CHAPTER XVII.
A NEW FRIEND.
The day after this episode, Peter had the very unusual experience of anote by his morning's mail. Except for his mother's weekly letter, itwas the first he had received since Watts had sailed, two years before.For the moment he thought that it must be from him, and the color cameinto his face at the mere thought that he would have news of--of--Watts.But a moment's glance at the writing showed him he was wrong, and hetore the envelope with little interest in his face. Indeed after he hadopened it, he looked at his wall for a moment before he fixed his mindon it.
It contained a brief note, to this effect:
"A recent trial indicates that Mr. Stirling needs neither praise not reward as incentives for the doing of noble deeds.
"But one who prefers to remain unknown cannot restrain her grateful thanks to Mr. Stirling for what he did; and being debarred from such acts herself, asks that at least she may be permitted to aid him in them by enclosing a counsel fee for 'the case of the tenement children of New York against the inhumanity of men's greed.'
"September third."
Peter looked at the enclosure, and found it was a check for five hundreddollars. He laid it on his desk, and read the note over again. It wasbeyond question written by a lady. Every earmark showed that, from thedelicate scent of the paper, to the fine, even handwriting. Peter wantedto know who she was. He looked at the check to see by whom it wassigned; to find that it was drawn by the cashier of the bank at which itwas payable.
Half an hour later, a rapid walk had brought him to the bank the name ofwhich was on the check. It was an uptown one, which made a specialty offamily and women's accounts. Peter asked for the cashier.
"I've called about this check," he said, when that officialmaterialized, handing the slip of paper to him.
"Yes," said the cashier kindly, though with a touch of the resignedsorrow in his voice which cashiers of "family's" and women's banksacquire. "You must sign your name on the back, on the left-hand end, andpresent it to the paying-teller, over at that window. You'll have to beidentified if the paying-teller doesn't know you."
"I don't want the money," said Peter, "I want to know who sent the checkto me?"
The cashier looked at it more carefully. "Oh!" he said. Then he lookedup quickly at Peter? with considerable interest, "Are you Mr. Stirling?"
"Yes."
"Well, I filled this up by order of the president, and you'll have tosee him about it, if you want more than the money."
"Can I see him?"
"Come this way."
They went into a small office at the end of the bank.
"Mr. Dyer," said the cashier, "this is Mr. Stirling, and he's come tosee about that check."
"Glad to see you, Mr. Stirling. Sit down."
"I wish to learn who sent the check."
"Very sorry we can't oblige you. We had positive instructions from theperson for whom we drew it, that no name was to be given."
"Can you receive a letter?"
"That was forbidden too."
"A message?"
"Nothing was said about that."
"Then will you do me the favor to say to the lady that the check willnot be cashed till Mr. Stirling has been able to explain something toher."
"Certainly. She can't object to that."
"Thank you."
"Not at all." The president rose and escorted him to the door. "That wasa splendid speech of yours, Mr. Stirling," he added. "I'm not a bitashamed to say that it put salt water in my old eyes."
"I think," said Peter, "it was the deaths of the poor little children,more than anything I said, that made people feel it."
The next morning's mail brought Peter a second note, in the samehandwriting as that of the day before. It read:
"Miss De Voe has received Mr. Stirling's message and will be pleased to see him in regard to the check, at half after eleven to-day (Wednesday) if he will call upon her.
"Miss De Voe regrets the necessity of giving Mr. Stirling such brief notice, but she leaves New York on Thursday."
As Peter walked up town that morning, he was a little surprised that hewas so cool over his intended call. In a few minutes he would be in thepresence of a lady, the firmness of whose handwriting indicated that shewas not yet decrepit. Three years ago such a prospect would have beenreplete with terror to him. Down to that--that week at the Pierce's, hehad never gone to a place where he expected to "encounter" (for that wasthe word he formerly used) women without dread. Since that week--exceptfor the twenty-four hours of the wedding, he had not "encountered" alady. Yet here he was, going to meet an entire stranger without anyconscious embarrassment or suffering. He was even in a sense curious.Peter was not given to self-analysis, but the change was too marked aone for him to be unconscious of it. Was it merely the poise of addedyears? Was it that he had ceased to care what women thought of him? Orwas it that his discovery that a girl was lovable had made the sex lessterrible to him? Such were the questions he asked himself as he walked,and he had not answered them when he rang the bell of the old-fashioned,double house on Second Avenue.
He was shown into a large drawing-room, the fittings of which were stillshrouded in summer coverings, preventing Peter from inferring much, evenif he had had time to do so. But the butler had scarcely left him when,with a well-bred promptness from which Peter might have drawn aninference, the rustle of a woman's draperies was heard. Rising, Peterfound himself facing a tall, rather slender woman of between thirty-fiveand forty. It did not need a second glance from even Peter's untrainedeye, to realize the suggestion of breeding in the whole atmosphere abouther. The gown was of the simplest summer material, but its verysimplicity, and a certain lack of "latest fashion" rather than"old-fashionedness" gave it a quality of respectability. Every line ofthe face, the set of the head, and even more the carriage of the figure,conveyed the "look of race."
"I must thank you, Mr. Stirling," she said, speaking deliberately, in alow, mellow voice, by no means so common then as our women's imitationof the English tone and inflexion has since made it, "for suiting yourtime to mine on such short notice."
"You were very kind," said Peter, "to comply with my request. Any timewas convenient to me."
"I am glad it suited you."
Peter had expected to be asked to sit down, but, nothing being said,began his explanation.
"I am very grateful, Miss De Voe, for your note, and for the check. Ithank you for both. But I think you probably sent me the latter througha mistake, and so I did not feel justified in accepting it."
"A mistake?"
"Yes. The papers made many errors in their statements. I'm not a 'pooryoung lawyer' as they said. My mother is comfortably off, and gives mean ample allowance."
"Yes?"
"And what is more," continued Peter, "while they were right in sayingthat I paid some of the expenses of the case, yet I was more than repaidby my fees in some civil suits I brought for the relatives of thechildren, which we settled very advantageously."
"Won't you sit down, Mr. Stirling?" said Miss De Voe. "I should like tohear about the cases."
Peter began a very simple narrative of the matter. But Miss De Voeinterjected questions or suppositions here and there, which led to otherexplanations, and before Peter had finished, he had told not merely thehistory of the cases, but much else. His mention of the two Dooleychildren had brought out the fact of their visit to his mother, and thishad explained incidentally her position in the world. The settlement ofthe cases involved the story of the visit to the brewer's home, andPeter, to justify his action, added his interview with his pastor,Peter's connection with the case compelled him to speak of his eveningsin the "angle," and the solitary life that had sent him there.Afterwards, Peter was rather surprised at how much he had told. He didnot realize that a woman with tact and experience can, without making itevident, lead a man to tell nearly anything and everything he knows, ifshe is so minded. If women ever reall
y take to the bar seriously, mayProvidence protect the average being in trousers, when on the witnessstand.
As Peter talked, a clock struck. Stopping short, he rose. "I must askyour pardon," he said. "I had no idea I had taken so much of your time."Then putting his hand in his pocket, he produced the check. "You seethat I have made a very good thing out of the whole matter and do notneed this."
"One moment, Mr. Stirling," said the lady, still sitting. "Can you sparethe time to lunch with me? We will sit down at once, and you shall befree to go whenever you wish."
Peter hesitated. He knew that he had the time, and it did not seem easyto refuse without giving an excuse, which he did not have. Yet he didnot feel that he had the right to accept an invitation which he hadperhaps necessitated by his long call.
"Thank you," said his hostess, before he had been able to frame ananswer. "May I trouble you to pull that bell?"
Peter pulled the bell, and coming back, tendered the check ratherawkwardly to Miss De Voe. She, however, was looking towards a doorway,which the next moment was darkened by the butler.
"Morden," she said, "you may serve luncheon at once."
"Luncheon is served, madam," said Morden.
Miss De Voe rose. "Mr. Stirling, I do not think your explanation hasreally affected the circumstances which led me to send that check. Youacknowledge yourself that you are the poorer for that prosecution, andreceived no fees for trying it. As I wrote you, I merely was giving aretaining fee in that case, and as none other has been given, I stillwish to do it. I cannot do such things myself, but I am weal--I--I canwell afford to aid others to do them, and I hope you will let me havethe happiness of feeling that I have done my little in this matter."
"Thank you," said Peter. "I was quite willing to take the money, but Iwas afraid you might have sent it under a misconception."
Miss De Voe smiled at Peter with a very nice look in her face. "I am theone to say 'thank you,' and I am most grateful. But we will considerthat as ended, and discuss luncheon in its place."
Peter, despite his usual unconsciousness could not but notice the beautyof the table service. The meal itself was the simplest of summerluncheons, but the silver and china and glass were such as he had neverseen before.
"What wine will you have with your luncheon, Mr. Stirling?" he was askedby his hostess.
"I don't--none for me," replied Peter.
"You don't approve of wine?" asked his hostess.
"Personally I have no feeling about it."
"But?" And there was a very big question mark in Miss De Voe's voice.
"My mother is strongly prejudiced against it, so I do not take it. It isreally no deprivation to me, while it would mean great anxiety to her ifI drank."
This started the conversation on Peter's mother and his early years, andbefore it had ended, his hostess had succeeded in learning much moreabout his origin and his New York life. The clock finally cut him shortagain, for they lingered at the table long after the meal was finished,though Miss De Voe made the pretence of eating a grape occasionally.When three o'clock struck, Peter, without the least simulating any othercause for going, rose hastily.
"I have used up your whole afternoon," he said, apologetically.
"I think," smiled Miss De Voe, "that we are equal culprits in that. Ileave town to-morrow, Mr. Stirling, but return to the city late inOctober, and if your work and inclination favor it, I hope you will cometo see me again?"
Peter looked at the silver and the china. Then he looked at Miss De Voe,so obviously an aristocrat.
"I shall be happy to," he said, "if, when you return, you will send meword that you wish to see me."
Miss De Voe had slightly caught her breath while Peter hesitated. "Ibelieve he is going to refuse!" she thought to herself, a sort ofstunned amazement seizing her. She was scarcely less surprised at hisreply.
"I never ask a man twice to call on me, Mr. Stirling," she said, with aslight hauteur in her voice.
"I'm sorry for that," said Peter quietly.
Miss De Voe caught her breath again. "Good-afternoon," she said, holdingout her hand. "I shall hope to see you."
"Good-bye," said Peter, and the next moment was walking towards hisoffice.
Miss De Voe stood for a moment thinking. "That was curious," shethought, "I wonder if he intends to come?"
The next evening she was dining with relatives in one of the fashionablesummering places, and was telling them about her call "from Mr.Stirling, the lawyer who made that splendid speech."
"I thought," she said, "when I received the message, that I was going tobe buried under a bathos of thanks, or else have my gift declined withthe expectation that I would gush over the disinterestedness of therefusal. Since I couldn't well avoid seeing him, I was quite prepared tosnub him, or to take back the money without a word. But he wasn't a bitthat kind of creature. He isn't self-assured nor tonguey--rather thereverse. I liked him so, that I forced him to stay to luncheon, and madehim tell me a good deal about himself, without his knowing I was doingso. He leads a very unusual life, without seeming conscious that hedoes, and he tells about it very well. Uses just the right word everytime, so that you know exactly what he means, without taxing your ownbrain to fill up blanks. He has such a nice voice too. One that makesyou certain of the absolute truth underneath. No. He isn't good looking,though he has fine eyes, and hair. His face and figure are both tooheavy."
"Is he a gentleman, cousin Anneke?" asked one of the party.
"He is a little awkward, and over-blunt at moments, but nothing to whichone would give a second thought. I was so pleased with him that I askedhim to call on me."
"It seems to me," said another, "that you are over-paying him."
"That was the most curious part," replied Miss De Voe. "I'm not at allsure that he means to come. It was really refreshing not to be truckledto, but it is rather startling to meet the first man who does not wantto win his way to my visiting list. I don't think he even knows who MissDe Voe is."
"He will find out quick enough," laughed a girl, "and then he will dowhat they all do."
"No," said Miss De Voe. "I suspect it will make no difference. He isn'tthat kind, I think. I really am curious to see if I have to ask him asecond time. It will be the only case I can remember. I'm afraid, mydears, your cousin is getting to be an old woman."
Peter, had in truth, met, and spent over four hours in the company of awoman whom every one wished to know. A woman equally famous for herlineage, her social position, her wealth and her philanthropy. It wouldnot have made any difference, probably, had he known it, though it mighthave increased his awkwardness a little. That he was not quite asunconscious as Miss De Voe seemed to think, is shown by a passage in aletter he wrote to his mother:
"She was very much interested in the case, and asked a good many questions about it, and about myself. Some which I would rather not have answered, but since she asked them I could not bring myself to dodge them. She asked me to come and see her again. It is probably nothing but a passing interest, such as this class feel for the moment."--[Then Peter carefully inked out "such as this class feel for the moment," and reproved himself that his bitterness at--at--at one experience, should make him condemn a whole class]--"but if she asks me again I shall go, for there is something very sweet and noble about her. I think she is probably some great personage."
Later on in the letter he wrote:
"If you do not disapprove, I will put this money in the savings bank, in a special or trustee account, and use it for any good that I can do for the people about here. I gave the case my service, and do not think I am entitled to take pay when the money can be so much better employed for the benefit of the people I tried to help."