Mrs. O'Brien

“ But it's no use. I can't. Even my work's no help. You're between me and it all the time. I hoped it would bring me nearer to you. But something—someone—it simply can't go on. I can't stand it. Either you marry me—or we've got to separate for good. I..."
"Arnold—what nonsense!" cried Judith. "Why..." As she lifted her eyes and felt his hot gaze upon her, she caught her breath and was silent. Neither spoke for what seemed hours, the only sound the ticking of the great clock in the hall. Then, with a suddenness that stunned, Imrie's strong arms were around her. ”

“ Karl threw himself moodily into a chair as Olga fled into the outer studio, and sat there, not looking at his unwelcome visitor. Dr. Millar seemed to find his dejection amusing. He allowed the silence to remain undisturbed, while he puffed a cigarette. Then he said, half to himself, half to Karl:
"Full of temperament, that woman, and pretty, too; extremely pretty."
"Yes, she is pretty," Karl acquiesced, without looking at him.
"It's a pity she doesn't love her husband," was the next cynical remark that fell on Karl's ears. ”

“ Over in the velvet depths of the sunken tennis courts, the fireflies flashed their lanterns incessantly. Somewhere in the distance a guitar sounded now and again, and a woman's voice rose and fell softly. It was very peaceful and pleasant, and Imrie, thinking of the hot city and the morrow, drew a deep sigh. No power on earth could prevent him from going back—but he did not pretend to think that he wanted to go.
"Don't you ever wonder what those crickets are saying?" asked Judith, conscious instinctively that her companion's eyes still burned with the same light. "Just listen to them." ”

“ O'Brien, "and you'll have no more need to go to the States than others."
"What things are them that we do?" Ellen asked.
"Haven't I told you before this," said Mrs. O'Brien, "that it's the Good People that trouble you? If you'ld treat them well, as we do, they'ld never bother you. If you'ld even take good care [17] never to harm them, it's likely they'ld never come near you."
"It's the fairies you're speakin' of," said Peter. "Sure I don't believe in them at all. It's old woman's nonsense that your head's full of, savin' your presence, Mrs. O'Brien. There's no fairies at all. ”

“ Nell looked at Miss Kezia, a weary wonder in her face. "She can sleep on the floor beside my bed," she said.
Miss Kezia hesitated; her eyes met those of the Atom—wide, defiant, indomitable in her small, obstinate face. In her ears echoed some words of Mrs. O'Brien's that Miss Kezia had privately labelled foolish. "Sheila Pat is delicate. Perhaps we have spoilt her a little. She is very strong-willed. She cannot be driven, but she can be led. Her feelings use her up—exhaust her." ”

“ Nor was his impatience lost on Judith.
But Imrie never preached long sermons. In a very few minutes he had wound up with his usual stirring peroration, and left the pulpit. Good had an almost irresistible impulse to clap, not as expressing approbation, but admiration for a difficult task well done. He smiled—not wholly pleasantly—at the look of devout complacency on the faces of all the well dressed men and women about him. Not one, he reflected, who had listened so attentively to this stirring denunciation of idleness, knew what real toil was—or had any desire to know. ”

“ She was startled, though, when she was ushered into the reception-room and saw Millar there, his hands on his breast, bowing profoundly.
"You seem to be everywhere," she exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Are you Karl's secretary?"
Millar was transformed back into his frock coat, his immaculate trousers, his wine-colored waistcoat. He was again the polished, suave, affable gentleman of the afternoon, with ingratiating manner, cynical smile and insinuating words.
"No, I am not Karl's servant; only his friend," he said. "How are you feeling to-day?" ”

“ I want to be strong, to be happy. If I only had that letter now."
Karl took her hands in his, and comforted her.
"Never mind it, Olga; it has served its purpose. It has taught us ourselves, our hearts."
"It has taught us that we must be strong, brave and loyal," Olga declared warmly.
They stood thus, looking into each other's [Pg 181] eyes, sanely, clearly, each ready to renounce. The door of the studio opened and Millar stood before them again, holding in his extended hand a letter.
"I beg a thousand pardons again," he said. "I find I gave Karl an old tailor's bill instead of madam's letter." ”

“ They are not the cold, chaste women of other climes, these women of the Marquesas; with blood at fever heat and hearts beating like wild things against bars, they listen when love or its counterfeit pours into their ears those soft words with nothing in them that make a song. They have no barriers of reserve or haughtiness; they make no bargains; they go where the heart goes, careless of certified vows.
“Mon dieu!” Mademoiselle N—— exclaimed and put her tiny hand to her red lips. “What if the good sisters heard me? I am bad. I know. Eh bien! I am Marquesan after all.” ”

“ Karl continued, still with a truculent air. "This afternoon you insisted I should not marry Elsa. To-night you are delighted at the prospect."
[Pg 119] "Oh, yes; I see the matter now in a different light."
"Then it was Olga who ran away as I entered!" Karl almost shouted, glaring at him menacingly.
"Ran away? Why should she run away?" Millar asked, pretending embarrassment.
"Don't act like a cad!" Karl cried threateningly.
"What do you mean, Karl?"
"I mean exactly what I say. Don't act like a cad. If you were a gentleman you would hide your pleasure." ”

“ A vague regret flitted across his mind that if he disappeared there would be no one to seek him with such eagerness. He dismissed the thought quickly, however. One in his position had no time for such nonsense. Time was too valuable to be wasted in dreaming. The Woman faded: only the Case remained. He fell to drumming on the desk with his pencil, and Judith realised that he asked nothing further of her. She thanked him and rose. Silently he opened a private door leading to the hallway, bowed courteously as she passed him, and went back to his desk as if he had already forgotten her. ”

“ It was fully an hour later, when the house was quiet for the night, that Judith found Roger nursing a slight but smarting cut on his cheek, where Faxon's seal ring had grazed it.
"Roger," she said, "that's enough 'first aid,' isn't it? I want to talk with you."
"Oh, cut it out, Judith. Go to bed. I've had all a fellow can stand for one evening, without being lectured by you!" ”

“ Seventh Man, who came each day from her bath in the via puna attired in her earrings only.
Sauntering along the bank of the brook still dripping from the spring, her wet black hair clinging to her shapely back and her tawny skin glistening in flickering light and shade, she was for all the world my conception of Mother Eve before even leaves were modesty. Her nudity was a custom only at this time, for when she reappeared to aid Exploding Eggs in preparing my breakfast she always wore a scarlet pareu and her hair was done like Bernhardt's. ”

“ Herman said, walking toward the studio door with the young artist. "I am sorry you didn't start on the picture to-day, but I suppose it can't be helped. What in the world were you talking about all that time?"
As they went out talking, Olga followed slowly. As she passed Millar he said:
"I will await you here."
Olga went with Karl and her husband. She had hardly left the room when the door [Pg 65] from the hall opened and Mimi entered. As Millar turned toward her with his ironical bow she drew back, affrighted.
"Oh, excuse me," she murmured.
"You wish to see the artist?" Millar said. ”

“ Imrie listened attentively, and as he caught the significance of the idea his manner changed from scepticism to something approaching enthusiasm. Then his face slowly hardened and a semblance of a sneer formed on his lips.
"Telling the truth may get you into trouble," he said half to himself.
"Of course," cried Good, "it not only may—it's certain to."
Imrie turned to Judith. "Are you as optimistic as Mr. Good?" ”

“ But here's the real favour. There's to be a clergyman out from the city, this morning, who is a friend of mine. Arnold Imrie is to preach, and ..."
"Is Arnold coming?" broke in Roger. "By George, I'll go myself. He's a wonder."
"That's what I wanted to find out," said Judith. "That is, I want to find out if you think so, Mr. Good. The people here think just that. I want to get your opinion."
"That's hardly fair, is it, Miss Wynrod? He's a personal friend of yours, and you know already what I think of church—yet you want my opinion of both."
"No—not both; just the man." ”

“ He is a foreigner, and the priest could not marry us. At Papeete 472the judge can do it. The nuns are going with me to make sure. They oppose, but I am determined. It is my one chance. Tell me, American, do I make a mistake?”
“Do you love him?”
“Love him?” she said hesitatingly. “I do not know what love is. The nuns have not taught me. Always it has been Joan of Arc, or the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I want love and freedom, but I am afraid of staying there at Taaoa alone with those two old women. They are true Canaques, and would make me like them, and I am afraid of the convent. Mon dieu! ”

“ Karl cried wildly; "like a young tiger. I'm mad with joy. I will get drunk to-night. I will drink, drink drink until the angels in heaven sing to me—as you said this afternoon," he added, turning to Millar.
"No, no, Karl," Olga pleaded, thoroughly frightened. "Why, you never drank. Why should you drink to-night?"
"Because I am doing things to-night I never did before," Karl replied bitterly. "I have never been engaged before; to-night I shall be engaged."
"Good! fine, Karl," Millar exclaimed. "She is a splendid girl."
"Splendid girl! What do I care what sort of a girl she is? It's not the girl ”

“ All this you will realize when she has slipped through your fingers. You might have become a master—a giant. Not by loving your art, but by loving her. Oh, to be kissed by her, to look into her burning eyes and to kiss her warm, passionate mouth."
Karl covered his face with his hands. Millar picked up the delicately scented shawl which had covered Olga's bare shoulders. ”

“ Millar took a turn up and down the room, his up-slanting eyebrows drawn together in deep thought.
"This afternoon he tried to shoot me when I told him I would make you fall in love with me," he said, stopping in front of Olga. "That means love. Don't speak to me of respect or regard, my dear lady. They fire off [Pg 114] cannons in salute out of respect, but when they draw pistols, that means love. Now, you think Karl loves this little girl. Suppose we find out who is right. We will make Karl tell us himself." ”

“ Karl was about to retort when the studio door opened and Olga entered. He turned quickly toward her and she went to him without noticing Millar.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Your husband will be here in ten minutes," Millar interposed.
Olga turned toward him and cried accusingly:
"Then you were not asleep in that chair when my husband was here. You heard him say when he would return."
"Madam is mistaken. Feminine presentiment always feels the approach of the husband ten minutes ahead of time. ”

“ Her tunic, the simple flowing garment of the valley, was of pale blue. Her hair was parted on her low, delicate forehead. Her legs were stockingless, her feet thrust into small, brown shoes.
She raised her eyes, and replied slowly, seeking the answer herself, maybe, at the moment.
“Monsieur Lutz is a gentleman. He says he loves me. I must marry a white man. Who else is there? If I stay in Taaoa, I shall become a Marquesan pure. It is so easy.” ”

“ If she has taken another husband, I'll have the law of her and bring her to shame; she has only one husband and his name is Matthew O'Brien.'
'Good heavens! do you mean that Thomas O'Brien, of Vineyard Cottage, is your brother?' And as Michael put this question he felt the plot was thickening.
'Yes. Tom, poor old chap! is my brother; but he knows nought about Olive and the young ones. He thinks they are dead. I told him I had lost them all. Has she not been talking about them—Cyril and Kester and my little Mollie!' And here there were tears in Matthew O'Brien's eyes. ”

“ I had not seen Karl in two years. We chatted and the time flew past. It was an extremely interesting conversation and madam was so kind as to invite me to the ball this evening."
"You will accept, I trust," Herman said with ready hospitality.
"Yes, thank you," Millar said. "I have come direct from Odessa, where I have had a talk with the Russian wheat magnate."
"Ah, I know; I shall lose money; the wheat crop is bad," Herman said impatiently.
"Oh, isn't that good for us?" Olga asked. ”

“ If it fails we are lost."
Karl trembled with apprehension for Olga, whom he believed in the devilish power of this man.
"What is it?" he asked.
"She will be here in one minute, dressed in an opera cloak—and nothing else. Think of it, Karl; the daring of it. She will walk through the ballroom on my arm, among all those people, her friends, her husband, with no one in the secret but we two—and you. Ah, Karl, I told you she would be mine," Millar concluded with rapturous accents. ”