CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
MRS. REEVES MAKES A PROPOSAL.
Four days later Darsie went by appointment to her _tete-a-tete_ tea withthe professional chaperon with a pleasurable expectation which waslargely streaked with curiosity.
If physiognomy counted for anything, Mrs Reeves must surely be a mostsweet and noble character. Her grey eyes looked into yours with astraight, transparent gaze, her lips closed one upon another firmlyenough to debar all trace of weakness, yet not so firmly as to hint atundue severity, her hair waved back from a broad white brow. It was, asDan had said, difficult to understand how such a woman could be thewilling companion of men whom even fellow-students were anxious to shun.Darsie wondered if the afternoon's conversation would throw any lighton this knotty point.
She was shown, not into the drawing-room but into a cosy little den onthe second floor, a sort of glorious edition of a college study, whereMrs Reeves sat reading by the fire, clad in a loose velvet gown of acurious reddish-brown, like the autumn tint of a leaf, which matched thehigh lights of her chestnut hair. Darsie watched her with fascinatedattention as she presided over the tea-table, with lithe, gracefulmovements which made a poem out of the every-day proceeding, and MrsReeves studied her in return, as she chatted lightly about a dozencasual subjects. Then the tea-things were carried away, and with thedrawing nearer to the fire conversation took a more intimate turn.
"I hope your friend did not think me inhospitable for not including herin my invitation to-day, but when I want to get to know a girl I preferto have her entirely to myself. Perhaps she will come another day.Vernon's sister ought to be worth knowing."
"You know Dan?" Darsie's smile was somewhat anxious, for Dan's ownmanner with respect to her hostess was still a disturbing element. "Youknow him well?"
"No," Mrs Reeves smiled; "not well. But I like him well by repute!Vernon has no need of my services. He is strong: enough to stand byhimself."
"You mean tea-parties?" queried Darsie vaguely, whereat Mrs Reevessubsided into a ripple of laughter.
"No, I do _not_ mean tea-parties--something very much wider. I don'tfancy, however, that Vernon is sociably disposed, and the authoritieshere are not inclined to encourage meetings between the men and girlstudents. The head of his college is my brother-in-law, and one of yourDons is a very old friend, so I hear the question discussed from bothsides, and then--like a wise woman--I gang my own gait! So long as menare men, and girls are girls, they are bound to attract each other; it'snatural and right, and when they are bound to meet in any case, it is mylittle hobby to help them to do so under the best conditions. I flattermyself I am quite an expert in the art of being just chaperon enough,and not too chaperon, and I never refuse to act if I can possiblycontrive to do so."
"No! Dan said--" began Darsie involuntarily, and then stopped shortwith a furious blush. Mrs Reeves, however, did not share herdiscomfiture; she laughed, and said shrewdly--
"Oh, I have observed his disapproving eye. I can guess what he said.Many people feel the same, who judge only from the surface, and don'ttake the trouble to realise my motives. One doesn't explain such thingsto the world in general, but I want _you_ to understand. If one manless admirable than another; if his friends and his entertainments areinclined to become rowdy and discreditable, does he need help _less_, ormore? Vernon and other men of his kind consider that they do their dutyby leaving such a man severely alone. I find mine in being with him--just--as much--as ever I can!" She emphasised the words by a series oftaps with the poker on the top of an obstinate coal, given in the mostdelightfully school-girlish manner. "I chaperon his parties; I talk tohim and his friends; I make myself so agreeable that they love to haveme, and want to have me again. I try with every power I possess toencourage all that is good, and kind, and honest, and cheering inthemselves and their conversation, and deftly, delicately, invisibly, asit were, to fight against everything that is mean and unworthy. It'sdifficult, Darsie!--I may call you Darsie, mayn't I? it's such abeguiling little name!--one of the most difficult feats a woman couldset herself to accomplish, and though I've had a fair measure ofsuccess, it's only a measure. It's such a great big work. Think of allthat it means, that it _may_ mean to England, if we can keep these menfrom drifting, and give them a pull-up in time! I am constantlylooking, looking out for fellow-workers. That's why I invited you hereto-day--to ask _you_ to be on my side!"
"I!" Darsie's gasp of amazement sounded throughout the room. "I! Oh,you can't mean it! What could I do? I can do nothing--I'm only agirl!"
"Only a girl! But, dear child, that's your finest qualification! Youcan do more than I can ever accomplish, just because you _are_ a girl,and will be admitted to an intimacy which is impossible for me.Besides, Darsie, you are a particularly pretty and attractive girl intothe bargain; you know that, don't you? You _ought_ to know it, and bevery, very thankful for a great weapon given into your hands. If youwill join the ranks with me, and act as my curate, you will immenselyincrease my power for good."
"But I can't! I can't! I'd love to if I could, but you don't know howimpossible it is. I couldn't preach to save my life."
"I'm thankful to hear it. I don't want you to preach. You'd soon loseyour influence if you did. It's a case of _being_, Darsie, rather thandoing; being your truest, sweetest, highest self when you are with thesemen, so that they may feel your influence through all the fun andbanter. Lots of fun, please; you can't have too much of that; a dullgirl is soon left to herself. People in general don't half realise theinfluence of just right _thinking_--the atmosphere which surrounds aperson who is mentally fighting for good. The sunbeams fall on the darkearth and soak up the poisoned waters, and so may our thoughts--ourprayers," She was silent for a few moments, her hand resting lightly onDarsie's knees. "There is a girl in your house--Margaret France--Iexpect you know her! She has been one of my best helpers these lastyears. Wherever Margaret is there is fun and laughter; she is justbrimful of it, but--can you imagine any one going to Margaret with anunworthy thought, an unworthy cause? I want you to follow in hersteps!"
She paused again for a long minute, then said slowly and emphatically--
"Ralph Percival needs help, Darsie! He has not fallen very low as yet,but he is drifting. He is in a bad set, and, like too many of ourricher men, he lacks purpose. They come up here because their fathershave been before them, and it is the correct thing to do. There is noreal reason why they should work, or take a high place, but there seemsto themselves every reason why they should have a good time. Parentssometimes seem to hold more or less the same opinion; at others theyseem distressed, but powerless. College authorities are regarded asnatural enemies; religious influences for the time beat on closed doors;now, Darsie, here comes the chance for `only a girl!' A man like RalphPercival, at this stage of his life, will be more influenced by a girllike you than by any power on earth. It's a law of Nature and of God,and if every girl realised it, it would be a blessed thing for the race.I once heard a preacher say that so long as one dealt with generalprinciples, and talked broadly of the human race, there was very littledone. We have to fine it down to _my next door neighbour_ before wereally set to work. Fine down what I have said to Ralph Percival,Darsie, and help me with him! He's drifting. He needs you. Help me topull him back!"
Darsie nodded dumbly. Mrs Reeves thought the expression on herdowncast face touchingly sweet and earnest, but even she missed the clueto the girl's inmost thought.
Years ago she herself had been drifting, drifting towards death, andRalph had stepped forward to save her; now, in an allegorical sense, thepositions were reversed, and she was summoned to the rescue. There wasno refusing a duty so obvious. Heavy and onerous as the responsibilitymight be, it had been placed in her hands. Darsie braced herself to theburden.