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MOTHER
MOTHER
By OWEN WISTER
TO MY FAVOURITE BROKER WITH THE EARNEST
ASSURANCE THAT MR。 BEVERLY IS NOT MEANT FOR HIM
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MOTHER
When handsome young Richard Fieldhe was very handsome and
very young announced to our assembled company that if his turn should
really come to tell us a story； the story should be no invention of his fancy；
but a page of truth； a chapter from his own life； in which himself was the
hero and a lovely； innocent girl was the heroine； his wife at once looked
extremely uncomfortable。 She changed the reclining position in which she
had been leaning back in her chair； and she sat erect； with a hand closed
upon each arm of the chair。
〃Richard；〃 she said。 〃do you think that it is right of you to tell any one；
even friends； anything that you have never yet confessed to me？〃
〃Ethel；〃 replied Richard； 〃although I cannot promise that you will be
entirely proud of my conduct when you have heard this episode of my past；
I do say that there is nothing in it to hurt the trust you have placed in me
since I have been your husband。 Only；〃 he added； 〃I hope that I shall not
have to tell any story at all。〃
〃Oh； yes you will！〃 we all exclaimed together； and the men looked
eager while the women sighed。
The rest of us were much older than Richard； we were middle…aged； in
fact； and human nature is so constructed； that when it is at the age when
making love keeps it busy； it does not care so much to listen to tales of
others' love…making； but the more it recedes from that period of
exuberance； and ceases to have love adventures of its own； the greater
become its hunger and thirst to hear about this delicious business which it
can no longer personally practice with the fluency of yore。 It was for this
reason that we all yearned in our middle…aged way for the tale of love
which we expected from young Richard。 He； on his part； repeated the hope
that by the time his turn to tell a story was reached we should be tired of
stories and prefer to spend the evening at the card tables or in the music
room。
We were a house party； no brief 〃week…end〃 affair； but a gathering
whose period for most of the guests covered a generous and leisurely ten
days； with enough departures and arrivals to give that variety which is
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MOTHER
necessary among even the most entertaining and agreeable people。 Our
skilful hostess had assembled us in the country； beneath a roof of New
York luxury； a luxury which has come in these later days to be so much
more than princely。 By day； the grounds afforded us both golf and tennis；
the stables provided motor cars and horses to ride or drive over admirable
roads； through beautiful scenery that was embellished by a magnificent
autumn season。 At nightfall； the great house itself received us in the arms
of supreme comfort； fed us sumptuously； and after dinner ministered to
our middle…aged bodies with chairs and sofas of the highest development。
The plan devised by our hostess； Mrs。 Davenport； that a story should
be told by one of us each evening； had met with courtesy； but not I with
immediate enthusiasm。 But Mrs。 Davenport had chosen her guests with
her usual wisdom； and after the first experiment； story telling proved so
successful that none of us would have readily abandoned it。 When the time
had come for Richard Field to entertain the company with the promised
tale from his life experience； his hope of escaping this ordeal had
altogether vanished。
Mrs。 Field； it had been noticed as early as breakfast time； was inclined
to be nervous on her husband's account。 Five years of married life had not
cured her of this amiable symptom； and she made but a light meal。 He； on
the other hand； ate heartily and without signs of disturbance。 Apparently
he was not even conscious of the glances that his wife so frequently stole
at him。
〃Do at least have some omelet； my dear；〃 whispered Mrs。 Davenport
urgently。 〃It's quite light。〃
But Mrs。 Field could summon no appetite。
〃I see you are anxious about him；〃 Mrs。 Davenport continued after
breakfast。 〃You are surely not afraid his story will fail to interest us？〃
〃No； it is not that。〃
〃It can't be that he has given up the one he expected to tell us and can
think of no other？〃
〃Oh； no； he is going to tell that one。〃
〃And you don't like his choice？〃
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MOTHER
〃He won't tell me what it is！〃 Mrs。 Davenport put down her
embroidery。 〃Then； Ethel；〃 she laid with severity； 〃the fault is yours。 When
I had been five years married； Mr。 Davenport confided everything to me。〃
〃So does Richard。 Except when I particularly ask him。〃
〃There it is； Ethel。 You let him see that you want to know。〃
〃But I do want to know。 Richard has had such interesting experiences；
so many of them。 And I do so want him to tell a thoroughly nice one。
There's the one when he saved a man from drowning just below our house；
the second summer； and the man turned out to be a burglar and broke into
the pantry that very night； and Richard caught him in the dark with just as
much courage as he had caught him in the water and just as few clothes；
only it was so different。 Richard makes it quite thrilling。 And I mentioned
another to him。 But he just went on shaving。 And now he has gone out
walking； and I believe it's going to be something I would rather not hear。
But I mean to hear it。〃
At lunch Mrs。 Field made a better meal； although it was clear to Mrs。
Davenport that Richard on returning from his walk had still kept his
intentions from Ethel。 〃She does not manage him in the least；〃 Mrs。
Davenport declared to the other ladies； as Ethel and Richard started for an
afternoon drive together。 〃She will not know anything more when she
brings him back。〃
But in this Mrs。 Davenport did wrong to Ethel's resources。 The young
wife did know something more when she brought her husband back from
their drive through the pleasant country。 They returned looking like an
engaged couple； rather than parents whose nursery was already a song of
three little voices。
〃He has told her；〃 thought Mrs。 Davenport at the first sight of them； as
they entered the drawing…room for an afternoon tea。 〃She does understand
some things。〃
And when after dinner the ladies had withdrawn to the library； and
waited for the men to finish their cigars； Mrs。 Davenport spoke to Ethel。
〃My dear； I congratulate you。 I saw it at once。〃
〃But he hasn't。 Richard hasn't told me anything。〃
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MOTHER
〃Ethel！ Then what is the matter？〃
〃I told him something。 I told him that if it was going to be any story
aboutabout something I shouldn't like； I should simply follow it with a
story about him that he wouldn't like。〃
〃Ethel！ You darling！〃
〃Oh； yes； and I said I was sure you would all listen； even though I was
not an author myself。 And I have it ready； you know； and it's awfully like
Richard； only a different side of him from the burglar one。〃
〃But； my dear； what did he do when you〃
This enquiry was； however； cut short by the entrance of the men。 And
from the glance that came from Richard's eyes as they immediately sought
out his wife； Mrs。 Davenport knew that he could not have done anything
very severe to Ethel when she made that threat to him during their drive。
Richard at once made his way to the easy…chair arranged each night in
a good position for the narrator of the evening； and baptised 〃The
Singstool〃 by Mr。 Graves。 Mr。 Graves was an ardent Wagnerian； and
especially devoted to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg。
〃Shall we have；〃 he whispered to Mr。 Hillard； 〃a Beckmesser fiasco to…
night； or will it be a Walter success？〃
But Mr。 Hillard； besides being