Part 49 (1/2)
The realization that she was at last domesticated under his roof made her redemption seem easy, certain, almost accomplished. There remained only the painful duty of separating her from her mother. He could see that this would bring keen sorrow upon them both, but that if she could be brought to consider him in the light of her future husband, the change would seem less violent; for, after all, it was the law of life which subordinated the claims of the mother to those of the husband.
”At any rate, the issue is now clear in my mind. A powerful chain of suggestion has been formed and fastened upon her by her own mother and by Clarke. That chain must be broken; it is broken in Clarke's case, and no matter what the pain, the fear, this course may cause the mother, it must be pursued in order to restore Viola to health.”
He pa.s.sed from this to a forecast of the radical changes in his own life which an avowal of love would make, and his mood chilled. He had always imagined the announcement of his engagement, falling into a sober and decorous paragraph among the society notes, and had figured himself receiving with dignified composure the congratulations of his a.s.sociates and club-fellows. He had never considered the possibility of shrinking from these publicities, nor fancied himself in the light of finding excuses to justify or explain his marriage. He now clearly foresaw, foreheard the comment, the surprise, the opposition of his family.
He pulled himself up short with a word of derision at the length to which he had permitted his mind to run. ”All this for the future. The immediate question is, Can she be freed from her bonds?”
He was deep in his book when Kate entered with excited greeting.
”Morton, do you know that those women have been locked in their rooms all day for fear of Clarke and Pratt? Well, they were! Clarke has gone stark mad with jealousy, and even that besotted mother was afraid of him, and admits it. They would be there in that house prisoners this minute only for you.”
”Don't lay your wreath on my head; keep it for Lambert. Really, Kate, he was magnificent. Little as he is, he towered. I had no doubt of his willingness and ability to kill either Pratt or Clarke; and I don't think they questioned the integrity of his promise.”
Kate's mind took a new turn. ”She's broken with Clarke, thank Heaven!
But the mother clings to him in spite of all.”
”I am about to suggest to Mrs. Lambert that she go West with her husband, leaving the girl in your care for a little while.”
”I wish they would!”
”She must be freed from even her mother's presence for a while--that is, if they really want to have her cured of her trances.”
”I see,” said Kate, thoughtfully. ”The mother is so closely a.s.sociated with all that tapping.”
”Precisely. I wish, when Mrs. Lambert is rested, you would ask her to let me see her here. I want to talk these matters over with her in private.”
”They're both lying down, but I'll tell her when she rises. Don't do anything rash,” she added, with a reaction towards caution which amused him.
”You may trust me.”
She came back a few steps, and hesitatingly said. ”For, after all, Morton, the girl _is_ abnormal.”
”So are we all--under abnormal conditions. I am going to see if I can't so change the current of her thought that she will forget her besetments--and you must help me.”
”She's shockingly pretty and it will be very dangerous having her beneath your very roof.” She gave a warning backward look. ”How dare you permit it?”
”I am a very brave man,” he replied, with a smile, and an inflection that puzzled her.
XX
THE MOTHER'S FAITH
Mrs. Lambert entered timidly, her gentle face sadder and its lip-line firmer than he had ever seen it. It was evident that the experiences of the last few days had touched her and shaken her.
Up to this time Morton had considered her as a genial but rather negative personality, a soul naturally subordinate to others, but she now rose to an importance in his life which made her real self of the highest significance. His first glance was one of sincerest admiration. Doubtless she had once been as slender and quite as tall as her daughter, and though increasing age and weight had combined to rob her of height and grace, she was, nevertheless, still a distinctly commanding figure. Her head was n.o.bly fas.h.i.+oned, her eyes a candid blue, and her glance clear and unworn in its appeal.
Altogether he could not but acknowledge in her a mother of which no man need be ashamed, and in this spirit he met her and invited her to a seat. ”Mr. Lambert and I have been talking of the mountains to-day,”
he began. ”I wish we were on our way out there this moment, for I am tired of the city.”