McTeague began dimly to feel that life was too much for him. How had it all come about? A month ago he was perfectly content; he was calm and peaceful, taking his little pleasures as he found them. His life had shaped itself; was, no doubt, to continue always along these same lines. A woman had entered his small world and instantly there was discord. The disturbing element had appeared. Wherever the woman had put her foot a score of distressing complications had sprung up, like the sudden growth of strange and puzzling flowers.
Say, Mac, go on; lets have ut straight, urged Marcus, leaning toward him. Has any duck been doing you dirt? he cried, his face crimson on the instant.
No, said McTeague, helplessly.
Come along, old man, persisted Marcus; lets have ut. What is the row? Ill do all I can to help you.
It was more than McTeague could bear. The situation had got beyond him. Stupidly he spoke, his hands deep in his pockets, his head rolled forward.
Itsits Miss Sieppe, he said.
Trina, my cousin? How do you mean? inquired Marcus sharply.
III don know, stammered McTeague, hopelessly confounded.
You mean, cried Marcus, suddenly enlightened, that you arethat you, too.
McTeague stirred in his chair, looking at the walls of the room, avoiding the others glance. He nodded his head, then suddenly broke out:
I cant help it. It aint my fault, is it?
Marcus was struck dumb; he dropped back in his chair breathless. Suddenly McTeague found his tongue.
I tell you, Mark, I cant help it. I dont know how it happened. It came on so slow that I was, thatthatthat it was done before I knew it, before I could help myself. I know were pals, us two, and I knew howhow you and Miss Sieppe were. I know now, I knew then; but that wouldnt have made any difference. Before I knew itititthere I was. I cant help it. I wouldnt a had ut happen for anything, if I could a stopped it, but I don know, its something thats just stronger than you are, thats all. She came thereMiss Sieppe came to the parlors there three or four times a week, and she was the first girl I had ever known,and you don know! Why, I was so close to her I touched her face every minute, and her mouth, and smelt her hair and her breathoh, you dont know anything about it. I cant give you any idea. I don know exactly myself; I only know how Im fixed. IIits been done; its too late, theres no going back. Why, I cant think of anything else night and day. Its everything. Itsitsoh, its everything! IIwhy, Mark, its everythingI cant explain. He made a helpless movement with both hands.
Never had McTeague been so excited; never had he made so long a speech. His arms moved in fierce, uncertain gestures, his face flushed, his enormous jaws shut together with a sharp click at every pause. It was like some colossal brute trapped in a delicate, invisible mesh, raging, exasperated, powerless to extricate himself.
Marcus Schouler said nothing. There was a long silence. Marcus got up and walked to the window and stood looking out, but seeing nothing. Well, who would have thought of this? he muttered under his breath. Here was a fix. Marcus cared for Trina. There was no doubt in his mind about that. He looked forward eagerly to the Sunday afternoon excursions. He liked to be with Trina. He, too, felt the charm of the little girlthe charm of the small, pale forehead; the little chin thrust out as if in confidence and innocence; the heavy, odorous crown of black hair. He liked her immensely. Some day he would speak; he would ask her to marry him. Marcus put off this matter of marriage to some future period; it would be some timea year, perhaps, or two. The thing did not take definite shape in his mind. Marcus kept company with his cousin Trina, but he knew plenty of other girls. For the matter of that, he liked all girls pretty well. Just now the singleness and strength of McTeagues passion startled him. McTeague would marry Trina that very afternoon if she would have him; but would heMarcus? No, he would not; if it came to that, no, he would not. Yet he knew he liked Trina. He could sayyes, he could sayhe loved her. She was his girl. The Sieppes acknowledged him as Trinas young man. Marcus came back to the table and sat down sideways upon it.
Well, what are we going to do about it, Mac? he said.
I don know, answered McTeague, in great distress. I don want anything toto come between us, Mark.
Well, nothun will, you bet! vociferated the other. No, sir; you bet not, Mac.
Marcus was thinking hard. He could see very clearly that McTeague loved Trina more than he did; that in some strange way this huge, brutal fellow was capable of a greater passion than himself, who was twice as clever. Suddenly Marcus jumped impetuously to a resolution.
Well, say, Mac, he cried, striking the table with his fist, go ahead. I guess youyou want her pretty bad. Ill pull out; yes, I will. Ill give her up to you, old man.
The sense of his own magnanimity all at once overcame Marcus. He saw himself as another man, very noble, self-sacrificing; he stood apart and watched this second self with boundless admiration and with infinite pity. He was so good, so magnificent, so heroic, that he almost sobbed. Marcus made a sweeping gesture of resignation, throwing out both his arms, crying:
Mac, Ill give her up to you. I wont stand between you. There were actually tears in Marcuss eyes as he spoke. There was no doubt he thought himself sincere. At that moment he almost believed he loved Trina conscientiously, that he was sacrificing himself for the sake of his friend. The two stood up and faced each other, gripping hands. It was a great moment; even McTeague felt the drama of it. What a fine thing was this friendship between men! the dentist treats his friend for an ulcerated tooth and refuses payment; the friend reciprocates by giving up his girl. This was nobility. Their mutual affection and esteem suddenly increased enormously. It was Damon and Pythias; it was David and Jonathan; nothing could ever estrange them. Now it was for life or death.
Im much obliged, murmured McTeague. He could think of nothing better to say. Im much obliged, he repeated; much obliged, Mark.
Thats all right, thats all right, returned Marcus Schouler, bravely, and it occurred to him to add, Youll be happy together. Tell her for metell hertell her Marcus could not go on. He wrung the dentists hand silently.
It had not appeared to either of them that Trina might refuse McTeague. McTeagues spirits rose at once. In Marcuss withdrawal he fancied he saw an end to all his difficulties. Everything would come right, after all. The strained, exalted state of Marcuss nerves ended by putting him into fine humor as well. His grief suddenly changed to an excess of gaiety. The afternoon was a success. They slapped each other on the back with great blows of the open palms, and they drank each others health in a third round of beer.
Ten minutes after his renunciation of Trina Sieppe, Marcus astounded McTeague with a tremendous feat.
Looka here, Mac. I know somethun you cant do. Ill bet you two bits Ill stump you. They each put a quarter on the table. Now watch me, cried Marcus. He caught up a billiard ball from the rack, poised it a moment in front of his face, then with a sudden, horrifying distension of his jaws crammed it into his mouth, and shut his lips over it.
For an instant McTeague was stupefied, his eyes bulging. Then an enormous laugh shook him. He roared and shouted, swaying in his chair, slapping his knee. What a josher was this Marcus! Sure, you never could tell what he would do next. Marcus slipped the ball out, wiped it on the tablecloth, and passed it to McTeague.