The Parlor Car
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William D. Howells >> The Parlor Car
MISS GALBRAITH, springing fiercely to her feet: "Go, indeed!
Renounce me! Be so good as to remember that you haven't got me TO
renounce!"
MR. RICHARDS: "Well, it's all the same thing. I'd renounce you if I
had. Good-evening, Miss Galbraith. I will send back your presents
as soon as I get to town; it won't be necessary to acknowledge them.
I hope we may never meet again." He goes out of the door towards the
front of the ear, but returns directly, and glances uneasily at Miss
Galbraith, who remains with her handkerchief pressed to her eyes.
"Ah--a--that is--I shall be obliged to intrude upon you again. The
fact is" -
MISS GALBRAITH, anxiously: "Why, the cars have stopped! Are we at
Schenectady?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Well, no; not EXACTLY; not stopped exactly at
SCHENECTADY" -
MISS GALBRAITH: "Then what station is this? Have they carried me
by?" Observing his embarrassment, "Allen, what is the matter? What
has happened? Tell me instantly! Are we off the track? Have we run
into another train? Have we broken through a bridge? Shall we be
burnt alive? Tell me, Allen, tell me,--I can bear it!--are we
telescoped?" She wrings her hands in terror.
MR. RICHARDS, unsympathetically: "Nothing of the kind has happened.
This car has simply come uncoupled, and the rest of the train has
gone on ahead, and left us standing on the track, nowhere in
particular." He leans back in his chair, and wheels it round from
her.
MISS GALBRAITH, mortified, yet anxious: "Well?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Well, until they miss us, and run back to pick us up,
I shall be obliged to ask your indulgence. I will try not to disturb
you; I would go out and stand on the platform, but it's raining."
MISS GALBRAITH, listening to the rain-fall on the roof: "Why, so it
is!" Timidly, "Did you notice when the car stopped?"
MR. RICHARDS: "No." He rises and goes out at the rear door, comes
back, and sits down again
MISS GALBRAITH, rises, and goes to the large mirror to wipe away her
tears. She glances at Mr. Richards, who does not move. She sits
down in a seat nearer him than the chair she has left. After some
faint murmurs and hesitations, she asks, "Will you please tell me why
you went out just now?"
MR. RICHARDS, with indifference: "Yes. I went to see if the rear
signal was out."
MISS GALBRAITH, after another hesitation: "Why?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Because, if it wasn't out, some train might run into
us from that direction."
MISS GALBRAITH, tremulously: "Oh! And was it?"
MR. RICHARDS, dryly: "Yes."
MISS GALBRAITH returns to her former place, with a wounded air, and
for a moment neither speaks. Finally she asks very meekly, "And
there's no danger from the front?"
MR. RICHARDS, coldly: "No."
MISS GALBRAITH, after some little noises and movements meant to catch
Mr. Richards's attention: "Of course, I never meant to imply that
you were intentionally careless or forgetful."
MR. RICHARDS, still very coldly: "Thank you."
MISS GALBRAITH: "I always did justice to your good-heartedness,
Allen; you're perfectly lovely that way; and I know that you would be
sorry if you knew you had wounded my feelings, however accidentally."
She droops her head so as to catch a sidelong glimpse of his face,
and sighs, while she nervously pinches the top of her parasol,
resting the point on the floor. Mr. Richards makes no answer. "That
about the cigar-case might have been a mistake; I saw that myself,
and, as you explain it, why, it was certainly very kind and very
creditable to--to your thoughtfulness. It WAS thoughtful!"
MR. RICHARDS: "I am grateful for your good opinion."
MISS GALBRAITH: "But do you think it was exactly--it was quite--
nice, not to tell me that your brother's engagement was to be kept,
when you know, Allen, I can't bear to blunder in such things?"
Tenderly, "DO you? You CAN'T say it was?"
MR. RICHARDS: "I never said it was."
MISS GALBRAITH, plaintively: "No, Allen. That's what I always
admired in your character. You always owned up. Don't you think
it's easier for men to own up than it is for women?"
MR. RICHARDS: "I don't know. I never knew any woman to do it."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Oh, yes, Allen! You know I OFTEN own up."
MR. RICHARDS: "No, I don't."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Oh, how can you bear to say so? When I'm rash, or
anything of that kind, you know I acknowledge it."
MR. RICHARDS: "Do you acknowledge it now?"
MISS GALBRAITH: "Why, how can I, when I haven't BEEN rash? WHAT
have I been rash" -
MR. RICHARDS: "About the cigar-case, for example."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Oh! THAT! That was a great while ago! I thought
you meant something quite recent." A sound as of the approaching
tram is heard in the distance. She gives a start, and then leaves
her chair again for one a little nearer his. "I thought perhaps you
meant about--last night."
MR. RICHARDS: "Well."
MISS GALBRAITH, very judicially: "I don't think it was RASH,
exactly. No, not RASH. It might not have been very KIND not to--to-
-trust you more, when I knew that you didn't mean anything; but--No,
I took the only course I could. Nobody could have done differently
under the circumstances. But if I caused you any pain, I'm very
sorry; oh, yes, very sorry indeed. But I was not precipitate, and I
know I did right. At least I TRIED to act for the best. Don't you
believe I did?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Why, if you have no doubt upon the subject, my
opinion is of no consequence."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Yes. But what do you think? If you think
differently, and can make me see it differently, oughtn't you to do
so?"
MR. RICHARDS: "I don't see why. As you say, all is over between
us."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Yes." After a pause, "I should suppose you would
care enough for yourself to wish me to look at the matter from the
right point of view."
MR. RICHARDS: "I don't."
MISS GALBRAITH, becoming more and more uneasy as the noise of the
approaching train grows louder: "I think you have been very quick
with me at times, quite as quick as I could have been with you last
night." The noise is more distinctly heard. "I'm sure that if I
could once see it as you do, no one would be more willing to do
anything in their power to atone for their rashness. Of course I
know that everything is over."
MR. RICHARDS: "As to that, I have your word; and, in view of the
fact, perhaps this analysis of motive, of character, however
interesting on general grounds, is a little" -
MISS GALBRAITH, with sudden violence: "Say it, and take your
revenge! I have put myself at your feet, and you do right to trample
on me! Oh, this is what women may expect when they trust to men's
generosity! Well, it IS over now, and I'm thankful, thankful!
Cruel, suspicious, vindictive, you're all alike, and I'm glad that
I'm no longer subject to your heartless caprices. And I don't care
what happens after this, I shall always--Oh! You're sure it's from
the front, Allen? Are you sure the rear signal is out?"
MR. RICHARDS, relenting: "Yes, but if it will ease your mind, I'll
go and look again." He rises, and starts towards the rear door.
MISS GALBRAITH, quickly: "Oh, no! Don't go! I can't bear to be
left alone!" The sound of the approaching train continually
increases in volume. "Oh, isn't it coming very, very, VERY fast?"
MR. RICHARDS: "No, no! Don't be frightened."
MISS GALBRAITH, running towards the rear door. "Oh, I MUST get out!
It will kill me, I know it will. Come with me! Do, do!" He runs
after her, and her voice is heard at the rear of the car. "Oh, the
outside door is locked, and we are trapped, trapped, trapped! Oh,
quick! Let's try the door at the other end." They re-enter the
parlor, and the roar of the train announces that it is upon them.
"No, no! It's too late, it's too late! I'm a wicked, wicked girl,
and this is all to punish me! Oh, it's coming, it's coming at full
speed!" He remains bewildered, confronting her. She utters a wild
cry, and as the train strikes the car with a violent concussion, she
flings herself into his arms. "There, there! Forgive me, Allen!
Let us die together, my own, own love!" She hangs fainting on his
breast. Voices are heard without, and after a little delay The
Porter comes in with a lantern.
PORTER: "Rather more of a jah than we meant to give you, sah! We
had to run down pretty quick after we missed you, and the rain made
the track a little slippery. Lady much frightened?"
MISS GALBRAITH, disengaging herself: "Oh, not at all! Not in the
least. We thought it was a train coming from behind, and going to
run into us, and so--we--I" -
PORTER: "Not quite so bad as that. We'll be into Schenectady in a
few minutes, miss. I'll come for your things." He goes out at the
other door.
MISS GALBRAITH, in a fearful whisper: "Allen! What will he ever
think of us? I'm sure he saw us!"
MR. RICHARDS: "I don't know what he'll think NOW. He DID think you
were frightened; but you told him you were not. However, it isn't
important what he thinks. Probably he thinks I'm your long-lost
brother. It had a kind of family look."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Ridiculous!"
MR. RICHARDS: "Why, he'd never suppose that I was a jilted lover of
yours!"
MISS GALBRAITH, ruefully: "No."
MR. RICHARDS: "Come, Lucy,"--taking her hand,--"you wished to die
with me, a moment ago. Don't you think you can make one more effort
to live with me? I won't take advantage of words spoken in mortal
peril, but I suppose you were in earnest when you called me your own-
-own"--Her head droops; he folds her in his arms a moment, then she
starts away from him, as if something had suddenly occurred to her.
MISS GALBRAITH: "Allen, where are you going?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Going? Upon my soul, I haven't the least idea."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Where WERE you going?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Oh, I WAS going to Albany."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Well, don't! Aunt Mary is expecting me here at
Schenectady,--I telegraphed her,--and I want you to stop here, too,
and we'll refer the whole matter to her. She's such a wise old head.
I'm not sure" -
MR. RICHARDS: "What?"
MISS GALBRAITH, demurely: "That I'm good enough for you."
MR. RICHARDS, starting, in burlesque of her movement, as if a thought
had struck HIM: "Lucy! how came you on this train when you left
Syracuse on the morning express?"
MISS GALBRAITH, faintly: "I waited over a train at Utica." She
sinks into a chair, and averts her face.
MR. RICHARDS: "May I ask why?"
MISS GALBRAITH, more faintly still: "I don't like to tell. I" -
MR. RICHARDS, coming and standing in front of her, with his hands in
his pockets: "Look me in the eye, Lucy!" She drops her veil over
her face, and looks up at him. "Did you--did you expect to find ME
on this train?"
MISS GALBRAITH: "I was afraid it never WOULD get along,--it was so
late!"
MR. RICHARDS: "Don't--tergiversate."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Don't WHAT?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Fib."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Not for worlds!"
MR. RICHARDS: "How did you know I was in this car?"
MISS GALBRAITH: "Must I? I thought I saw you through the window;
and then I made sure it was you when I went to pin my veil on,--I saw
you in the mirror."
MR. RICHARDS, after a little silence: "Miss Galbraith, do you want
to know what YOU are?"
MISS GALBRAITH, softly: "Yes, Allen."
MR. RICHARDS: "You're a humbug!"
MISS GALBRAITH, springing from her seat, and confronting him. "So
are you! You pretended to be asleep!"
MR. RICHARDS: "I--I--I was taken by surprise. I had to take time to
think."
MISS GALBRAITH: "So did I."
MR. RICHARDS: "And you thought it would be a good plan to get your
polonaise caught in the window?"
MISS GALBRAITH, hiding her face on his shoulder: "No, no, Allen!
That I never WILL admit. NO woman would!"
MR. RICHARDS: "Oh, I dare say!" After a pause: "Well, I am a poor,
weak, helpless man, with no one to advise me or counsel me, and I
have been cruelly deceived. How could you, Lucy, how could you? I
can never get over this." He drops his head upon her shoulder.
MISS GALBRAITH, starting away again, and looking about the car:
"Allen, I have an idea! Do you suppose Mr. Pullman could be induced
to SELL this car?"
MR. RICHARDS: "Why?"
MISS GALBRAITH: "Why, because I think it's perfectly lovely, and I
should like to live in it always. It could be fitted up for a sort
of summer-house, don't you know, and we could have it in the garden,
and you could smoke in it."
MR. RICHARDS: "Admirable! It would look just like a travelling
photographic saloon. No, Lucy, we won't buy it; we will simply keep
it as a precious souvenir, a sacred memory, a beautiful dream,--and
let it go on fulfilling its destiny all the same."
PORTER, entering, and gathering up Miss Galbraith's things: "Be at
Schenectady in half a minute, miss. Won't have much time."
MISS GALBRAITH, rising, and adjusting her dress, and then looking
about the car, while she passes her hand through her lover's arm:
"Oh, I do HATE to leave it. Farewell, you dear, kind, good, lovely
car! May you never have another accident!" She kisses her hand to
the car, upon which they both look back as they slowly leave it.
MR. RICHARDS, kissing his hand in the like manner: "Good-by, sweet
chariot! May you never carry any but bridal couples!"
MISS GALBRAITH: "Or engaged ones!"
MR. RICHARDS: "Or husbands going home to their wives!"
MISS GALBRAITH: "Or wives hastening to their husbands."
MR. RICHARDS: "Or young ladies who have waited one train over, so as
to be with the young men they hate."
MISS GALBRAITH: "Or young men who are so indifferent that they
pretend to be asleep when the young ladies come in!" They pause at
the door and look back again. "'And must I leave thee, Paradise?'"
They both kiss their hands to the car again, and, their faces being
very close together, they impulsively kiss each other. Then Miss
Galbraith throws back her head, and solemnly confronts him. "Only
think, Allen! If this car hadn't broken ITS engagement, we might
never have mended ours."