Aunt Clara

“ Aunt Clara. What kind of a man can that be who came with you?
Paul. Glyszinski?
Aunt Clara. Why yes, the one I took up stairs, the young man?
Paul. Heavens, he is a friend of ours. Particularly of Hella.
Aunt Clara. Of your wife? Why, Paul!
Paul (smiling) . Oh, Auntie! There is no danger in him. You need not have any scruples about that. Hella indeed crams her head with thoughts quite distinct from love. She never did suffer from that.
Aunt Clara. But to think that he just came along? Did you invite him?
Paul (shrugging his shoulders) . Well, what is a man to do? He lives with us. ”

“ Others do not! (Aunt Clara looks at him and is silent. After a moment.) The rest need noise, diversion, human beings about them. One must have something in order to be able to forget! Some narcotic to put one to sleep! There are people, who do that all of their lives and are quite, happy, who never come to themselves, are continually living in a kind of intoxication and leave this world without attaining real consciousness. You see, Auntie, the city is the proper place for that. There you can dull your feelings and forget.
Aunt Clara. I could not stand the city.
Paul. Yes, you, Aunt Clara! ”

“ We were so surprised to hear of Aunt Clara's plan, and only think, Agneta is to break her journey in London, and will stay a night here, so we shall all see her! Aunt Clara gives a poor account of her though, says she is nervous, depressed, excitable, and difficult to manage at home, and hints that it is all owing to a 'foolish fancy' for a man who is a 'sad detrimental.' Poor little cousin to have lost her heart so soon, and to one of whom her parents disapprove! Peggy says that it makes her as interesting as the heroine of a penny novelette. ”

“ Your Aunt Clara also shares this temperament," I said, to satisfy the curiosity that had pricked me since the previous night.
"My Aunt Clara is a notable woman of great talent. But I believe, without speaking ill of her, that the soul of the house, who has made all the money, is her husband. Oh, my Uncle Diego looks out for number one. There is no abler nor more prudent merchant on all the eastern coast. Believe me, anything he lets go by isn't worth stooping to pick up." ”

“ I asked.
"Nobody will look over the same note-book with her," said Jerusha.
"O, you girls may have your own fun now," said Aunt Clara. "You will see the world with a sadder face by and by."
"Not if we look at it through your spectacles, aunty," I answered.
"Dear me; well, the Lord has been kind, to me," said Aunt Clara, "if I am a spinster still. But we must make haste. The old folks are coming back."
"Old folks!" I thought, and Aunt Clara is older than either of them. Father stopped and gave an ugly weed a whack with his cane. Then he stooped and rooted it up, Sabbath-day though it was. ”

“ Aunt Clara (more and more astonished) . He lives with you?
Paul. We keep house together, yes. And so he wanted to come with us, and Hella was also of the opinion that we could not exactly desert him. He is likely to do some fool thing. You know he is always doing fool things ... It wasn't very agreeable to me, I must confess. But it would not do to leave him at home. When Hella takes a thing like that into her head ...
Aunt Clara. Don't be offended, Paul, I can't get that through my head ... Aren't you the master of your house? ”

“ Aunt Clara. Why, never mind, you are all right!
Paul (turns away, resigned to his fate) . It wouldn't do any good anyhow. Hella does not hear me. Go ahead then! Bring them right along. [Aunt Clara opens the door at the right and goes out. Conversation outside becomes audible.]
Paul (also comes over to the right, seems to be in great agitation, controls himself nervously, steps upon the threshold at the right and addresses those about to enter) . This way, if you please. (He steps aside for Antoinette and Laskowski, and makes a short bow) . We are very glad to see you! ”

“ Aunt Clara (shaking her head) . Why a person can't talk to your wife. And that young man ... There's something about him too. Where in the world are the two now?
Paul (feigning indifference) . There, in the other room, Aunt Clara.
Aunt Clara. Do you suppose she will hear us?
Paul. Oh no, Auntie! They are in the green room. The sun-parlor lies between. And then ... when Hella is working, she doesn't hear anyhow.
Aunt Clara. Those two! I do say! They just have to stay together the whole day! But I was going to say ... Laskowskis ...
Paul. What about Laskowski?
Aunt Clara. ”

“ Aunt Clara (gleefully) . Her estate, Grosz-Rukkoschin, went to him right at her marriage. You know that belongs to her from her father's side. You might have that now, Paul.
Paul (interested) . Well, and how do the two get along? He and Antoinette?
Aunt Clara (shrugging her shoulders) . Oh, Paul, what do I know about it? They have no children.
Paul (relieved) . They haven't any children either? Well!
Aunt Clara. They did have one, a girl! But they lost her.
Paul. Lost her ... Well, well!... Hm! Antoinette!... Antoinette Rousselle as Mrs. von Laskowski!... ”

“ Won’t you? Aunt Clara, you beg her to, won’t you? Won’t you, Aunt Clara?”
“Good gracious, child, stop teasing,” and Mr. Rose glowered at Dotty so very fiercely, that she knew he was not in earnest.
“Stop teasing, Dotty,” said Genie, her little sister. “You know very well that teasing won’t get what you want.” ”

“ No, never mind. One moment, Auntie! (He nods to her and goes out with Lene. )
[Aunt Clara shakes her head apprehensively as she follows him with her eyes, heaves a deep sigh, occupies herself with this and that in the room, then seems to be listening to a noise on the left. She straightens up energetically. Presently the door on the left is opened.]
Hella (enters, dressed in black. She looks solemn and rather pale. She slowly approaches Aunt Clara. The two face each other and eye each other for a moment) . I thought Paul was here.
Aunt Clara. Paul will surely be back any minute. ”

“ Aunt Clara's face whitened with a pallor like their own when the whole story had been told; but in spite of the sure feeling of catastrophe which assailed all three, Aunt Clara was too wise to allow fear to master her.
"Now, don't go to imagining that Ellen has run away because we can't just now get trace of her. Everything will turn out all right. You haven't half looked for her. She may have gone down with the Harpers instead of the Meachams. ”

“ Aunt Clara. Paul, Paul, if you had only taken Antonie!
Paul (sits down in the chair at the fireplace, restraining his pain) . Be quiet, Aunt Clara!... Do you want to make me even more miserable than I am?
Aunt Clara (gets up, steps up to him and lays her hand on his head) . My poor, poor boy!
ACT II The forenoon of the following day. The gloomy light of a winter day comes in through the wide windows at the background of the hall, as on the day before. Outside, white bushes and trees loom up vaguely. A dark velvet cover is spread over the sofa table now. A fire again biases in the fireplace. ”

“ Aunt Clara did not turn around to face the speaker; she merely said:
"I don't think God makes mistakes; and He has said, through his former and latter-day prophets, that it is not right for the believer to mate with the unbeliever."
"Oh, here they are, Auntie; here they are!" cried Ellen.
Ellen turned and ran impulsively out on the front porch; Aunt Clara and Diantha followed her in a more leisurely manner, while Sister Rachel Winthrop, the hostess of the occasion, joined them as soon as the word reached her, and thus the four women stood waiting to receive their guests under the shaded porch. ”

“ But first of all one must be at peace himself! Must have become calm and clear about the matters that concern one. Know what one wants to do and is expected to do and what one is here for in this world.
Aunt Clara. But every one knows that, Paul.
Paul (without listening to her, rather to himself) . Uncanny, this silence all around one. Doubly and three-fold one feels, how it seethes and boils within, without one's getting anywhere. One can hear himself think! (He stops, then in a changed voice, as he looks up.) No no, Aunt Clara, people who have closed their account, belong in the country. ”

“ Aunt Clara. Why, Paul. You only imagine that!
Paul. The good neighbors. At bottom they are right! How should an old man be able to learn the things that call for the efforts of a whole life, just as any other career does! Ridiculous! Why that simply must have lurid consequences.
Aunt Clara (impatiently) . I should never have thought that you would act this way, Paul!
Paul. Act what way? I am only checking over the possibilities. Every business man does that! And I tell you, the prospects are desperately bad! I can fairly see Laskowski establish himself here after I have lost the place! ”

“ There was a rustle, and she started from her revery. It was only mother, flitting into the room with one of her uneasy glances. But we were all so still and serious and Sabbath-like, that a look of relief came over her countenance. She vanished again, and through the window I saw her join her husband in the meadow.
"There, now, before they come in," said Aunt Clara. "When I was a girl, I went to singing-school. Dear me! But we will not think of the dead any more. There was one of the girls,—she thought she had a very good voice. But she never sings now."
"Why?" asked Jerusha. ”

“ Lene. Very well, Miss Clara. (Quickly off to the right.)
[Short pause, during which Aunt Clara stands listening. Then Hella enters from the right, dressed in black.]
Hella (with a quick glance to the left, then to Aunt Clara who has retreated to the background) . What is the matter with my room? Why are the doors open?
Aunt Clara. The guests certainly must have some place where they can relax a bit, later on.
Hella (nonplussed) . In my rooms?
Aunt Clara. They surely can't sit around in this one place the whole afternoon. They must take their coffee somewhere.
Hella (from the left) . ”

“ Your Aunt Clara was the stodgiest of all, if you don't mind my saying so. She insisted she'd 'heard all that'—you ought to've seen her expression!—when she was a girl!”
“She isn't my aunt,” Renfrew interposed hastily “She's only my great-aunt. I scarcely think of her as one of the family.”
“She was the worst of the whole club,” the indignant essayist informed him. “I might have known better than to expect such minds to grasp anything vital! What do they know? Nothing but their children's colds and the price of butter! They think they know something higher, but they don't. ”

“ Aunt Clara sniffed again. "What has got into you? You used to have no more spirit than a mouse. Now you remind me of your late Uncle John in some of his moods. Suppose Shirley thinks it better—sniff—to stay here a while longer? If you're not out of debt you'll still have to pinch pennies and—"
He interrupted again, still quietly. "You must help to convince her it is best. She must come—before it is too late." ”

“ I know Paul and I know you, all of you who are turning Paul's head!
Aunt Clara (angered) . Mercy me! I, turn Paul's head!
Hella. Yes, you, and all of you around here! I will tell you to your face! You are trying to set Paul against me!
Aunt Clara (with increasing excitement) . I never set nobody against no one! Nobody ever said such a thing about me! God knows! You are the first person to do that! And on top of it all, I have the best intentions! I even want to help you! Well, I do say ...! (Takes several steps through the hall.) ”

“ And then she has always been a reserved young lady, and while never uncivil or haughty, she is undemonstrative, and as young people are, concerned only with life as it affected her."
"Ah, Aunt Clara, you are always thinking the best of everybody. You never can see any fault in any one." ”

“ Paul (smiling) . Master of my house?... No, Auntie, Hella would never put up with that and on that point I am forced to agree with her.
Aunt Clara. The things that one does get to hear in one's old age! I'm too dense for that.
Paul. Well you see. Aunt Clara, these are views that are not exactly understood in the country. One has to work up to that gradually.
Aunt Clara. Are you really happy with them, Paul?
Paul. Why I have fought almost fifteen years for these views! Surely a man will not do a thing like that without serious consideration. ”

“ Out with you and help the guests take off their wraps!
Lene. Why, I'm doing that very thing, Miss!
[Goes off.]
Aunt Clara (calling after her) . And keep the coffee in readiness, when I ring.
[She also goes out at the right, leaves the door slightly open behind her. Voices are heard outside. Brief silence. Then the door is opened wide. Paul, Hella, von Glyszinski, Aunt Clara appear in the door. Paul has taken off his coat and hat outside. Hella wears a fur coat and toque. Glyszinski wears a hat and heavy winter overcoat, turned up over his ears.] ”

“ When Clara decides a matter Mrs. Stanley, while still mentally saying "Young thing," feels nevertheless that her own decision has been uttered. And in every successive resistance she is overcome the easier, for habit is a conqueror.
They have just had a discussion. Aunt Maria wants Clara to stand on her dignity in a hotel until old Muñoz goes down on his marrow-bones, makes her a handsome allowance, and agrees to leave her at least half his fortune. Clara's reply is substantially, "He is my grandfather and the proper head of my family. ”