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Page 94
In this inert world the body pursues but imperfectly the processes of
the soul. These three days had made small change in Helwyse's face.
His expression was less serene than of yore, but pithier as well as
more joyful. The humorous indifference had given place to a kindlier
humanity. Gone was the glance half satiric, half sympathetic; but in
its stead was something warmer and more earnest. For the charity of
scepticism was substituted a sentiment less broad, but deeper and
truer. It would need an insight supernaturally keen to detect thus
early these alterations in the page of Balder's countenance; but their
germs are there, to develop afterwards.
During this pause in our narrative, Helwyse was sitting at his chamber
window, awaiting the summons to the ceremony. The afternoon was far
advanced, and the landscape lay breathless beneath the golden burden
of the lavish sun. The bridegroom rose to his feet; surely the bride
must be ready! Was that strange old Nurse delaying her? Did she
herself procrastinate? Balder was waxing impatient!
The clear outcry of the hoopoe startled the calm air, and that good
little messenger came fluttering in haste to the window. Bound its
neck was twined a golden dandelion,--Gnulemah's love-token! With a
knowing upturn of its bright little eye, the bird submitted to being
robbed of its decoration; then warbled a keen good-by, and flew away.
The lover behaved as foolishly towards the dandelion as a lover
should. At last he drew the stem through the button-hole of his
velveteen jacket, and was ready to answer in person the shy invitation
it conveyed. The bride waited!
His hand was on the latch, when some one knocked. He threw open the
door,--and had to look twice before recognizing Nurse. Her dingy
anomalous drapery had been exchanged for another sort of costume. Her
scars strove to be hidden beneath the yellow lace and crumpled
feathers of an antique head-dress. She wore a satin gown of an old
fashion, whose pristine whiteness was much impaired by time. An aged
fan, ragged, but of tasteful pattern, dangled at her wrist. She
resembled some forgotten Ginevra, reappearing after an age's seclusion
in the oaken chest. Her aspect was painfully repellent, the more for
this pathetic attempt at good looks. The former unlovely garb had a
sort of fitness to the blasted features; but so soon as she forsook
that uncanny harmony and tried to be like other women, she became
undesirably conspicuous.
"The bridesmaid!" came to Balder's lips,--but did not pass them. He
would not hurt the poor creature's feelings by the betrayal of
surprise or amusement. She was a woman,--and Gnulemah was no more.
According to his love for his wife, must he be tender and gentle
towards her sex.
When, therefore, Nurse gave him to understand that she was to marshal
him to the altar, Balder, never more heroic than at that moment,
offered her his arm, which she accepted with an air of scarecrow
gentility. Either the change of costume had struck in, or it was the
symbol of inward change. She seemed struggling against her torpor, her
dimness and deadness. She tried, perhaps, to recall the day when that
dress was first put on,--the day of Helen's marriage, when Salome had
attended her mistress to the altar,--when she hoped before many weeks
to stand at an altar on her own account.--Not yet, Salome, nor in this
world. Perchance not in another; for they who maim their earthly lives
may not enjoy in heaven the happiness whose seed was not planted here.
The injury is justly irreparable; else had angels been immediately
created.
But Salome was practising deception on herself. Airs and graces which
might have suited a coquettish lady's-maid, but were in her a ghastly
absurdity, did she revive and perpetrate. Struggling to repress the
ugly truth, she was in continual dread of exposure. Fain would she
dream for an hour of youth and beauty, knowing, yet veiling the
knowledge, that it was a dream. Divining her desire, Balder helped out
the masquerade as best he might. She was thankfully aware of his
kindness, yet shunned acknowledgment, as a too bare betrayal of the
cause of thanks.
As they passed a cracked cheval-glass in an intervening room, the
bridesmaid stole a glance at her reflection, flirting her fan and
giving an imposing whisk to the train of her gown. Helwyse, whom,
three days before, this behavior would simply have amused, felt only
pitying sympathy to-day. Gnulemah was always before him, and charmed
his eyes and thoughts even to the hag on his arm. He brought himself
to address courteous and pleasant remarks to his companion, and to
meet unwincingly her one-eyed glance; and was as gallant as though her
pretence had been truth.
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