The library was more homelike. Not as many books as at the Warrens', but a great deal of gilt in the bindings and much carving on the cases. The fire was cheery, and the pair sat down before it in big easy chairs. Mrs. Dunn looked intently at the glowing coals.
Captain Elisha cleared his throat. Mrs. Dunn leaned forward expectantly. The captain coughed and sank back in his chair.
"Yes?" purred the lady. "You were about to say?""Me? Oh, no, I didn't say anything."
Another period of silence. Mrs. Dunn's foot tapped the rug impatiently. She wished him to begin the conversation, and he would not. At length, in desperation, she began it herself.
"I suppose you find New York rather different from--er--North--er--"
"From South Denboro? Yes, ma'am."
"Do you like the city life?"
"Well, I don't know, ma'am."
"Not as well as you do that of the country, doubtless.""Well, you see, I ain't had so much of it."
"No, of course not. It does so depend upon what one is accustomed to. Now I fancy I should be perfectly desperate in your village."One corner of Captain Elisha's mouth curled upward.
"I shouldn't be surprised," he admitted.
"Desperately lonely, I mean."
"Yes'm. I judged that was what you meant. Still, folks can be lonesome in New York.""Perhaps. But really I don't see how. With all the whirl and the crowds and the glorious excitement. The feeling that one is at the very heart, the center of everything!""Yes. If you belong to the machinery, I s'pose it's all right.
But if you've been leanin' over the rail, lookin' on, and get pushed in unexpected, maybe you don't care so much about bein' nigh the center.""Then why stay there? Why not get out?"
"If you're caught in the wheels, gettin' out's somethin' of a job.""But, as I understand it, Captain Warren--I may be misinformed, for, of course, I haven't been unduly curious concerning your family affairs--as _I_ understand it, you were not obliged to remain among the--among the wheels, as you call them. You could have gotten out quite easily, couldn't you?""I presume likely I could. But, you see, ma'am, I had a feelin'
that I'd ought to stay."
Mrs. Dunn laughed lightly. "Ah me!" she exclaimed; "you felt it your duty, I suppose. Oh, you New England Puritans!"She shook her head in playful mockery. Then she added, "But, at all events, it cannot be so very disagreeable--now. I have no doubt it was--well, not comfortable for you at first. Steve and Caroline were quite impossible--really quite furious. Your sudden appearance in the capacity of guardian was too much for them. They were sure you must be a perfect ogre, Captain. I had to use all my eloquence to convince them they would not be devoured alive. But now--what a change! Why, already Caroline accepts you as--well, almost like an old friend, like myself. In the last few days this change in her attitude is quite marked. What HAVE you done? Are you a wizard? Do tell me!"This appeal, delivered with eloquence and most engaging play of brow and eye, should have been irresistible. Unfortunately the captain did not appear to have heard it. Leaning forward, his hands clasped between his knees, he was gazing into the fire.
And when he spoke, it was as if he were thinking aloud.
"I s'pose 'tis a sort of disease, this duty business," he mused.
"And most diseases ain't cheerful visitations. Still a feller ought not to growl about it in public. I always did hate for a man to be goin' about forever complainin' of his sufferin's--whether they was from duty or rheumatiz."Mrs. Dunn's lips snapped shut. She pressed them together impatiently. Evidently her questions, and their diplomatic prelude, had been unheard and wasted. However, she did not intend to be sidetracked or discouraged.
"One should not prate of one's duty, of course," she agreed. "Not that you do--far from it. But, as I was saying, our dear Caroline has--""Thank you, ma'am. I hope I don't groan too loud. Do you know, I believe climate has a bearin' on duty, same as it has on rheumatics. I s'pose you city folks--"and there was almost contempt in the words--"are sort of Christian Science, and figger it's an 'error'--hey? Somethin' to be forgot."The lady resented the interruption, and the contempt nettled her.
"Not at all!" she retorted. "We city dwellers have our duties, also.""Is that a fact? I want to know!"
"Certainly it is a fact," tartly. "I have my duties and many of them.""Um! So? Well, I s'pose you do feel you must dress just so, and live just so, and do just such and such things. If you call those duties, why--""I do. What else are they, pray?"
Mrs. Dunn was finding it difficult to keep her temper. To be catechised in this contemptuously lofty manner by one to whom she considered herself so immensely superior, was too much. She forgot the careful plan of campaign which she had intended to follow in this interview, and now interrupted in her turn. And Captain Elisha, who also was something of a strategist, smiled at the fire.