Other Things Being Equal

Chapter I

OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL CHAPTER I : / \ HUMMING BIRD dipped through the air and lit upon the " * / — \ palm tree just below the open window, the long, -JL- -V- drowsy call of a crowing cock came from afar off; up through a hazy splendor the city lifted its jocund hills. It was a rarely beautiful summer afternoon in old San Francisco. Ruth Levice sat near the window, lazily rocking. Peculiarly responsive to her environment, mercurially so to mood of day or hour, the soft, languorous air had, unconsciously to herself, borne her to dim, far scenes where life sped in eternal summer, vague indeed, but instinct with all the indefinable joy and romance of youth. So removed was she in spirit from her surroundings that she heard with an obvious start a knock at the door. The knock was immediately followed by a smiling, plump young woman, sparkling of eye, rosy of cheek, glistening in jewels and silk. "Here you are, Ruth," she exclaimed, and kissed her heartily; whereupon she sank into a chair and threw back her bonnet strings with an air of relief. "I came up here at once when the maid said your mother was out. Where is she?" "Out calling. You look so warm, Jennie; let me fan you." "Thanks. Oh, how refreshing! Sandalwood, isn't it? Where's your father?" "He's writing in the library. Do you want to see him?" "Oh, no, no! I must see you alone. I'm so glad Aunt Esther is out. Why aren't you with her, Ruth? You shouldn't let your mother go off alone." The young girl laughed in merry surprise. "Why, Jennie, you forgot that mamma has been used all her 64 OTHER THINQS BEINQ EQUAL life to going out without me; it's only within the last few months that weVe been such close companions." "I know," replied her visitor, leaning back with a grim expression of disapproval, "and I think it's the queerest arrangement I ever heard of The idea of a father having the sole care of a daughter up to her twenty-first birthday, and then delivering her, like a piece of joint property, over to her mother! Oh, I know that, according to their lights, it didn't seem absurd, but the very idea of it is contrary to nature. Of course we all know that your father was peculiarly fitted to undertake your training and, in that way, your mother could more easily indulge in her love of society. But as it is, no wonder she's as jealous of your success in her realm as your father was in his; no wonder she overdoes things to make up for lost time. How do you like it, Ruth?" "What?" softly inquired her cousin, slowly waving the dainty fan, while a smile lighted up the gravity of her face at this onslaught . "Going out continually, night after night." "Mamma likes it." "Cela va sans dire. But, Ruth—stop fanning a minute, please—I want to know, candidly and seriously, would you mind giving it up?" "Candidly and seriously, I would do so today forever." "Ye-es; your father's daughter," said Mrs. Lewis, speaking more slowly, her bright eyes noting the perfect repose of the young girl's person. "And yet you are having some quiet little conquests —the golden apples of your mother's Hesperides. But to come to the point, do you realize that your mother is very ill?" "Ill—my mother?" The sudden look of consternation shattering the soft tranquillity of her face must have fully repaid Mrs. Lewis if she was aiming at a sensation. "There, sit down. Don't be alarmed; you know she's out and apparently well." "What do you mean?" "I mean that Aunt Esther is nervous and hysterical. The other day at our house she had such an attack of hysteria that I had to call in a neighboring doctor. She begged us not to mention it to OTHER THINQS BEINQ EQUAL 65 either of you, and then insisted on going to a meeting of some sort. However, I thought it over and decided to let you know, because I consider it serious* I was afraid to alarm Uncle, so I thought of telling you," "Thank you, Jennie; I shall speak to father about it." The young girl's tone was quite unagitated, but two pink spots on her...