youjust starting into life, and without incumbrances. If I was free and fixed in my family affairs like you Id go to-morrow.
There was such an occult positivism in Demorests manner that for an instant Blandford, who had been married two years, and was transacting a steady and fairly profitable manufacturing business in the adjacent town, actually believed he was more fitted for adventurous speculation than the grimly erratic man of energetic impulses and pleasures beside him. He managed to stammer hesitatingly:
But theres Joanshe
Nonsense! Let her stay with her mother; you sell out your interest in the business, put the money into an assorted cargo, and clap it and yourself into the first ship out of Bostonand there you are. Youve been married going on two years now, and a little separation until youve built up a business out there, wont do either of you any harm.