按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
watch〃I am afraid you have delayed us too long this morning； Ethel。〃
〃Am I to be the scapegoat？ Now； I do not believe anyone wanted to go
to church。 Ruth had her book； you； the newspapers。 It is warm and
pleasant here； it is cold and windy outside。 I know what confession would
be made； if honesty were the fashion。〃
〃Well； my little girl； honesty is the fashion in this house。 I believe in
going to church。 Religion is the Mother of Duty； and we should all make a
sad mess of life without duty。 Is not that so； Ruth？〃
〃Truth itself； Edward； but religion is not going to church and listening
4
… Page 5…
The Man Between
to sermons。 Those who built the old cathedrals of Europe had no idea that
sitting in comfortable pews and listening to some man talking was
worshiping God。 Those great naves were intended for men and women to
stand or kneel in before God。 And there were no high or low standing or
kneeling places； all were on a level before Him。 It is our modern
Protestantism which has brought in lazy lolling in cushioned pews； and the
gallery； which makes a church as like a playhouse as possible！〃
〃What are you aiming at； Ruth？〃
〃I only meant to say； I would like going to church much better if we
went solely to praise God； and entreat His mercy。 I do not care to hear
sermons。〃
〃My dear Ruth； sermons are a large fact in our social economy。 When
a million or two are preached every year； they have a strong claim on our
attention。 To use a trade phrase； sermons are firm； and I believe a
moderate tax on them would yield an astonishing income。〃
〃See how you talk of them； Edward； as if they were a commercial
commodity。 If you respected them〃
〃I do。 I grant them a steady pneumatic pressure in the region of morals；
and even faith。 Picture to yourself； Ruth； New York without sermons。 The
dear old city would be like a ship without ballast； heeling over with every
wind； and letting in the waters of immorality and scepticism。 Remove this
pulpit balance just for one week from New York City； and where should
we be？〃
〃Well then；〃 said Ethel； 〃the clergy ought to give New York a first…rate
article in sermons； either of home or foreign manufacture。 New York
expects the very best of everything； and when she gets it； she opens her
heart and her pocketbook enjoys it； and pays for it。〃
〃That is the truth； Ethel。 I was thinking of your grandmother Rawdon。
You have your hat onare you going to see her？〃
〃I am going to see Dora Denning。 I had an urgent note from her last
night。 She says she has ‘extraordinary news' and begs me to ‘come to her
immediately。' I cannot imagine what her news is。 I saw her Friday
afternoon。〃
〃She has a new poodle； or a new lover； or a new way of crimping her
5
… Page 6…
The Man Between
hair；〃 suggested Ruth Bayard scornfully。〃 She imposes on you； Ethel； why
do you submit to her selfishness？〃
〃I suppose because I have become used to it。 Four years ago I began to
take her part； when the girls teased and tormented her in the schoolroom；
and I have big…sistered her ever since。 I suppose we get to love those who
make us kind and give us trouble。 Dora is not perfect； but I like her better
than any friend I have。 And she must like me； for she asks my advice
about everything in her life。〃
〃Does she take it？〃
〃Yesgenerally。 Sometimes I have to make her take it。〃
〃She has a mother。 Why does she not go to her？〃
〃Mrs。 Denning knows nothing about certain subjects。 I am Dora's
social godmother； and she must dress and behave as I tell her to do。 Poor
Mrs。 Denning！ I am so sorry for heranother cup of coffee； Ruthit is not
very strong。〃
〃Why should you be sorry for Mrs。 Denning； Her husband is
enormously richshe lives in a palace； and has a crowd of men and
women servants to wait upon hercarriages； horses； motor cars； what not；
at her command。〃
〃Yet really； Ruth； she is a most unhappy woman。 In that little Western
town from which they came； she was everybody。 She ran the churches；
and was chairwoman in all the clubs； and President of the Temperance
Union； and manager of every religious； social； and political festival； and
her days were full to the brim of just the things she liked to do。 Her dress
there was considered magnificent； people begged her for patterns； and
regarded her as the very glass of fashion。 Servants thought it a great
privilege to be employed on the Denning place； and she ordered her house
and managed her half…score of men and maids with pleasant autocracy。
NOW！ Well； I will tell you how it is； NOW。 She sits all day in her splendid
rooms； or rides out in her car or carriage； and no one knows her； and of
course no one speaks to her。 Mr。 Denning has his Wall Street friends〃
〃And enemies；〃 interrupted Judge Rawdon。
〃And enemies！ You are right； father。 But he enjoys one as much as the
otherthat is； he would as willingly fight his enemies as feast his friends。
6
… Page 7…
The Man Between
He says a big day in Wall Street makes him alive from head to foot。 He
really looks happy。 Bryce Denning has got into two clubs； and his money
passes him； for he plays； and is willing to love prudently。 But no one cares
about Mrs。 Denning。 She is quite oldforty…five； I dare say； and she is
stout； and does not wear the colors and style she ought to wearnone of
her things have the right ‘look；' and of course I cannot advise a matron。
Then； her fine English servants take her house out of her hands。 She is
afraid of them。 The butler suavely tries to inform her； the housekeeper
removed the white crotcheted scarfs and things from the gilded chairs； and
I am sure Mrs。 Denning had a heartache about their loss； but she saw that
they had also vanished from Dora's parlor； so she took the hint； and
accepted the lesson。 Really； her humility and isolation are pitiful。 I am
going to ask grandmother to go and see her。 Grandmother might take her
to church； and get Dr。 Simpson and Mrs。 Simpson to introduce her。 Her
money and adaptability would do the rest。