_The_ YOUNGER SET
WORKS OF ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
THE YOUNGER SET THE FIGHTING CHANCE THE TREE OF HEAVEN THE TRACER OF LOST PERSONS THE RECKONING IOLE Cardigan The Maid-at-Arms Lorraine Maids of Paradise Ashes of Empire The Red Republic The King in Yellow A Maker of Moons A King and a Few Dukes The Conspirators The Cambric Mask The Haunts of Men Outsiders A Young Man in a Hurry The Mystery of Choice In Search of the Unknown In the Quarter
* * * * *
FOR CHILDREN
Garden-Land Forest-Land River-Land Mountain-Land Orchard-Land Outdoorland
[Illustration: "Gave into his keeping soul and body."--Page 513]
_The_
YOUNGER SET
BY
ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
AUTHOR OF
"THE FIGHTING CHANCE," ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
G.C. WILMSHURST
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK
_Published August, 1907_
TO
MY MOTHER
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I.--HIS OWN PEOPLE 1 II.--A DREAM ENDS 43 III.--UNDER THE ASHES 84 IV.--MID-LENT 119 V.--AFTERGLOW 161 VI.--THE UNEXPECTED 194 VII.--ERRANDS AND LETTERS 242 VIII.--SILVERSIDE 280 IX.--A NOVICE 324 X.--LEX NON SCRIPTA 384 XI.--HIS OWN WAY 420 XII.--HER WAY 460 ARS AMORIS 503
THE YOUNGER SET
* * * * *
CHAPTER I
HIS OWN PEOPLE
"You never met Selwyn, did you?"
"No, sir."
"Never heard anything definite about his trouble?" insisted Gerard.
"Oh, yes, sir!" replied young Erroll, "I've heard a good deal about it. Everybody has, you know."
"Well, I _don't_ know," retorted Austin Gerard irritably, "what 'everybody' has heard, but I suppose it's the usual garbled version made up of distorted fact and malicious gossip. That's why I sent for you. Sit down."
Gerald Erroll seated himself on the edge of the big, polished table in Austin's private office, one leg swinging, an unlighted cigarette between his lips.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Younger Set by Robert W. Chambers
- 2: To find that Alixe had sailed with Jack Ruthven
- 3: He nodded a curt dismissal to Gerald
- 4: Again Selwyn turned to the house
- 5: At which encouraging invitation the two fat beagle pups
- 6: Admitted a tiny maid in stickout skirts
- 7: Ushering Selwyn into the big sunny nursery
- 8: Won't you please wriggle Who is Eileen
- 9: I remember my Aunt Alixe Drina
- 10: Drina and that Josephine kid are real beauties
- 11: Smoky bachelor quarters where you can behave sans facon
- 12: That she's married Jack Ruthven
- 13: You don't know yet that I've taken Eileen for my own
- 14: If nobody cares enough even to condone
- 15: You are deeply humiliated over your resignation
- 16: And you're to be included in bedtime prayers
- 17: I hope Gerald will be here to see it
- 18: Unspoiled mentally and spiritually untroubled
- 19: We'll fit you up a corking laboratory
- 20: I've taken my tonic and nobody's kidnapped the kids
- 21: Will you let me know when Miss Erroll is ready
- 22: And thank you for being kind to Eileen
- 23: Spent a month every year with the Gerards
- 24: If you've any capital to offer Neergard
- 25: Knew perfectly well that young Erroll
- 26: There was a man 'Boots' Lansing in Bannard's command
- 27: So Nina had told her carefully
- 28: She had learned more since his advent
- 29: Did he row your brother Gerald
- 30: To be concealed even from Gerald
- 31: Drawing bridle in her turn and looking back into his white
- 32: Eileen probably forgot that I was going out
- 33: But he gave Drina a reassuring hug and a whisper
- 34: That Miss Erroll is going to play for you to sing
- 35: Chord after chord reverberated through the big sunny room
- 36: She looked over her shoulder to see where Selwyn was
- 37: Captain Selwyn I was only a child of ten
- 38: A question on her lips left unuttered through instinct
- 39: Obviously I don't want Neergard to know
- 40: Looked at Fleetwood thoroughly vexed
- 41: Found young Erroll just entering the visitors' room
- 42: But the first moment I can find free Selwyn nodded
- 43: That was Selwyn's first encounter with the Ruthvens
- 44: Talcum powdered debutantes Eileen straightened up stiffly
- 45: Selwyn found himself gazing into the calm
- 46: Alixe straightened her slim figure
- 47: And somebody sent him to Neergard Co
- 48: Nodding carelessly to a servant to refill his glass
- 49: Resembling suspense as though he were awaiting a denouement
- 50: And Selwyn found himself drifting
- 51: Rosamund Fane was much younger must have been younger
- 52: When that partnership was dissolved
- 53: Rubbing the fog from the window glass
- 54: Incapable of understanding each other Phil
- 55: Don't you see you will affront Gerald
- 56: Selwyn looked up over his newspaper
- 57: But Selwyn had lighted a cigar
- 58: I was conversing with Kit Ki a moment ago
- 59: Jack Ruthven dancing with Rosamund Fane
- 60: And Nina the darling doesn't understand
- 61: Drina poured tea very prettily
- 62: Of course I don't want Neergard to see you
- 63: The Siowitha Club owns a thousand or so acres of oak scrub
- 64: Neergard turned in his tracks and looked almost at him
- 65: Do you suppose the Siowitha people would let him
- 66: Suggesting that Selwyn remain to dine
- 67: Will somebody place an extra pillow for Drina
- 68: Selwyn quietly finished his claret
- 69: What is the matter with Gerald
- 70: Blue with a sort of violet tint
- 71: I haven't told him about Jessie Orchil's party Drina
- 72: Then Selwyn came back into the library
- 73: Community and equality of interests
- 74: That is pleading guilty to the indictment
- 75: The naive egotism which is as amusing as it is harmless
- 76: Greeve waved him into the icy parlour
- 77: Greeve as he mounted the stairs
- 78: That Rosamund is quite crazy about you
- 79: So please explain about Gerald
- 80: Even with white gloved fingers
- 81: Do you suppose Boots suspected who it was
- 82: Phil not what you said it was
- 83: I do not blame you for one instant
- 84: And it sometimes comes slowly
- 85: And every afternoon she and Nina drove there
- 86: Coronets are out of vogue among us now
- 87: Alixe Ruthven and Captain Selwyn
- 88: Disregard such malicious gossip But if you disregard it
- 89: If Rosamund had anything left to say
- 90: So attack the Neergard creature with moderation
- 91: And the next moment Neergard found himself quite alone
- 92: Neergard would say if he knew you Neergard
- 93: Ruthven was on no footing at all with the Gerards
- 94: But it was very splendid and chivalrous and genuine ardour
- 95: Into this limestone bonbon box tripped Mrs
- 96: Get up and go to that telephone
- 97: Then rose You make a point of excluding Gerald
- 98: But Neergard broke his word to him
- 99: First there was Percy Draymore
- 100: Neergard had acquired control of the property
- 101: Ventured Orchil with his suave smile
- 102: So you have committed the firm to the Siowitha deal
- 103: Neergard looked after him in silence
- 104: Returning from his final interview with Neergard
- 105: Repeated Lansing every few minutes
- 106: No children Selwyn turned sharply
- 107: If you become a slave to morbid notions
- 108: Silverside is too lovely for words
- 109: Phil this thing that has has almost happened
- 110: And Hatpin Molly leads the spiel with Clarence the Pig
- 111: Nina sat silent on the padded arm of her chair
- 112: Is it anything that worries you about Eileen
- 113: But Eileen was sewing in the nursery
- 114: And Nina was mightily troubled
- 115: Susanne and I are only mending some of my summer things
- 116: Through the new foliage of the Park
- 117: Why on earth have you shaken Neergard
- 118: Is he still with Neergard Co
- 119: And you ask me whether you count
- 120: When you come down to stay with us at Silverside
- 121: From his equivocal footing in the house of Ruthven
- 122: And Mottly meant it at the time
- 123: But Neergard continued astonishingly tolerant and kind
- 124: But he was on no terms with Neergard
- 125: I know perfectly well that you dislike Neergard
- 126: But Neergard thrust both hands in his pockets
- 127: It bid fair to become a hard day for Selwyn
- 128: Miss Erroll knew nothing about it
- 129: Growing bolder as Selwyn made no offensive move
- 130: Ruthven to avoid sudden and excessive emotions
- 131: Who had run up to town for the day from Silverside
- 132: Alixe told me when we were schoolgirls
- 133: Often wondered whether Alixe realises what she is about
- 134: Evil things which were creeping closer
- 135: Taking a new pen and pen holder
- 136: To mention symbols for a moment
- 137: Remembering what he had written to Eileen
- 138: It's only thirty miles from Silverside
- 139: I'll see that your check is not dishonoured
- 140: And that night they left for Silverside without him
- 141: He switched his trout flies defiantly
- 142: And the bay between is Surf Bay
- 143: It wound away through tangles of bull brier and wild rose
- 144: Arched thickets of brier and grass
- 145: That dreadful Draymore man actually hurt my wrist
- 146: That the idiotic importunities of those men annoyed you
- 147: If you're as thoroughly demoralised as that
- 148: Tangled in those like web tied flies
- 149: I care for you more than for Gerald
- 150: Blue eyes skyward or slanting sideways to watch his face
- 151: Made Sylvandre pay her thirty sheep for one kiss
- 152: I hunted high and low for you before I came to Silverside
- 153: In half a year Drina had grown into a rather slim
- 154: Boots and Drina are keen on it
- 155: But luncheon was the children's hour at Silverside
- 156: And the ancient ship's figurehead a wind worn
- 157: The Orchils have already arrived at Hitherwood House
- 158: And when he leaned above the dial
- 159: Are evidently addressed to the spooney
- 160: You meant that I am hors de concours
- 161: Absent expression which excludes me
- 162: I have always loved you dearly
- 163: Satisfied as long as Selwyn remained in sight
- 164: And Edgerton Lawn swallowed nothing several times
- 165: Said Edgerton Lawn good naturedly
- 166: Asked Selwyn so simply that Austin flushed
- 167: Modestly admitted that Selwyn was sweet
- 168: Eileen Erroll bit her under lip and stood up suddenly
- 169: When the canoe suddenly capsized
- 170: Beckoning imperiously to Selwyn
- 171: Much moonlight and Gladys and the Minster twins convict you
- 172: Evidently Selwyn had already gone home
- 173: Inquired Drina with business like briskness
- 174: Drina was wild to go and furious at not having been asked
- 175: And Alixe is here and Jack Ruthven is in New York
- 176: The Niobrara anchored in Widgeon Bay yesterday
- 177: Rosamund spoke of scandal to Eileen
- 178: He followed her to the veranda
- 179: Steadying the swing with one hand on the chain
- 180: So we're not going to be unhappy
- 181: I know more about a tomboy a than a tomoya
- 182: And Selwyn were to drive to Hitherwood House
- 183: And looking sleepily at Selwyn
- 184: And Hilda Innis appropriated him
- 185: Looked around for Gerald and Lansing
- 186: And Neergard on the other side
- 187: Eileen whispered rapidly Don't go
- 188: Don't force me into trouble with Neergard
- 189: As Selwyn passed back along the corridor
- 190: Donc bon soir et bonne nuit And
- 191: And Neergard was put out slightly
- 192: I was horribly in debt to Neergard
- 193: And he had not yet returned to Silverside
- 194: Wrote a postscript in a letter to Drina
- 195: Gerald has done rather an unexpected thing
- 196: It's due to the masculine notion of masculine education
- 197: It's only this that Alixe is ill
- 198: Having been useful to Neergard
- 199: Who had been curiously observing him
- 200: You had better not pursue it any further
- 201: Hard hit in the card room of the Stuyvesant Club
- 202: Pointed moustache and glanced interrogatively at Harmon
- 203: Or may be terminated in as many days
- 204: Ruthven stared at him as though hypnotised
- 205: Pipe gripped between his firm teeth
- 206: Paramount in his hopeless trouble
- 207: For through the troubled glimmer of departing reason
- 208: Happily for her happily for him
- 209: When Selwyn's letter was handed to Eileen
- 210: He laid it in the hand Alixe held out
- 211: Laying the doll against her breast
- 212: Selwyn had already systematised his winter schedule
- 213: And it's driving Eileen into herself
- 214: Not until Drina releases me on her eighteenth birthday
- 215: Similis simili gaudet as my learned friend will admit
- 216: I have been very horrid to Captain Selwyn
- 217: Into the doorway of one of these houses Lansing turned
- 218: And it will be four years before Drina is eighteen
- 219: Glodden and have your trunk sent
- 220: Ruthven is in excellent physical condition young
- 221: Alixe was contented and comfortable
- 222: For Selwyn was well liked in the younger set
- 223: And there Lansing had been in the wrong
- 224: It's a good thing that father ran after that polo pony
- 225: Not even if Eileen would marry you
- 226: Calling very formally upon Drina
- 227: Selwyn raised his head and looked at the girl curiously
- 228: Hitherto she had not misconstrued
- 229: Sounding strangely in the twilight What has come between us
- 230: Because I am unchanged because I I love you so help me
- 231: I persuaded myself that I might be
- 232: Who had forced himself into the Siowitha
- 233: Unpleasantly involved in Block Copper
- 234: Rose as Neergard moved slowly forward to take his leave
- 235: And apparently not observed at all by Mottly
- 236: Said Ruthven with an intonation which troubled Neergard
- 237: No ruthlessness was permitted him
- 238: Meanwhile Neergard had presumed to annoy them
- 239: A memorandum of a deal with Ruthven
- 240: Because he did not suppose Neergard dared defend the suit
- 241: Austin considered his cigar end
- 242: Protested Selwyn with grave humour
- 243: Selwyn rose and began to pace the floor
- 244: Suddenly Selwyn crushed the boy's hand
- 245: Vaguely aware of the household demoralisation and excitement
- 246: If I wasn't physically afraid of Drina
- 247: Ruthven is physically in perfect health
- 248: They were attorneys for Jack Ruthven
- 249: Was seen entering or leaving her house at Edgewater
- 250: A hackman came up soliciting patronage
- 251: Ruthven squinted out of the window
- 252: Ruthven stepped upon the veranda
- 253: But not as much as Alixe had already learned
- 254: For us to catch a train for Silverside this afternoon
- 255: I'll be driven into letting Drina sit up with us
- 256: And then there'll be no more Drina and Daisy Hello
- 257: Boots conducted Drina to a resting place on the stairs
- 258: As twigs do perforce in these chronicles
- 259: David Graham Phillips has a way
