Bomb the Third
Arma’s first loves were merely fancies. Having no substantial foundation they died as soon as born. Sam and Tilly had made no secret of her origin and she was spared a shock when she learned it of those pests of society whom, like the poor and Congress, we have always with us. She was a great reader and devoured all the books she could obtain. Among these was Charlotte Bronte’s story of “The Professor.” With the reading of this story a new point of view dawned upon her. She had before this looked upon Sam as immeasurably older and belonging to a disappearing age. But it appeared that a difference of ages was not so important as she had imagined, indeed might be an advantage from many points of view. Her previous flames had been boys, except for the divine, and he was a man of no perception—not worth considering. Besides, Sam had money—almost always a consideration with girls, who are nearly always full of worldly wisdom. Sam had become a possibility. As she studied him further he became a probability. She grew shy and a trifle coquettish. But Sam for a long time took no notice. He was absorbed in other matters.
Arma was, of course, very much interested in Tilly’s love affair as it developed. She viewed it with much favor. The same worldly wisdom which told her that Sam was desirable from a matrimonial point of view, told her also that if Tilly should go to Pittsburgh Sam must more fully depend upon her. She became interested in cooking and studied all Sam’s needs. Tilly was studying Billy at the same time. Arma secretly began to resent any interference with Sam—he was her property. She pampered him like a born mother—which she was.
Gradually but unconsciously Arma revealed her new set of ideas to Tilly who was not lacking in perception; but Tilly made no sign—she was relieved. For Sam’s welfare was dear to her, and here were other hands to take up the tasks she must lay down. She became Arma’s co-conspirator, gradually resigning to her the primacy in Sam’s affairs which she had hitherto kept as her own.
As Arma became absorbed in Sam, she began to manifest an interest in his work and asked many questions. It was pleasant to teach a pupil so bright, so much interested and so beautiful—for Sam could not help but notice her beauty. There were others who saw it also. The young men began to call and she was not annoyed at first; but few of them interested her very long. They knew so little. One day she betrayed herself. One of these boys had bored her for an hour before he departed and she met Sam in the passage.
“Well, has he gone?” said Sam.
“Yes, he has,” she replied, “and I am so glad, I like you much better.” And these words were accompanied by a look which would have awakened and galvanized an anchorite, and then she blushed a rosy red and fled.
There are really two bombs in this chapter. Arma’s bomb was a copy of “The Professor,” Sam’s bomb was the look Arma gave him when she blushed.