Chapter 7

ARENTA'S MARRIAGE

For a few weeks, Hyde's belief that the very stars would connive with a
true lover seemed a reliable one. Madame Jacobus, attracted at their
first meeting to the youth, soon gave him an astonishing affection. And
yet this warm love of an old woman for youth and beauty was a very
natural one--a late development of the maternal instinct leading her
even to what seemed an abnormal preference. For she put aside her
nephew's claims with hardly a thought, and pleased herself day by day in
so managing and arranging events that Hyde and Cornelia met, as a matter
of course. Arenta was not, however, deceived; she understood every
maneuvre, but the success of her own affairs depended very much on her
aunt's cooperation and generosity, and so she could not afford, at this
time, to interfere for her brother.

"But I shall alter things a little as soon as I am married," she told
herself. "I will take care of that. At this time I must see, and hear,
and say nothing. I must act politely--for I am always polite--and
Athanase also is in favour of politeness--but I take leave to say that
Joris Hyde shall not carry so much sail when a few weeks are gone by. So
happy he looks! So pleased with himself! So sure of all he says and
does! I am angry at him all the time. Well, then, it will be a
satisfaction to abate a little the confidence of this cock-sure young
man."

Arenta's feelings were in kind and measure shared by several other
people; Doctor Moran held them in a far bitterer mood; but he, also,--
environed by circumstances he could neither alter nor command,--was
compelled to satisfy his disapproval with promises of a future change.
For the wedding of Arenta Van Ariens had assumed a great social
importance. Arenta herself had talked about the affair until all classes
were on the tiptoe of expectation. The wealthy Dutch families, the
exclusive American set, the home and foreign diplomatic circles, were
alike looking forward to the splendid ceremony, and to the great
breakfast at Peter Van Ariens' house, and to the ball which Madame
Jacobus was to give in the evening. None of the younger people had ever
been in madame's fantastic ballroom, and they were eager for this entry
into her wonderful house. For their mothers--seeing things through the
mists of Time--had, innocently enough, exaggerated the marvels of the
Chinese lanterns, the feather flowers and gorgeously plumed birds, the
cases of tropical butterflies and beetles, and the fascination of the
pagan deities, until they were ready to listen to any tale about Madame
Jacobus and to swallow it like cream.

So Doctor Moran, being physician and family friend to most of the
invited guests, had to listen to such