The Third Violet | Page 5

law of universal balance, I know that this
illustrious corps will believe good of themselves with exactly the same
readiness that they will believe ill of others. So I ply them with it. In
consequence, the worst they ever say of me is, 'Isn't that Mr. Hollanden
a peculiar man?' And you know, my boy, that's not so bad for a literary

person." After some thought he added: "Good people, too. Good wives,
good mothers, and everything of that kind, you know. But conservative,
very conservative. Hate anything radical. Can not endure it. Were that
way themselves once, you know. They hit the mark, too, sometimes.
Such general volleyings can't fail to hit everything. May the devil fly
away with them!"
Hawker regarded the group nervously, and at last propounded a great
question: "Say, I wonder where they all are recruited? When you come
to think that almost every summer hotel----"
"Certainly," said Hollanden, "almost every summer hotel. I've studied
the question, and have nearly established the fact that almost every
summer hotel is furnished with a full corps of----"
"To be sure," said Hawker; "and if you search for them in the winter,
you can find barely a sign of them, until you examine the boarding
houses, and then you observe----"
"Certainly," said Hollanden, "of course. By the way," he added, "you
haven't got any obviously loose screws in your character, have you?"
"No," said Hawker, after consideration, "only general poverty--that's
all."
"Of course, of course," said Hollanden. "But that's bad. They'll get on
to you, sure. Particularly since you come up here to see Miss Fanhall so
much."
Hawker glinted his eyes at his friend. "You've got a deuced open way
of speaking," he observed.
"Deuced open, is it?" cried Hollanden. "It isn't near so open as your
devotion to Miss Fanhall, which is as plain as a red petticoat hung on a
hedge."
Hawker's face gloomed, and he said, "Well, it might be plain to you,
you infernal cat, but that doesn't prove that all those old hens can see

it."
"I tell you that if they look twice at you they can't fail to see it. And it's
bad, too. Very bad. What's the matter with you? Haven't you ever been
in love before?"
"None of your business," replied Hawker.
Hollanden thought upon this point for a time. "Well," he admitted
finally, "that's true in a general way, but I hate to see you managing
your affairs so stupidly."
Rage flamed into Hawker's face, and he cried passionately, "I tell you it
is none of your business!" He suddenly confronted the other man.
Hollanden surveyed this outburst with a critical eye, and then slapped
his knee with emphasis. "You certainly have got it--a million times
worse than I thought. Why, you--you--you're heels over head."
"What if I am?" said Hawker, with a gesture of defiance and despair.
Hollanden saw a dramatic situation in the distance, and with a bright
smile he studied it. "Say," he exclaimed, "suppose she should not go to
the picnic to-morrow? She said this morning she did not know if she
could go. Somebody was expected from New York, I think. Wouldn't it
break you up, though! Eh?"
"You're so dev'lish clever!" said Hawker, with sullen irony.
Hollanden was still regarding the distant dramatic situation. "And rivals,
too! The woods must be crowded with them. A girl like that, you know.
And then all that money! Say, your rivals must number enough to make
a brigade of militia. Imagine them swarming around! But then it doesn't
matter so much," he went on cheerfully; "you've got a good play there.
You must appreciate them to her--you understand?--appreciate them
kindly, like a man in a watch-tower. You must laugh at them only
about once a week, and then very tolerantly--you understand?--and
kindly, and--and appreciatively."

"You're a colossal ass, Hollie!" said Hawker. "You----"
"Yes, yes, I know," replied the other peacefully; "a colossal ass. Of
course." After looking into the distance again, he murmured: "I'm
worried about that picnic. I wish I knew she was going. By heavens, as
a matter of fact, she must be made to go!"
"What have you got to do with it?" cried the painter, in another sudden
outburst.
"There! there!" said Hollanden, waving his hand. "You fool! Only a
spectator, I assure you."
Hawker seemed overcome then with a deep dislike of himself. "Oh,
well, you know, Hollie, this sort of thing----" He broke off and gazed at
the trees. "This sort of thing---- It----"
"How?" asked Hollanden.
"Confound you for a meddling, gabbling idiot!" cried Hawker
suddenly.
Hollanden replied, "What did you do with that violet she dropped at the
side of the tennis court yesterday?"
CHAPTER V.
Mrs. Fanhall, with the two children, the Worcester girls, and Hollanden,
clambered down