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Chapter 7
Butnowweliveinaconstantrush,"saidMr.vanderLuydeninmeasuredtones,lookingwithpleasantdeliberationaboutthelargeshroudedroomwhichtoArcherwassocompleteanimageofitsowners."ButIhopeyouHADfinishedyourreading,Henry?"hiswifeinterposed."Quite—quite,"hereassuredher."ThenIshouldlikeAdelinetotellyou—""Oh,it’sreallyNewland’sstory,"saidhismothersmiling;andproceededtorehearseoncemorethemonstroustaleoftheaffrontinflictedonMrs.LovellMingott."Ofcourse,"sheended,"AugustaWellandandMaryMingottbothfeltthat,especiallyinviewofNewland’sengagement,youandHenryOUGHTTOKNOW.""Ah—"saidMr.vanderLuyden,drawingadeepbreath.Therewasasilenceduringwhichthetickofthemonumentalormoluclockonthewhitemarblemantelpiecegrewasloudastheboomofaminute-gun.Archercontemplatedwithawethetwoslenderfadedfigures,seatedsidebysideinakindofviceregalrigidity,mouthpiecesofsomeremoteancestralauthoritywhichfatecompelledthemtowield,whentheywouldsomuchratherhavelivedinsimplicityandseclusion,digginginvisibleweedsoutoftheperfectlawnsofSkuytercliff,andplayingPatiencetogetherintheevenings.Mr.vanderLuydenwasthefirsttospeak."Youreallythinkthisisduetosome—someintentionalinterferenceofLawrenceLefferts’s?"heenquired,turningtoArcher."I’mcertainofit,sir.
