Free Edith Wharton - Novella 01 by Fast (and) Loose (v2.1) Page B

swim before her. “I don’t
know,” she whispered, tremblingly. In any other person, at any other time, such
an answer would have been bete; in Madeline Graham, with the sunset light
striking her pale golden braids, & the church-bells coming softly through
the sweet evening air, as they stood by the gate, it seemed to Guy Hastings
very sweet & musical. “If I thought you would miss me I should be almost
glad to go,” he said, quietly. “And yet, I do not know why I go. It is so
peaceful here, that I feel as if life were worth a little—if I go, I shall
probably do my best to tumble down a ravine.” Madeline lifted her blue eyes in
wonderment; she had never heard him speak so before. “Yes,” he went on, “You do
not know what it is to feel that everything is worthless & heartless, as I
have done. I envy you. I almost wish that I were going to stay here.” He
paused; &, moved by the weary sadness which his voice & words had for
the first time betrayed, Madeline gathered heart to say, holding out her hand: “I
don’t understand, but I am very sorry for you. You must have had a
disappointment. Stay here.” And Guy stayed; why not? As he had said, life
seemed worth a little in this friendly atmosphere of peace, & in Madeline’s
society. An inexpressible charm, which he scarcely acknowledged to himself,
made her society pleasant; the quiet, Arcadian days were an utter contrast to
the dash & hurry of his unsatisfied life; he had found a palmtree in the
desert-sand & he sat down to rest. As for Madeline, on the day when she met
Guy in the covered bridge, that mysterious thing called “love at first sight”
had entered in & taken possession of her heart. His manner had, indeed, a
great fascination for all; & he was unusually gentle & serious with
Madeline; then he was handsome, & Madeline, though she was not, like her
Papa, a judge of art, had the good taste common to most girls, to admire a
handsome face. As for those words of his by the gate, to say that she was a
woman is to say that they aroused her sympathy & admiration as nothing else
could have done, & raised Guy into a suffering hero. Nothing could be purer
& more childlike than Madeline’s passion; it blent with her life like a
strain of sweet music, in which as yet there were no jarring chords; there was
nothing noisy or turbulent about it. So the Summer stole on through balmy days & short, warm nights; Guy lingered at Interlaken , & Madeline saw him daily. He certainly
treated her with marked admiration, & both Mr.
& Mrs. Graham were not slow to draw their conclusions therefrom; but he
spoke no word of love, &, as the happy days passed, seemed inclined to
remain “half her lover, all her friend.” Nor did Madeline feel the want of a
closer appeal to her heart. The present was all-sufficient. Why should this
pastoral ever end, or if it was to end, why should she not enjoy it the more
fully now? Her love for Guy was as yet almost too idealized & abstract to
demand a reciprocation . Enough that he was by her
side, & that he was glad to be there. Mr. Graham, too, was quite easy on
the subject. Madeline was a pretty girl, & Hastings was evidently very much gone on her; he was
of good family & she had money enough for both; no match could be more
desirable, & none seemed more likely to prosper. It was natural that they
should like to spin out their courtship-days; young people have the whole world
before them, & are never in a hurry. But Mrs. Graham was not so
well-pleased with the turn affairs had taken. “Don’t be so confident, John,”
she said, anxiously. “I had rather trust Maddy with a good, honest business man
than one of these fine, fast young fellows. Very likely he is only amusing
himself; what does he want with a merchant’s daughter? No, no; it will come to
nothing & if it goes on much longer the child’s heart will be broken. I
have heard stories enough about Mr. Hastings & his set, & I don’t
believe in one of them!” “Nonsense!”