View source for Out in the World CHAPTER 17.

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<p>Once more fairly in her power, Mrs. Windall used all the subtle arts she possessed, in order to hold Mrs. Jansen passive to her will. She had, within a day or two, changed her home, and was now residing in Jersey City, occupying a pleasant room in a suburban residence that overlooked the bay. Not in a boarding-house — but as the <em>guest </em>at will of a lady in good circumstances, a recent acquaintance, between whom and herself a sudden and close intimacy had been formed. This lady's name was Barling. She was a widow, with only one child, a boy six years old.<br><br>
Mrs. Barling was a woman of some cultivation and taste, and enjoyed fellowship with intellectual people, though not very intellectual herself. In the sphere of other and stronger minds, her thought was quickened to higher activity, and so dwelt in regions which she could not have attained alone. There was sufficient pleasure in this to lead her much into the society of men and women of superior minds. Mrs. Windall, slightly repelling her at the first meeting, had, subsequently, attracted her strongly. She noted peculiarities — some of them in opposition to her good taste — but set them down as <em>eccentricities of genius</em>. These she soon ceased to observe. Flowing in with the even current of Mrs. Barling's life, Mrs. Windall had pleased her with <em>flatteries </em>skillfully applied, and so won upon her affection and confidence. An invitation to spend a few weeks at her house was given with such an earnest cordiality, that a person of far less independence of feelings than Mrs. Windall, would scarcely have hesitated on the question of acceptance.<br><br>
By the time Mrs. Jansen reached the residence of Mrs. Barling, she was so exhausted that she could scarcely bear up the weight of her body. Assisted by Mrs. Windall and a servant, she was just able to ascend to one of the chambers, where she sunk, half fainting, on a bed. A little wine gave artificial stimulus to the weak and palpitating nerves. In the repose that followed, she slept.<br><br>
During this interval of sleep, Mrs. Windall had opportunity to explain fully to her friend the circumstances under which she had found Mrs. Jansen, and to awaken a strong interest in her favor. A cordial welcome to her house, and an invitation to remain as long as she felt inclined to do so, were given by Mrs. Barling, and thankfully accepted.<br><br>
"Do not apprehend," said Mrs. Jansen, her eyes full of grateful tears, "that I will become a burdensome intruder. Give me a brief time to recover my strength, and to determine my steps for the future, and I will pass on. The way before me is <em>shrouded in darkness</em>. I cannot see in what direction it runs — but I know that it is a difficult and dangerous way. I need a little pause, and in a place where I can stand firm, that I may gird myself for the <em>struggles </em>that await me."<br><br>
The effort and excitement which had attended Madeline's escape from the house of Mrs. Cairne, left her very weak, and with symptoms of fever. Two or three days passed before she was able to leave her room. During the time she was scarcely ever alone, Mrs. Windall was her constant companion. The strong <em>repugnance </em>she had felt towards this woman gradually subsided, and while she felt no attraction towards her, she almost unconsciously yielded up her will, and allowed her thoughts and future plans to take the direction that she pointed out.<br><br>
Mrs. Windall was a <em>thoroughly selfish and unscrupulous woman</em>. Every thought was limited by considerations of a personal nature, and ministered to <em>sinister ends</em>. Under the guise of philanthropic profession, she concealed an <em>unwavering devotion to selfish ends</em>. Her first thought, on meeting Mrs. Jansen at the house of Mrs. Woodbine, after the separation, was — "How can I turn this circumstance to account?" And, almost instantly, a suggestion of the means came. It was for this reason that she was so prompt to invite Mrs. Jansen to go home with her, and that she was so <em>basely unscrupulous </em>about the ways in which she sought to obtain control over the tried and unhappy woman.<br><br>
Too indolent or proud for ordinary useful work, whereby to secure an income, Mrs. Windall lacked the genius for higher efforts. A few times she had tried public readings — but miserably failed, the receipts for tickets not covering half of the expenses. Once pressed for the means of living, after exhausting the patience of temporary friends, who gradually receded the more intimately they knew her — she tried, under an assumed address, the game of a <em>public swindler</em>. In this, she was more successful in a financial way; but ran such a narrow risk of arrest and exposure, that she had never since felt easy in mind.<br><br>
The swindling operation we have mentioned was in this way: Mrs. Windall, under a false name, and with forged letters of credence and introduction, purporting to be from well-known people in the Southern States, visited Buffalo, where she advertised for twenty-five teachers, young women, to go South, promising immediate engagements in schools and families, with liberal compensation. Many applications came in to her, and she found little difficulty in making arrangements with twenty-five young ladies to accompany her to Charleston. A time was appointed for the journey to begin, and on the day previous, each of the girls placed in the hands of Mrs. Windall the sum of <em>thirty dollars</em>, for the payment of expenses. She was to procure tickets for the company, and to meet them at the railroad depot in the morning. But, on their assembling at the depot at the appointed time, Mrs. Windall was not there. She had departed in a midnight train, with over seven hundred dollars in her pocket, and was never again seen or heard of in Buffalo!<br><br>
The swindle was published, and some efforts made to find and punish the swindler. But, as the cheated girls were poor, and without influential friends, there was but little to stimulate police efforts, and Mrs. Windall, though seriously alarmed for her safety, managed to run clear. She did not think it prudent to try other schemes of a like nature. The <em>risk</em>was to plainly before her eyes.<br><br>
The manner in which she proposed too use Mrs. Jansen to her own advantage was this. The suggestion had come to her at the house of Mrs. Woodbine, and the more she dwelt upon it, the more assured of success did she feel. Mrs. Jansen was young, and attractive in person. Dressed for effect in the flash and glare of evening lights — she would appear brilliant. She had talent of a certain order. In some of the companies which met at Mrs. Woodbine's there had been <em>readings</em>, and Madeline, on these occasions, had several times taken part, and conducted herself to the admiration of all. Enthusiastic, and apt to enter with her whole soul into whatever she might be doing, she had, in some of her efforts, reached a singular perfection, holding her little audiences almost spell-bound. All this Mrs. Windall remembered; and when she saw this beautiful young creature breaking away from her home, instead of pain and pity for the grief and trouble that were before her — came a thrill of pleasure in the thought, that she might turn her talents to account for her own benefit. It was this dimly shadowed purpose that led her so promptly to encourage Madeline, in opposition to Mrs. Woodbine; and that induced her to take her home, as we have seen.<br><br>
The plan of using Mrs. Jansen's personal attractions and talents as here indicated, once conceived by Mrs. Windall, was not to be relinquished. She saw an easy way of improving her rather desperate circumstances opening before her, and it was worth an effort to remove the obstructions that kept her feet back from entrance.<br><br>
The first thing done by Mrs. Windall towards accomplishing her end, now that she had her <em>victim </em>in her power, and time to plot and plan at leisure, was to win over Mrs. Barling to her views. Mrs. Barling was a weak, as well as a confiding woman; and where she trusted another of stronger mind than herself, could easily be led to see with that other one's eyes. The first intimation of what was in the mind of Mrs. Windall, rather shocked her feelings, than elicited approval. But, Mrs. Windall not only understood human nature in general — but the particular human nature of her friend, and with the skill of an accomplished tactician, soon managed to lead her into the position she considered it most desirable for her to occupy.<br><br>
To Mrs. Jansen, the subject was at first introduced in remote hints; but she did not understand them. Nothing could have been farther from her thoughts. When, at last, the suggestion came to her mind in a definite form, she shrunk back from the idea with a shiver of reluctance. In pondering the future, and scanning the ways and means by which she was to live, this had not once occurred to her. Most emphatically did she answer, "No, no! I will never think of that!"<br><br>
But Mrs. Windall was not the woman to relinquish any well digested scheme in which she was to <em>derive benefit</em>. First bringing Mrs. Barling entirely over to her views of the case, which was easily done, she commenced her insidious work upon Mrs. Jansen. With a most painful vividness, did she bring before her mind the difficulties that would beset her way. She must live self-sustained — but how?<br><br>
"Now is the time to look this question clearly in the face," she said, "and to determine your course for the future. How will you live? If I were less your friend than I am, I would not pain you by thrusting the subject into view; but, as your friend, deeply interested in your well being, I cannot shrink from the way of duty. How are you to live? In breaking away from the <em>tyranny </em>of your husband, you left empty-handed, and you are too proud and independent to ask of him anything. You have no income in your own right. So the question of living is resolved into <em>self-dependence</em>. You must <em>earn </em>your bread. Here is the naked truth; and the question repeats itself — How?<br><br>
There are only two ways — by skill of <em>hands </em>or skill of <em>head</em>. Which will you choose? For women, as you are too well advised, the avenues to remunerative positions are few. You cannot get a clerkship in a bank or counting-house, nor secure the secretaryship of an insurance company. The doors of all public offices are closed against us. You might find a place in some fancy dry goods or clothing store. Perhaps Brodie would accept your services at four or five dollars a week as a lay figure on which to exhibit cloaks. But, I don't know. Then there is <em>teaching</em>. "What are your gifts and qualifications, looking to this line of employment?"<br><br>
Mrs. Jansen shook her head gloomily.<br><br>
"You are not fit for a teacher. That is clear," said Mrs. Windall, emphatically. "What then? There is <em>needlework</em> — or, in other words, <em>suicide</em>. But, one possessing your gifts and education, would hardly go down to enter into competition with poor, half starved needle women. No — no. You were made for something higher and better — for a broader and nobler sphere — for the exercise of talents such as only the few possess. You have <em>dramatic abilities </em>of no ordinary kind."<br><br>
"You are mistaken," replied Mrs. Jansen, warmly — yet with a troubled tone and manner. "And even if I did possess dramatic talents, one thing is certain, I will never go on the<em>stage</em>. Teaching, the needle, store-attendance — anything but that!"<br><br>
"I did not suggest the <em>stage</em>," said Mrs. Windall. "You misunderstood me. I only referred to your dramatic power as an important element in <em>public reading</em>. That is the guarantee of your high success; a success that will make you independent in the world. A little earnest training of your voice — and a few lessons from a good elocutionist — and you are as certain as the day to succeed. I know your delicacy of feeling — your sensitiveness about coming before the public; but there is a way of self-protection entirely justifiable. You may come out as a public reader, and yet avoid all unpleasant notoriety."<br><br>
"How?"<br><br>
"By doing as others have done. Assume a <em>name for public use</em>. No one is hurt thereby. No wrong is intended. The act will be, as I have intimated, simply one of self-protection. A <em>writer </em>has the option of concealing his personality under a <em>pen name</em>; and may not a <em>speaker </em>do the same? It is clear enough to my mind; and a little reflection will make it clear enough to yours."<br><br>
But, against both a <em>public appearance </em>and an <em>assumed name</em>, the feelings of Madeline strongly revolted; and it required all the subtlety and management of the woman in whose power she had fallen, to overcome the <em>delicacy </em>and high sense of <em>honor </em>that were shocked by the proposal. Of all the <em>means </em>used to reduce Madeline to her will, we will not speak. The reader has already seen the dangerous power that Mrs. Windall had gained over her; a power not likely to be relinquished, when its use would serve the purpose she had in view. It was on her side, and against her victim, that with every submission of will to the exercise of that<em> demoniac influence,</em> which had laid passive the volition of Madeline, susceptibility increased. Of causes, and the philosophy explanatory of these causes, it is not for us here to speak. We have to do only with a fact that is full of significance and warning.
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