A Bloodsmoor Romance by Joyce Carol Oates Read Free Book Online Page A

for she is so winsome, and quite pure of heart, I am sure. And the gentlemen from Boston—Professor Lyndon in particular—and Father’s eloquence—and the great promise of the perpetual-motion machine . . . Perhaps, Samantha, we might beg of you, a helpful description of that amazing device?”
    â€œNay, I will make no serious attempt, for you are all distracted, and Mother will shortly be summoning us. The machine upon which Father has been working since last spring is, properly speaking, the new machine , for he felt of a sudden obliged to scrap virtually everything he had done beforehand—a heartrending decision, yet, I must believe, a necessary one. Alas, poor Father!” Samantha said fiercely; “how very hard he labors, and yet the ignorant world presumes to judge him!” She paused for a moment to calm herself, and then continued: “The new machine is designed with a copper pendulum involving not the swinging motion, with which you are familiar in household clocks, but a part-rotation, clockwise 180 degrees precisely, and then counterclockwise, 180 degrees precisely. So far as I comprehend the source of energy, it derives from the coordination of magnetic fields, gravitational tides (exerted by both the sun and the moon simultaneously), and odylic force; and the great difficulty at present is, how to release, yet inhibit, the energy thus summoned, that it will not rush into the mechanism with such force that the mechanism is destroyed—nor will it flow haplessly into the air. To this end, Father has been experimenting with magnets of various dimensions, and strips of lead, and putty, and silk threads, that the magnetic field may be more closely controlled. We are greatly anxious,” the young lady said, in an abruptly lowered voice, and with a covert gaze around her, “that no spy from Menlo Park discover this latest experimentation: for you know that it would destroy Father utterly, not only the theft of another of his discoveries, but the theft of this, his greatest work—nay, when it is brought to fruition, it will be one of the greatest works of all time. Thus, if Father spoke at times circumspectly with the Boston professors, it was with the sad knowledge weighing upon his heart, that, for all their evident sincerity, and scientific objectivity, they might be spies in Mr. Edison’s employ—or innocent dupes in his web. Alas, who can know!” Samantha concluded, with so profound a sigh, it might have issued from a woman twice her age.
    Malvinia then inquired, in a somewhat subdued voice, as if she felt a modicum of regret for her rude words: “Yet work is progressing, I assume? And when does Father predict the mechanism will be perfected?”
    â€œFather does not predict such things,” Samantha said, crinkling her brow in startl’d disapprobation, at her sister’s ignorance. “You know him very poorly, if you imagine his thoughts stray onto such notions!”
    â€œNot in time for Constance Philippa’s wedding?” Octavia inquired, with wistful regret. “Nay, I suppose not: it is ignorant of me, to ask.”
    â€œNot in time for Constance Philippa’s wedding!” Malvinia exclaimed, in such alarm, she allowed her sunshade to fall to the floor. “Why, that cannot be possible, surely that cannot be possible, for the wedding is set for over a twelve-month from now! Surely, Samantha, you do not know everything, and may be mistaken in this issue?”
    â€œIndeed, I may well be mistaken,” Samantha said, with unlook’d-for humility, “yet, pray do not make these inquiries of anyone else: not of Mother, and, of course, not of Father.”
    â€œThen Grandfather must pay for Constance Philippa’s wedding, and many another expense, and perhaps Octavia, too, will become engaged, and what of me, what will be my fate, ah, how wretched! I shall not think along these degrading lines, ”