The American Part 6
You’re reading novel The American Part 6 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!
Tristram remained silent for some time afterwards, as if she was trying to keep her pledge. It did not appear that evening that she succeeded; but as he was rising to take his leave she pa.s.sed suddenly, as she was very apt to do, from the tone of unsparing persiflage to that of almost tremulous sympathy. "Speaking seriously," she said, "I believe in you, Mr. Newman. You flatter my patriotism."
"Your patriotism?" Christopher demanded.
"Even so. It would take too long to explain, and you probably would not understand. Besides, you might take it--really, you might take it for a declaration. But it has nothing to do with you personally; it's what you represent. Fortunately you don't know all that, or your conceit would increase insufferably."
Newman stood staring and wondering what under the sun he "represented."
"Forgive all my meddlesome chatter and forget my advice. It is very silly in me to undertake to tell you what to do. When you are embarra.s.sed, do as you think best, and you will do very well. When you are in a difficulty, judge for yourself."
"I shall remember everything you have told me," said Newman. "There are so many forms and ceremonies over here--"
"Forms and ceremonies are what I mean, of course."
"Ah, but I want to observe them," said Newman. "Haven't I as good a right as another? They don't scare me, and you needn't give me leave to violate them. I won't take it."
"That is not what I mean. I mean, observe them in your own way. Settle nice questions for yourself. Cut the knot or untie it, as you choose."
"Oh, I am sure I shall never fumble over it!" said Newman.
The next time that he dined in the Avenue d'Iena was a Sunday, a day on which Mr. Tristram left the cards unshuffled, so that there was a trio in the evening on the balcony. The talk was of many things, and at last Mrs. Tristram suddenly observed to Christopher Newman that it was high time he should take a wife.
"Listen to her; she has the audacity!" said Tristram, who on Sunday evenings was always rather acrimonious.
"I don't suppose you have made up your mind not to marry?" Mrs. Tristram continued.
"Heaven forbid!" cried Newman. "I am sternly resolved on it."
"It's very easy," said Tristram; "fatally easy!"
"Well, then, I suppose you do not mean to wait till you are fifty."
"On the contrary, I am in a great hurry."
"One would never suppose it. Do you expect a lady to come and propose to you?"
"No; I am willing to propose. I think a great deal about it."
"Tell me some of your thoughts."
"Well," said Newman, slowly, "I want to marry very well."
"Marry a woman of sixty, then," said Tristram.
"'Well' in what sense?"
"In every sense. I shall be hard to please."
"You must remember that, as the French proverb says, the most beautiful girl in the world can give but what she has."
"Since you ask me," said Newman, "I will say frankly that I want extremely to marry. It is time, to begin with: before I know it I shall be forty. And then I'm lonely and helpless and dull. But if I marry now, so long as I didn't do it in hot haste when I was twenty, I must do it with my eyes open. I want to do the thing in handsome style. I do not only want to make no mistakes, but I want to make a great hit. I want to take my pick. My wife must be a magnificent woman."
"Voila ce qui s'appelle parler!" cried Mrs. Tristram.
"Oh, I have thought an immense deal about it."
"Perhaps you think too much. The best thing is simply to fall in love."
"When I find the woman who pleases me, I shall love her enough. My wife shall be very comfortable."
"You are superb! There's a chance for the magnificent women."
"You are not fair." Newman rejoined. "You draw a fellow out and put him off guard, and then you laugh at him."
"I a.s.sure you," said Mrs. Tristram, "that I am very serious. To prove it, I will make you a proposal. Should you like me, as they say here, to marry you?"
"To hunt up a wife for me?"
"She is already found. I will bring you together."
"Oh, come," said Tristram, "we don't keep a matrimonial bureau. He will think you want your commission."
"Present me to a woman who comes up to my notions," said Newman, "and I will marry her tomorrow."
"You have a strange tone about it, and I don't quite understand you. I didn't suppose you would be so coldblooded and calculating."
Newman was silent a while. "Well," he said, at last, "I want a great woman. I stick to that. That's one thing I CAN treat myself to, and if it is to be had I mean to have it. What else have I toiled and struggled for, all these years? I have succeeded, and now what am I to do with my success? To make it perfect, as I see it, there must be a beautiful woman perched on the pile, like a statue on a monument. She must be as good as she is beautiful, and as clever as she is good. I can give my wife a good deal, so I am not afraid to ask a good deal myself. She shall have everything a woman can desire; I shall not even object to her being too good for me; she may be cleverer and wiser than I can understand, and I shall only be the better pleased. I want to possess, in a word, the best article in the market."
"Why didn't you tell a fellow all this at the outset?" Tristram demanded. "I have been trying so to make you fond of ME!"
"This is very interesting," said Mrs. Tristram. "I like to see a man know his own mind."
"I have known mine for a long time," Newman went on. "I made up my mind tolerably early in life that a beautiful wife was the thing best worth having, here below. It is the greatest victory over circ.u.mstances. When I say beautiful, I mean beautiful in mind and in manners, as well as in person. It is a thing every man has an equal right to; he may get it if he can. He doesn't have to be born with certain faculties, on purpose; he needs only to be a man. Then he needs only to use his will, and such wits as he has, and to try."
"It strikes me that your marriage is to be rather a matter of vanity."
"Well, it is certain," said Newman, "that if people notice my wife and admire her, I shall be mightily tickled."
"After this," cried Mrs. Tristram, "call any man modest!"
"But none of them will admire her so much as I."
"I see you have a taste for splendor."
Newman hesitated a little; and then, "I honestly believe I have!" he said.
"And I suppose you have already looked about you a good deal."
"A good deal, according to opportunity."
The American Part 6
You're reading novel The American Part 6 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.
The American Part 6 summary
You're reading The American Part 6. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Henry James already has 561 views.
It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.
LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com
- Related chapter:
- The American Part 5
- The American Part 7