George Robert Gissing
The Emancipated
A Novel
Part I
Chapter I
Northerners in Sunlight
By a window looking from Posillipo upon the Bay of Naples sat an English lady
engaged in letterwriting She was only in her fourandtwentieth year but her
attire of subdued mourning indicated widowhood already at the stage when it is
permitted to make quiet suggestion of freedom rather than distressful reference
to loss the dress however was severely plain and its grey coldness which
would well have harmonized with an English sky in this month of November looked
alien in the southern sunlight There was no mistaking her nationality the
absorption the troubled earnestness with which she bent over her writing were
peculiar to a cast of features such as can be found only in our familiar island
a physiognomy not quite pure in outline vigorous in general effect and in
detail delicate a proud young face full of character and capacity beautiful
in chaste control Sorrowful it was not but its paleness and thinness expressed
something more than imperfect health of body the bluegrey eyes when they
wandered for a moment in an effort of recollection had a look of weariness
even of ennui the lips moved as if in nervous impatience until she had found
the phrase or the thought for which her pen waited Save for these intervals
she wrote with quick decision in a large clear hand never underlining but
frequently supplying the emphasis of heavy stroke in her penning of a word At
the end of her letters came a signature excellent in individuality »Miriam
Baske«
The furniture of her room was modern and of the kind demanded by wealthy
forestieri in the lodgings they condescend to occupy On the variegated tiles of
the floor were strewn rugs and carpets the drapery was bright without much
reference to taste in the ordering of hues a handsome stove served at present
to support leafy plants a row of which also stood on the balcony before the
window Round the ceiling ran a painted border of foliage and flowers The chief
ornament of the walls was a large and indifferent copy of Raphaels »St
Cecilia« there were too several gouache drawings of local scenery a fiery
nightview of Vesuvius a panorama of the Bay and a very blue Blue Grotto The
whole was blithe sunny Neapolitan sufficiently unlike a sittingroom in
Redbeck House Bartles Lancashire which Mrs Baske had in her mind as she
wrote
A few English books lay here and there volumes of unattractive binding and
presenting titles little suggestive of a holiday in Campania works which it
would be misleading to call theological the feeblest modern echoes of fierce
old Puritans half shamefaced modifications of logic which at all events was
wont to conceal no consequence of its savage premises More noticeable were some
architectural plans unrolled upon a settee the uppermost represented the
elevation of a building designed for religious purposes painfully recognizable
by all who know the conventicles of sectarian England On the blank space
beneath the drawing were a few comments lightly pencilled
Having finished and addressed some half a dozen brief letters Mrs Baske
brooded for several minutes before she began to write on the next sheet of
paper It was intended for her sisterinlaw a lady of middle age who shared
in the occupancy of Redbeck House At length she penned the introductory
formula but again became absent and sat gazing at the branches of a pinetree
which stood in strong relief against cloudless blue A sigh an impatient
gesture and she went on with her task
»It is very kind of you to be so active in attending to the things which you
know I have at heart You say I shall find everything as I could wish it on my
return but you cannot think what a stranger to Bartles I already feel It will
soon be six months since I lived my real life there during my illness I might
as well have been absent then came those weeks in the Isle of Wight and now
this exile I feel it as exile bitterly To be sure Naples is beautiful but it
does not interest me You need not envy me the bright sky for it gives me no
pleasure There is so much to pain and sadden so much that makes me angry On
Sunday I was miserable The Spences are as kind as any one could be but I
wont write about it no doubt yon understand me
What do you think ought to be done about Mrs Ackworth and her daughter It
is shameful after all they have received from me Will you tell them that I am
gravely displeased to hear of their absenting themselves from chapel I have a
very good mind to write to Mr Higginson and beg him to suspend the girl from
his employment until she becomes regular in her attendance at worship Perhaps
that would seem malicious but she and her mother ought to be punished in some
way Speak to them very sternly
I do not understand how young Brooks has dared to tell you I promised him
work in the greenhouse He is irreclaimable the worst character that ever came
under my notice he shall not set foot on the premises If he is in want he has
only himself to blame I do not like to think of his wife suffering but it is
the attribute of sins such as his that they involve the innocent with the
guilty and then she has shown herself so wretchedly weak Try however to help
her secretly if her distress becomes too acute
It was impertinent in Mrs Walker to make such reference to me in public
This is the result of my absence and helplessness I shall write to her two
lines«
A flush had risen to her cheek and in adding the last two words she all but
pierced through the thin notepaper Then her hand trembled so much that she was
obliged to pause At the same moment there sounded a tap at the door and on
Mrs Baskes giving permission a lady entered This was Mrs Spence a cousin
of the young widow she and her husband had an apartment here in the Villa
Sannazaro and were able to devote certain rooms to the convenience of their
relative during her stay at Naples Her age was about thirty she had a graceful
figure a manner of much refinement and a bright gentle intellectual face
which just now bore an announcement of news
»They have arrived«
»Already« replied the other in a tone of civil interest
»They decided not to break the journey after Genoa Cecily and Mrs
Lessingham are too tired to do anything but get settled in their rooms but Mr
Mallard has come to tell us«
Miriam laid down her pen and asked in the same voice as before
»Shall I come«
»If you are not too busy« And Mrs Spence added with a smile »I should
think you must have a certain curiosity to see each other after so long an
acquaintance at secondhand«
»I will come in a moment«
Mrs Spence left the room For a minute Miriam sat reflecting then rose In
moving towards the door she chanced to see her image in a mirror two of a
large size adorned the room and it checked her step she regarded herself
gravely and passed a smoothing hand over the dark hair above her temples
By a corridor she reached her friends sittingroom where Mrs Spence sat
in the company of two gentlemen The elder of these was Edward Spence His
bearded face studious of cast and smallfeatured spoke a placid
selfcommanding character a lingering smile and the pleasant wrinkles about
his brow told of a mind familiar with many byways of fancy and reflection His
companion a man of fiveandthirty had a far more striking countenance His
complexion was of the kind which used to be called adust burnt up with inner
fires his visage was long and somewhat harshly designed very apt it would
seem to the expression of bitter ironies or stern resentments but at present
bright with friendly pleasure He had a heavy moustache but no beard his hair
tumbled in disorder To matters of costume he evidently gave little thought for
his clothes though of the kind a gentleman would wear in travelling had seen
their best days and the waistcoat even lacked one of its buttons his black
necktie was knotted into an indescribable shape and the ends hung loose
Him Mrs Spence at once presented to her cousin as Mr Mallard He bowed
ungracefully then with a manner naturally frank but constrained by obvious
shyness took the hand Miriam held to him
»We are scarcely strangers Mr Mallard« she said in a selfpossessed tone
regarding him with steady eyes
»Miss Doran has spoken of you frequently on the journey« he replied
knitting his brows into a scowl as he smiled and returned her look »Your
illness made her very anxious You are much better I hope«
»Much thank you«
Allowance made for the difference of quality in their voices Mrs Baske and
Mallard resembled each other in speech They had the same grave note the same
decision
»They must be very tired after their journey« Miriam added seating
herself
»Miss Doran seems scarcely so at all but Mrs Lessingham is rather
overwearied Im afraid«
»Why didnt you break the journey at Florence or Rome« asked Mrs Spence
»I proposed it but other counsels prevailed All through Italy Miss Doran
was distracted between desire to get to Naples and misery at not being able to
see the towns we passed At last she buried herself in the Revue des Deux
Mondes and refused even to look out of the window«
»I suppose we may go and see her in the morning« said Miriam
»My express instructions are« replied Mallard »that you are on no account
to go They will come here quite early Miss Doran begged hard to come with me
now but I wouldnt allow it«
»Is it the one instance in which your authority has prevailed« inquired
Spence »You seem to declare it in a tone of triumph«
»Well« replied the other with a grim smile leaning forward in his chair
»I dont undertake to lay down rules for the young lady of eighteen as I could
for the child of twelve But my age and sobriety of character still ensure me
respect«
He glanced at Mrs Baske and their eyes met Miriam smiled rather coldly
but continued to observe him after he had looked away again
»You met them at Genoa« she asked presently in her tone of habitual
reserve
»Yes I came by sea from London and had a couple of days to wait for their
arrival from Paris«
»And I suppose you also are staying at Mrs Glucks«
»Oh no I have a room at old quarters of mine high up in the town Vico
Brancaccio I shall only be in Naples a few days«
»Hows that« inquired Spence
»Im going to work at Amalfi and Paestum«
»Then as usual we shall see nothing of you« said Mrs Spence »Pray do
you dine at Mrs Glucks this evening«
»By no means«
»May we then have the pleasure of your company There is no need to go
back to Vico Brancaccio I am sure Mrs Baske will excuse you the torture of
uniform«
With a sort of grumble the invitation was accepted A little while after
Spence proposed to his friend a walk before sunset
»Yes let us go up the hill« said Mallard rising abruptly »I need
movement after the railway«
They left the villa and Mallard grew less restrained in his conversation
»How does Mrs Baske answer to your expectations« Spence asked him
»I had seen her photograph you know«
»Where«
»Her brother showed it me one taken at the time of her marriage«
»What is Elgar doing at present«
»Its more than a year since we crossed each other« Mallard replied »He
was then going to the devil as speedily as can in reason be expected of a man I
happened to encounter him one morning at Victoria Station and he seemed to have
just slept off a great deal of heavy drinking Told me he was going down to
Brighton to see about selling a houseful of furniture there his own property
I didnt inquire how or why he came possessed of it He is beyond help I
imagine When he comes to his last penny hell probably blow his brains out
just the fellow to do that kind of thing«
»I suppose he hasnt done it already His sister has heard nothing of him
for two years at least and this account of yours is the latest I have
received«
»I should think he still lives He would be sure to make a coup de théâtre
of his exit«
»Poor lad« said the elder man with feeling »I liked him«
»Why so did I and I wish it had been in my scope to keep him in some kind
of order Yes I liked him much And as for brains why I have scarcely known a
man who so impressed me with a sense of his ability But you could see that he
was doomed from his cradle Strongly like his sister in face«
»Im afraid the thought of him troubles her a good deal«
»She looks ill«
»Yes we are uneasy about her« said Spence Then with a burst of
impatience »Theres no getting her mind away from that pestilent Bartles What
do you think she is projecting now It appears that the Dissenters of Bartles
are troubled concerning their chapel it isnt large enough So Miriam proposes
to pull down her own house and build them a chapel on the site of course at
her own expense The ground being her freehold she can unfortunately do what
she likes with it the same with her personal property The thing has gone so
far that a Manchester firm of architects have prepared plans they are lying
about in her room here«
Mallard regarded the speaker with humorous wonder
»And the fact is« pursued Spence »that such an undertaking as this will
impoverish her She is not so wealthy as to be able to lay out thousands of
pounds and leave her position unaltered«
»I suppose she lives only for her religious convictions«
»I dont profess to understand her Her character is not easily sounded But
no doubt she has the puritanical spirit in a rather rare degree I daily thank
the fates that my wife grew up apart from that branch of the family Of all the
accursed But this is an old topic better not to heat ones self uselessly«
»A Puritan at Naples« mused Mallard »The situation is interesting«
»Very But then she doesnt really live in Naples From the first day she
has shown herself bent on resisting every influence of the place She wont
admit that the climate benefits her she wont allow an expression of interest
in anything Italian to escape her I doubt whether we shall ever get her even to
Pompeii One afternoon I persuaded her to walk up here with me and tried to
make her confess that this view was beautiful She grudged making any such
admission It is her nature to distrust the beautiful«
»To be sure That is the badge of her persuasion«
»Last Sunday we didnt know whether to compassionate her or to be angry with
her The Bradshaws are at Mrs Glucks You know them by name I think There
again an interesting study in a very different way Twice in the day she shut
herself up with them in their rooms and they held a dissident service The
hours she spent here were passed in the solitude of her own room lest she
should witness our profane enjoyment of the fine weather Eleanor refrained from
touching the piano and at meals kept the gravest countenance in mere kindness
I doubt whether that is right It isnt as though we were dealing with a woman
whose mind is hopelessly immatured she is only a girl still and I know she
has brains if she could be induced to use them«
»Mrs Baske has a remarkable face it seems to me« said Mallard
»It enrages me to talk of the matter«
They were now on the road which runs along the ridge of Posillipo at a
point where it is parted only by a low wall from the westward declivity they
paused and looked towards the setting sun
»What a noise from Fuorigrotta« murmured Spence when he had leaned for a
moment on the wall »It always amuses me Only in this part of the world could
so small a place make such a clamour«
They were looking away from Naples At the foot of the vinecovered hillside
lay the noisy village or suburb named from its position at the outer end of
the tunnel which the Romans pierced to make a shorter way between Naples and
Puteoli thence stretched an extensive plain set in a deep amphitheatre of
hills and bounded by the sea Vineyards and maizefields pinetrees and
poplars diversify its surface and through the midst of it runs a long
straight road dwindling till it reaches the shore at the hamlet of Bagnoli
Follow the enclosing ridge to the left to where its slope cuts athwart plain
and sea and sky there close upon the coast lies the island rock of Nisida
meetingplace of Cicero and Brutus after Cæsars death Turn to the opposite
quarter of the plain First rises the cliff of Camaldoli where from their
oakshadowed lawn the monks look forth upon as fair a prospect as is beheld by
man Lower hills succeed hiding Pozzuoli and the inner curve of its bay behind
them too is the nook which shelters Lake Avernus and at a little distance by
the further shore are the ruins of Cumæ first home of the Greeks upon Italian
soil A long promontory curves round the gulf the dark crag at the end of it is
Cape Misenum and a little on the hither side obscured in remoteness lies what
once was Baiæ Beyond the promontory gleams again a blue line of sea The low
length of Procida is its limit and behind that crowning the view stands the
mountainheight of Ischia
Over all the hues of an autumn evening in Campania From behind a bulk of
cloud here and there tossed by high wind currents into fantastic shapes sprang
rays of fire burning to the zenith Between the seabeach at Bagnoli and the
summit of Ischia tract followed upon tract of colour that each moment underwent
a subtle change darkening here there fading into exquisite transparencies of
distance till by degrees the islands lost projection and became mere films
against the declining day The plain was ruddy with dead vineleaves and golden
with the decaying foliage of the poplars Camaldoli and its neighbour heights
stood gorgeously enrobed In itself a picture so beautiful that the eye wearied
with delight in its memories a source of solemn joy inexhaustible for ever
»I suppose« said Mallard in the undertone of reflection »the pagan
associations of Naples are a great obstacle to Mrs Baskes enjoyment of the
scenery«
»She admits that«
»Bythebye what are likely to be the relations between her and Miss
Doran«
»I have wondered They seem to keep on terms of easy correspondence But
doesnt Cecily herself throw any light on that point«
Mallard made a pause before answering
»You must remember that I know very little of her I have never spoken more
intimately with her than you yourself have Naturally since she has ceased to
be a child I have kept my distance In fact I shall be heartily glad when the
next three years are over and we can shake hands with a definite goodbye«
»What irritates you« inquired Spence with a smile which recognized a phase
of his friends character
»The fact of my position A nice thing for a fellow like me to have charge
of a fortune It oppresses me the sense of responsibility I want to get the
weight off my shoulders What the deuce did her father mean by burdening me in
this way«
»He foresaw nothing of the kind« said Spence amused »Only the unlikely
event of Trenchs death left you sole trustee If Doran purposed anything at all
why who knows what it may have been«
Mallard refused to meet the others look his eyes were fixed on the
horizon
»All the same the event was possible and he should have chosen another man
of business Its worse than being rich on my own account I have dreams of a
national repudiation of debt I imagine dockcompanies failing and banks
stopping payment It disturbs my work I am tired of it Why cant I transfer
the affair to some trustworthy and competent person yourself for instance Why
didnt Doran select you to begin with the natural man to associate with
Trench«
»Who never opened a book save his ledger who was the model of a reputable
dealer in calicoes who «
»I apologize« growled Mallard »But you know in what sense I spoke«
»Pray what has Cecily become since I saw her in London« asked the other
after a pause during which he smiled his own interpretation of Mallards
humour
»A very superior young person I assure you« was the reply gravely spoken
»Miss Doran is a young woman of her time she ranks with the emancipated she is
as far above the Girton girl as that interesting creature is above the product
of an establishment for young ladies Miss Doran has no prejudices and in the
vulgar sense of the word no principles She is familiar with the Latin classics
and with the Parisian feuilletons she knows all about the newest religion and
can tell you Sarceys opinion of the newest play Miss Doran will discuss with
you the merits of Sarah Bernhardt in La Dame aux Camélias or the literary
theories of the brothers Goncourt I am not sure that she knows much about
Shakespeare but her appreciation of Baudelaire is exquisite I dont think she
is naturally very cruel but she can plead convincingly the cause of
vivisection Miss Doran «
Spence interrupted him with a burst of laughter
»All which my dear fellow simply means that you «
Mallard in his turn interrupted gruffly
»Precisely that I am the wrong man to hold even the position of steward to
one so advanced What have I to do with heiresses and fashionable ladies I have
my work to get on with and it shall not suffer from the intrusion of idlers«
»I see you direct your diatribe half against Mrs Lessingham How has she
annoyed you«
»Annoyed me You never were more mistaken Its with myself that I am
annoyed«
»On what account«
»For being so absurd as to question sometimes whether my responsibility
doesnt extend beyond stock and share I ask myself whether Doran who so
befriended me and put such trust in me and paid me so well in advance for the
duties I was to undertake didnt take it for granted that I should exercise
some influence in the matter of his daughters education Is she growing up what
he would have wished her to be And if «
»Why its no easy thing to say what views he had on this subject The lax
man we know is often enough severe with his own womankind But as you have
given me no description of what Cecily really is I can offer no judgment Wait
till I have seen her Doubtless she fulfils her promise of being beautiful«
»Yes there is no denying her beauty«
»As for her modernité why Mr Ross Mallard is a singular person to take
exception on that score«
»I dont know about that When did I say that the modern woman was my
ideal«
»When had you ever a good word for the system which makes of woman a dummy
and a killjoy«
»That has nothing to do with the question« replied Mallard preserving a
tone of gruff impartiality »Have I been faithful to my stewardship When I
consented to Cecilys to Miss Dorans passing from Mrs Elgars care to that
of Mrs Lessingham was I doing right«
»Mallard you are a curious instance of the Puritan conscience surviving in
a man whose intellect is liberated The note of your character including your
artistic character is this conscientiousness Without it you would have had
worldly success long ago Without it you wouldnt talk nonsense of Cecily
Doran Had you rather she were cooperating with Mrs Baske in a scheme to
rebuild all the chapels in Lancashire«
»There is a medium«
»Why yes A neither this nor that an insipid refinement a taste for
culture moderated by reverence for Mrs Grundy«
»Perhaps you are right Its only occasionally that I am troubled in this
way But I heartily wish the three years remaining were over«
»And the definite goodbye spoken A good phrase that of yours What
possessed you to come here just now if it disturbs you to be kept in mind of
these responsibilities«
»I should find it hard to tell you The very sense of responsibility I
suppose But as I said I am not going to stay in Naples«
»Youll come and give us a definite goodbye before you leave«
Mallard said nothing but turned and began to move on They passed one of
the sentryboxes which here along the ridge mark the limits of Neapolitan
excise a boysoldier musket in hand cast curious glances at them After
walking in silence for a few minutes they began to descend the eastern face of
the hill and before them lay that portion of the great gulf which pictures have
made so familiar The landscape was still visible in all its main details still
softly suffused with warm colours from the west About the cone of Vesuvius a
darkly purple cloud was gathering the twin height of Somma stood clear and of a
rich brown Naples the manycoloured was seen in profile climbing from the
Castel dell Ovo around which the sea slept to the rock of Sant Elmo along
the curve of the Chiaia lights had begun to glimmer Far withdrawn the craggy
promontory of Sorrento darkened to profoundest blue and Capri veiled itself in
mist
Chapter II
Cecily Doran
Villa Sannazaro had no architectural beauty it was a building of considerable
size irregular in need of external repair Through the middle of it ran a
great archway guarded by copies of the two Molossian hounds which stand before
the Hall of Animals in the Vatican beneath the arch on the righthand side
was the main entrance to the house If you passed straight through you came out
upon a terrace where grew a magnificent stonepine and some robust agaves The
view hence was uninterrupted embracing the line of the bay from Posillipo to
Cape Minerva From the parapet bordering the platform you looked over a descent
of twenty feet into a downward sloping vineyard Formerly the residence of an
old Neapolitan family the villa had gone the way of many such ancestral abodes
and was now let out among several tenants
The Spences were established here for the winter On the occasion of his
marriage three years ago Edward Spence relinquished his connection with a
shipping firm which he represented in Manchester and went to live in London a
year and a half later he took his wife to Italy where they had since remained
He was not wealthy but had means sufficient to his demands and prospects
Thinking for himself in most matters he chose to abandon moneymaking at the
juncture when most men deem it incumbent upon them to press their efforts in
that direction business was repugnant to him and he saw no reason why he
should sacrifice his own existence to put a possible family in more than easy
circumstances He had the inclinations of a student but was untroubled by any
desire to distinguish himself freedom from the demands of the office meant to
him the possibility of living where he chose and devoting to his books the best
part of the day instead of its fragmentary leisure His choice in marriage was
most happy Eleanor Spence had passed her maiden life in Manchester but with
parents of healthy mind and of more literature than generally falls to the lot
of a commercial family Pursuing a natural development she allied herself with
her husbands freedom of intellect and found her natures opportunities in the
life which was to him most suitable By a rare chance she was the
broaderminded of the two the more truly impartial Her emancipation from dogma
had been so gradual so unconfused by external pressure that from her present
standpoint she could look back with calmness and justice on all the stages she
had left behind With her cousin Miriam she could sympathize in a way impossible
to Spence who bythebye somewhat misrepresented his wife in the account he
gave to Mallard of their Sunday experiences Puritanism was familiar to her by
more than speculation in the compassion with which she regarded Miriam there
was no mixture of contempt as in her husbands case On the other hand she did
not pretend to read completely her cousins heart and mind she knew that there
was no simple key to Miriams character and the quiet study of its phases from
day to day deeply interested her
Cecily Doran had been known to Spence from childhood her father was his
intimate friend But Eleanor had only made the girls acquaintance in London
just after her marriage when Cecily was spending a season there with her aunt
Mrs Lessingham Mallards ward was then little more than fifteen after several
years of weak health she had entered upon a vigorous maidenhood and gave such
promise of free joyous aspiring life as could not but strongly affect the
sympathies of a woman like Eleanor Three years prior to that at the time of
her fathers death Cecily was living with Mrs Elgar a widow and her daughter
Miriam the latter on the point of marrying at eighteen one Mr Baske a
pietistic millowner aged fifty It then seemed very doubtful whether Cecily
would live to mature years she had been motherless from infancy and the
difficulty with those who brought her up was to repress an activity of mind
which seemed to be one cause of her bodily feebleness In those days there was a
strong affection between her and Miriam Elgar and it showed no sign of
diminution in either when on Mrs Elgars death a year and a half after
Miriams marriage Cecily passed into the care of her fathers sister a lady of
moderate fortune of parts and attainments and with a great love of
cosmopolitan life A few months more and Mrs Baske was to be a widow
childless left in possession of some eight hundred a year her house at
Bartles and a local importance to which she was not indifferent With the
exception of her brother away in London she had no near kin It would now have
been a great solace to her if Cecily Doran could have been her companion but
the young girl was in Paris or Berlin or St Petersburg and as Miriam was
soon to learn the material distance between them meant little in comparison
with the spiritual remoteness which resulted from Cecilys education under Mrs
Lessingham They corresponded however and at first frequently but letters
grew shorter on both sides and arrived less often The two were now to meet for
the first time since Cecily was a child of fourteen
The ladies arrived at the villa about eleven oclock Miriam had shown
herself indisposed to speak of them both last evening when Mallard was
present and again this morning when alone with her relatives at breakfast she
was even more taciturn than usual and kept her room for an hour after the meal
Then however she came to sit with Eleanor and remained when the visitors were
announced
Mrs Lessingham did not answer to the common idea of a strongminded woman
At fortyseven she preserved much natural grace of bearing a good complexion
pleasantly mobile features Her dress was in excellent taste tending to
elaboration such as becomes a lady who makes some figure in the world of ease
Little wrinkles at the outer corners of her eyes assisted her look of placid
thoughtfulness when she spoke these were wont to disappear and the expression
of her face became an animated intelligence an eager curiosity or a vivacious
goodhumour Her lips gave a hint of sarcasm but this was reserved for special
occasions as a rule her habit of speech was suave much observant of amenities
One might have imagined that she had enjoyed a calm life but this was far from
being the case The daughter of a country solicitor she married early for
love and the issue was disastrous Above her right temple just at the roots of
the hair a scar was discoverable it was the memento of an occasion on which
her husband aimed a blow at her with a mantelpiece ornament and came within an
ace of murder Intimates of the household said that the provocation was great
that Mrs Lessinghams gift of sarcasm had that morning displayed itself much
too brilliantly Still the missile was an extreme retort and on the whole it
could not be wondered at that husband and wife resolved to live apart in future
Mr Lessingham was in fact an aristocratic boor and his wife never puzzled so
much over any intellectual difficulty as she did over the question how as a
girl she came to imagine herself enamoured of him She was not perhaps
singular in her concernment with such a personal problem
»It is six years since I was in Italy« she said when greetings were over
and she had seated herself »Dont you envy me my companion Mrs Spence If
anything could revive ones first enjoyment it would be the sight of Cecilys«
Cecily was sitting by Miriam whose hand she had only just relinquished Her
anxious and affectionate inquiries moved Miriam to a smile which seemed rather
of indulgence than warm kindness
»How little we thought where our next meeting would be« Cecily was saying
when the eyes of the others turned upon her at her aunts remark
Noble beauty can scarcely be dissociated from harmony of utterance voice
and visage are the correspondent means whereby spirit addresses itself to the
ear and eye One who had heard Cecily Doran speaking where he could not see her
must have turned in that direction have listened eagerly for the sounds to
repeat themselves and then have moved forward to discover the speaker The
divinest singer may leave one unaffected by the tone of her speech Cecily could
not sing but her voice declared her of those who think in song whose minds are
modulated to the poetry not to the prose of life
Her enunciation had the peculiar finish which is acquired in intercourse
with the best cosmopolitan society the best in a worthy sense Four years ago
when she left Lancashire she had a touch of provincial accent Miriam though
she spoke well was not wholly free from it but now it was impossible to
discover by listening to her from what part of England she came Mrs
Lessingham whose admirable tact and adaptability rendered her unimpeachable in
such details had devoted herself with artistic zeal to her nieces training for
the world the pupils natural aptitude ensured perfection in the result
Cecilys manner accorded with her utterance it had every charm derivable from
youth yet nothing of immaturity She was as completely at her ease as Mrs
Lessingham and as much more graceful in her self as the advantages of nature
made inevitable
Miriam looked very cold very severe very English by the side of this
brilliant girl The thinness and pallor of her features became more noticeable
the provincial faults of her dress were painfully obvious Cecily was not
robust but her form lacked no development appropriate to her years and its
beauty was displayed by Parisian handiwork In this respect too she had
changed remarkably since Miriam last saw her when she was such a frail child
Her hair of dark gold showed itself beneath a hat which Eleanor Spence kept
regarding with frank admiration so novel it was in style and so perfectly
suitable to its wearer Her gloves her shoes were no less perfect from head
to foot nothing was to be found that did not become her that was not faultless
in its kind
At the same time nothing that suggested idle expense or vanity To dwell at
all upon the subject would be a disproportion but for the note of contrast that
was struck In an assembly of welldressed people no one would have remarked
Cecilys attire unless to praise its quiet distinction In the Spences
sittingroom it became another matter it gave emphasis to differences of
character it distinguished the atmosphere of Cecilys life from that breathed
by her old friends
»We are going to read together Goethes Italienische Reise« continued Mrs
Lessingham »It was of quite infinite value to me when I first was here In each
town I tuned my thoughts by it to use a phrase which sounds like affectation
but has a very real significance«
»It was much the same with me« observed Spence
»Yes but you had the inestimable advantage of knowing the classics And
Cecily I am thankful to say at least has something of Latin an ode of Horace
which I look at with fretfulness yields her its meaning Last night when I was
tired and willing to be flattered she tried to make me believe it was not yet
too late to learn«
»Surely not« said Eleanor gracefully
»But Goethe you remember he says that the desire to see Italy had become
an illness with him I know so well what that means Cecily will never know the
happiness has come before longing for it had ceased to be a pleasure«
It was not so much affection as pride that her voice expressed when she
referred to her niece the same in her look which was less tender than
gratified and admiring Cecily smiled in return but was not wholly attentive
her eyes constantly turned to Miriam endeavouring though vainly to exchange a
glance
Mrs Lessingham was well aware of the difficulty of addressing to Mrs Baske
any remark on natural topics which could engage her sympathy yet to ignore her
presence was impossible
»Do you think of seeing Rome and the northern cities when your health is
established« she inquired in a voice which skilfully avoided any presumption
of the reply »Or shall you return by sea«
»I am not a very good sailor« answered Miriam with sufficient suavity
»and I shall probably go back by land But I dont think I shall stop anywhere«
»It will be wiser no doubt« said Mrs Lessingham »to leave the rest of
Italy for another visit To see Naples first and then go north is very much
like taking dessert before ones substantial dinner Im a little sorry that
Cecily begins here but it was better to come and enjoy Naples with her friends
this winter I hope we shall spend most of our time in Italy for a year or two«
Conversation took its natural course and presently turned to the subject
inexhaustible at Naples of the relative advantages of this and that situation
for an abode Mrs Lessingham turning to the window expressed her admiration
of the view it afforded
»I think it is still better from Mrs Baskes sittingroom« said Eleanor
who had been watching Cecily and thought that she might be glad of an
opportunity of private talk with Miriam And Cecily at once availed herself of
the suggestion
»Would you let me see it Miriam« she asked »If it is not troublesome «
Miriam rose and they went out together In silence they passed along the
corridor and when they had entered her room Miriam walked at once to the
window Then she half turned and her eyes fell before Cecilys earnest gaze
»I did so wish to be with you in your illness« said the girl with
affectionate warmth »Indeed I would have come if I could have been of any use
After all the trouble you used to have with my wretched headaches and ailments
«
»You never have anything of the kind now« said Miriam with her indulgent
smile
»Never I am in what Mr Mallard calls aggressive health But it shocks me
to see how pale you still are Miriam I thought the voyage and these ten days
at Naples And you have such a careworn look Cannot you throw off your
troubles under this sky«
»You know that the sky matters very little to me Cecily«
»If I could give you only half my delight I was awake before dawn this
morning and it was impossible to lie still I dressed and stood at the open
window I couldnt see the sun itself as it rose but I watched the first beams
strike on Capri and the sea and I tried to make a drawing of the island as it
then looked a poor little daub but it will be precious in bringing back to
my mind all I felt when I was busy with it Such feeling I have never known as
if every nerve in me had received an exquisite new sense I keep saying to
myself Is this really Naples Let us go on to the balcony Oh you must be glad
with me«
Freed from the constraint of formal colloquy and overcoming the slight
embarrassment caused by what she knew of Miriams thoughts Cecily revealed her
nature as it lay beneath the graces with which education had endowed her This
enthusiasm was no new discovery to Miriam but in the early days it had attached
itself to far other things Cecily seemed to have forgotten that she was ever in
sympathy with the mood which imposed silence on her friend Her eyes drank light
from the landscape her beauty was transfigured by passionate reception of all
the influences this scene could exercise upon heart and mind She leaned on the
railing of the balcony and gazed until tears of ecstasy made her sight dim
»Let us see much of each other whilst we are here« she said suddenly
turning to Miriam »I could never have dreamt of our being together in Italy it
is a happy fate and gives me all kinds of hope We will be often alone together
in glorious places We will talk it over that is better than writing You shall
understand me Miriam You shall get as well and strong as I am and know what I
mean when I speak of the joy of living We shall be sisters again like we used
to be«
Miriam smiled and shook her head
»Tell me about things at home Is Miss Baske well«
»Quite well I have had two letters from her since I was here She wished me
to give you her love«
»I will write to her And is old Don still alive«
»Yes but very feeble poor old fellow He forgets even to be angry with the
bakers boy«
Cecily laughed with a moved playfulness
»He has forgotten me I dont like to be forgotten by any one who ever cared
for me«
There was a pause They came back into the room and Cecily with a look of
hesitation asked quietly
»Have you heard of late from Reuben«
Miriam with averted eyes answered simply »No« Again there was silence
until Cecily moving about the room came to the »St Cecilia«
»So my patron saint is always before you I am glad of that Where is the
original of this picture Miriam I forget«
»I never knew«
»Oh I wished to speak to you of Mr Mallard You met him yesterday Had you
much conversation«
»A good deal He dined with us«
»Did he I thought it possible And do you like him«
»I couldnt say until I knew him better«
»It isnt easy to know him I think« said Cecily in a reflective and
perfectly natural tone smiling thoughtfully »But he is a very interesting man
and I wish he would be more friendly with me I tried hard to win his confidence
on the journey from Genoa but I didnt seem to have much success I fancy«
she laughed »that he is still in the habit of regarding me as a little girl
who wouldnt quite understand him if he spoke of serious things When I wished
to talk of his painting he would only joke That annoyed me a little and I
tried to let him see that it did with the result that he refused to speak of
anything for a long time«
»What does Mr Mallard paint« Miriam asked half absently
»Landscape« was the reply given with veiled surprise »Did you never see
anything of his«
»I remember the Bradshaws have a picture by him in their diningroom They
showed it me when I was last in Manchester Im afraid I looked at it very
inattentively for it has never reentered my mind from that day to this But I
was ill at the time«
»His pictures are neglected« said Cecily »but people who understand them
say they have great value If he has anything accepted by the Academy it is
sure to be hung out of sight I think he is wrong to exhibit there at all
Academies are foolish things and always give most encouragement to the men who
are worth least When there is talk of such subjects I never lose an
opportunity of mentioning Mr Mallards name and telling all I can about his
work Some day I shall perhaps be able to help him I will insist on every
friend of mine who buys pictures at all possessing at least one of Mr
Mallards then perhaps he will condescend to talk with me of serious things«
She added the last sentence merrily meeting Miriams look with the frankest
eyes
»Does Mrs Lessingham hold the same opinion« Miriam inquired
»Oh yes Aunt of course knows far more about art than I do and she thinks
very highly indeed of Mr Mallard Not long ago she met M Lambert at a friends
house in Paris the French critic who has just been writing about English
landscape and he mentioned Mr Mallard with great respect That was splendid
wasnt it«
She spoke with joyous spiritedness However modern Cecily it was clear
had caught nothing of the disease of pococurantism Into whatever pleased her or
enlisted her sympathies she threw all the glad energies of her being The
scornful remark on the Royal Academy was one could see not so much a mere echo
of advanced opinion as a piece of championship in a friends cause The respect
with which she mentioned the name of the French critic her exultation in his
dictum were notes of a youthful idealism which interpreted the world nobly and
took its stand on generous beliefs
»Mr Mallard will help you to see Naples no doubt« said Miriam
»Indeed I wish he would But he distinctly told us that he has no time He
is going to Amalfi in a few days to work I begged him at least to go to
Pompeii with us but he frowned as he so often does and seemed unwilling to
be persuaded so I said no more There again I feel sure he was afraid of being
annoyed by trifling talk in such places But one mustnt judge an artist like
other men To be sure anything I could say or think would be trivial compared
with what is in his mind«
»But isnt it rather discourteous« Miriam observed impartially
»Oh I could never think of it in that way An artist is privileged he must
defend his time and his sensibilities The common terms of society have no
application to him Dont you feel that Miriam«
»I know so little of art and artists But such a claim seems to me very
strange«
Cecily laughed
»This is one of a thousand things we will talk about Art is the grandest
thing in the world it means everything that is strong and beautiful statues
pictures poetry music How could one live without art The artist is born a
prince among men What has he to do with the rules by which common people must
direct their lives Before long you will feel this as deeply as I do Miriam
We are in Italy Italy«
»Shall we go back to the others« Miriam suggested in a voice which
contrasted curiously with that exultant cry
»Yes it is time«
Cecilys eyes fell on the plans of the chapel which were still lying open
»What is this« she asked »Something in Naples Oh no«
»Its nothing« said Miriam carelessly »Come Cecily«
The visitors took their leave just as the midday cannon boomed from Sant
Elmo They had promised to come and dine in a day or two After their departure
Miriam showed as little disposition to make comments as she had to indulge in
expectation before their arrival Eleanor and her husband put less restraint
upon themselves
»Heavens« cried Spence when they were alone »what astounding capacity of
growth was in that child«
»She is a swift and beautiful creature« said Eleanor in a warm undertone
characteristic of her when she expressed admiration
»I wish I could have overheard the interview in Miriams room«
»I never felt more curiosity about anything Pity one is not a psychological
artist I should have stolen to the keyhole and committed eavesdropping with a
glow of selfapproval«
»I half understand our friend Mallard«
»So do I Ned«
They looked at each other and smiled significantly
That evening Spence again had a walk with the artist He returned to the
villa alone and only just in time to dress for dinner Guests were expected
Mr and Mrs Bradshaw of Manchester old acquaintances of the Spences and of
Miriam When it had become known that Mrs Baske advised to pass the winter in
a mild climate was about to accept an invitation from her cousin and go by sea
to Naples the Bradshaws to the astonishment of all their friends offered to
accompany her It was the first time that either of them had left England and
they seemed most unlikely people to be suddenly affected with a zeal for foreign
travel Miriam gladly welcomed their proposal and it was put into execution
When Spence entered the room his friends had already arrived Mr Bradshaw
stood in the attitude familiar to him when on his own hearthrug his back turned
to that part of the wall where in England would have been a fireplace and one
hand thrust into the pocket of his evening coat
»I tell you what it is Spence« he exclaimed »Im very much afraid I shall
be committing an assault Certainly I shall if I dont soon learn some good racy
Italian I must make out a little list of sentences and get you or Mrs Spence
to translate them Such as Do you take me for a fool or Be off you scoundrel
or Ill break every bone in your body Thats the kind of thing practically
needed in Naples I find«
»Been in conflict with coachmen again« asked Spence laughing
»Slightly Never got into such a helpless rage in my life Two fellows kept
up with me this afternoon for a couple of miles or so Now what makes me so mad
is the assumption of these blackguards that I dont know my own mind I go out
for a stroll and the first cabby I pass wants to take me to Pozzuoli or
Vesuvius or Jericho for aught I know Its no use showing him that I havent
the slightest intention of going to any such place What the deuce does the
fellow suppose he can persuade me or badger me into doing what Ive no mind to
do Does he take me for an ass Its the insult of the thing that riles me The
same if I look in at a shop window out rushes a gabbling swindler and wants to
drag me in «
»Only to take you in Mr Bradshaw« interjected Eleanor
»Good To take me in with a vengeance Why if Ive a mind to buy shant I
go in of my own accord And isnt it a sure and certain thing that I shall never
spend a halfpenny with a scoundrel who attacks me like that«
»How can you expect foreigners to reason Jacob« exclaimed Mrs Bradshaw
»You should take these things as compliments« remarked Spence »They see an
Englishman coming along and as a matter of course they consider him a person of
wealth and leisure who will be grateful to any one for suggesting how he can
kill time Having nothing in the world to do but enjoy himself why shouldnt
the English lord drive to Baiæ and back just to get an appetite«
»Lord eh« growled Mr Bradshaw rising on his toes and smiling with a
certain satisfaction
Threescore years all but two sat lightly on Jacob Bush Bradshaw His cheek
was ruddy his eyes had the lustre of health in the wrinkled forehead you saw
activity of brain and on his lips the stubborn independence of a Lancashire
employer of labour Prosperity had set its mark upon him that peculiarly
English prosperity which is so intimately associated with spotless linen with a
good cut of clothes with scant but valuable jewellery with the absence of any
perfume save that which suggests the morning tub He was a manufacturer of silk
The provincial accent notwithstanding his conversation on general subjects soon
declared him a man of logical mind and of much homely information A sufficient
selfesteem allied itself with his force of character but robust amiability
prevented this from becoming offensive he had the sense of humour and enjoyed
a laugh at himself as well as at other people Though his life had been absorbed
in the pursuit of solid gain he was no scorner of the attainments which lay
beyond his own scope and in these latter years now that the fierce struggle
was decided in his favour he often gave proof of a liberal curiosity With
regard to art and learning he had the intelligence to be aware of his own
defects where he did not enjoy he at least knew that he ought to have done so
and he had a suspicion that herein also progress could be made by stubborn
effort as in the material world Finding himself abroad he had set himself to
observe and learn with results now and then not a little amusing The
consciousness of wealth disposed him to intellectual generosity standing on so
firm a pedestal he did not mind admitting that others might have a wider
outlook Italy was an impecunious country personally and patriotically he had a
pleasure in recognizing the fact and this made it easier for him to concede the
points of superiority which he had heard attributed to her Jacob was rigidly
sincere he had no touch of the snobbery which shows itself in sham admiration
If he liked a thing he said so and strongly if he felt no liking where his
guidebook directed him to be enthusiastic he kept silence and cudgelled his
brains
Equally ingenuous was his wife but with results that argued a shallower
nature Mrs Bradshaw had the heartiest and frankest contempt for all things
foreign in Italy she deemed herself among a people so inferior to the English
that even to discuss the relative merits of the two nations would have been
ludicrous Life abroad she could not take as a serious thing it amused or
disgusted her as the case might be never occasioned her a grave thought The
proposal of this excursion when first made to her she received with mockery
when she saw that her husband meant something more than a joke she took time to
consider and at length accepted the notion as a freak which possibly would be
entertaining and might at all events be indulged after a lifetime of sobriety
Entertainment she found in abundance Though natural beauty made little if any
appeal to her she interested herself greatly in Vesuvius regarding it as a
seriocomic phenomenon which could only exist in a country inhabited by childish
triflers Her memory was storing all manner of Italian absurdities everything
being an absurdity which differed from English habit and custom to furnish her
with matter for mirthful talk when she got safely back to Manchester and
civilization With respect to the things which Jacob was constraining himself to
study antiquities sculptures paintings stored in the Naples museum her
attitude was one of jocose indifference or of halftolerant contempt Puritanism
diluted with worldliness and a measure of common sense directed her views of art
in general Works such as the Farnese Hercules and the group about the Bull she
looked upon much as she regarded the wallscribbling of some dirtyminded
urchin the robust matron is not horrified by such indecencies but to be sure
will not stand and examine them »Oh come along Jacob« she exclaimed to her
husband when at their first visit to the Museum he went to work at the
antiques with his Murray »Ive no patience you ought to be ashamed of
yourself«
The Bradshaws were staying at the pension selected by Mrs Lessingham
Naturally the conversation at dinner turned much on that lady and her niece
With Cecilys father Mr Bradshaw had been well acquainted but Cecily herself
he had not seen since her childhood and his astonishment at meeting her as Miss
Doran was great
»What kind of society do they live among« he asked of Spence »Tiptop
people I suppose«
»Not exactly what we understand by tiptop in England Mrs Lessinghams
family connections are aristocratic but she prefers the society of authors
artists that kind of thing«
»Queer people for a young girl to make friends of eh«
»Well theres Mallard for instance«
»Ah Mallard to be sure«
Mrs Bradshaw looked at her hostess and smiled knowingly
»Miss Doran is rather fond of talking about Mr Mallard« she remarked »Did
you notice that Miriam«
»Yes I did«
Jacob broke the silence
»How does he get on with his painting« he asked and it sounded very much
as though the reference were to a man busy on the front door
»Hes never likely to be very popular« replied Spence adapting his remarks
to the level of his guests understanding »There was something of his in this
years Academy and it sold at a tolerable price«
»That thing of his that I bought you remember I find people dont see
much in it They complain that the colours so dull But then as I always say
what else could you expect on a bit of Yorkshire moor in winter Is he going to
paint anything here Now if hed do me a bit of the bay with Vesuvius
smoking«
»That would be something like« assented Mrs Bradshaw
When the ladies had left the diningroom Mr Bradshaw over his cigarette
reverted to the subject of Cecily
»I suppose the lass has had a firstrate education«
»Of the very newest fashion for girls I am told she reads Latin«
»By Jove« cried the other with sudden animation »That reminds me of
something I wanted to talk about When I was leaving Manchester I got together
a few books you know that were likely to be useful over here My friend Lomax
the bookseller suggested them Got a classical dictionary says he Not I As
you know my schooling never went much beyond the three Rs and hanged if I
knew what a classical dictionary was Better take one says Lomax Youll want
to look up your gods and goddesses So I took it and Ive been looking into it
these last few days«
»Well«
Jacob had a comical look of perplexity and indignation He thumped the
table
»Do you mean to tell me thats the kind of stuff boys are set to learn at
school«
»A good deal of it comes in«
»Then all I can say is no wonder the colleges turn out such a lot of young
blackguards Why man I could scarcely believe my eyes You mean to say that
if Id had a son hed have been brought up on that kind of literature and
without me knowing anything about it Why Ive locked the book up I was
ashamed to let it lay on the table«
»Its the old Lemprière I suppose« said Spence vastly amused »The new
dictionaries are toned down a good deal they werent so squeamish in the old
days«
»But the lads still read the books these things come out of eh«
»Oh yes It has always been one of the most laughable inconsistencies in
English morality Anything you could find in the dictionary is milk for babes
compared with several Greek plays that have to be read for examinations«
»It fair caps me Spence Classical education that is eh Thats what
parsons are bred on And by the Lord you say theyre beginning it with girls«
»Very zealously«
»Nay «
Jacob threw up his arms and abandoned the effort to express himself
Later when the guests were gone Spence remembered this and to Eleanors
surprise he broke into uproarious laughter
»One of the best jokes I ever heard A fresh firsthand judgment on the
morality of the Classics by a plainminded English man of business« He told the
story »And Bradshaws perfectly right thats the best of it«
Chapter III
The BoardingHouse on the Mergellina
The year was 1878 A tourist searching his Baedeker for a genteel but not
oppressively aristocratic pension in the open parts of Naples would have found
himself directed by an asterisk to the establishment kept by Mrs Gluck on the
Mergellina frequented by English and Germans and very comfortable The
recommendation was a just one Mrs Gluck enjoyed the advantage of having lived
as many years in England as she had in Germany her predilections leaned if
anything to the English side and the arrival of a nice English family always
put her in excellent spirits She then exhibited herself as an Anglicized
matron perfectly familiar with all the requirements great and little of her
guests and when minutiæ were once settled capable of meeting ladies and
gentlemen on terms of equality in her drawingroom or at her table where she
always presided Indeed there was much true refinement in Mrs Gluck You had
not been long in her house before she found an opportunity of letting you know
that she prided herself on connection with the family of the great musician and
under her roof there was generally some one who played or sang well It was her
desire that all who sat at her dinnertable the English people at all events
should be in evening dress She herself had no little art in adorning herself
so as to appear what she was a lady and yet not to conflict with the ladies
whose presence honoured her
In the drawingroom a few days after the arrival of Mrs Lessingham and her
niece several members of the household were assembled in readiness for the
second dinnerbell There was Frau Wohlgemuth a middleaged lady with severe
brows utilizing spare moments over a German work on Greek sculpture Certain
plates in the book had caught the eye of Mrs Bradshaw with the result that she
regarded this innocent student as a person of most doubtful character who if
in ignorance admitted to a respectable boardinghouse should certainly have
been got rid of as soon as the nature of her reading had been discovered Frau
Wohlgemuth had once or twice been astonished at the severe look fixed upon her
by the buxom English lady but happily would never receive an explanation of
this silent animus Then there was Fräulein Kriel who had unwillingly incurred
even more of Mrs Bradshaws displeasure in that she an unmarried person had
actually looked over the volume together with its possessor not so much as
blushing when she found herself observed by strangers The remaining persons
were an English family a mother and three daughters their name Denyer
Mrs Denyer was florid vivacious and of a certain size She had seen much
of the world and prided herself on cosmopolitanism the one thing with which
she could not dispense was intellectual society This would be her second winter
at Naples but she gave her acquaintances to understand that Italy was by no
means the country of her choice she preferred the northern latitudes because
there the intellectual atmosphere was more bracing But for her daughters sake
she abode here »You know my girls adore Italy«
Of these young ladies the two elder Barbara and Madeline were their
seductive names had good looks Barbara perhaps twentytwo years old was
rather colourless somewhat too slim altogether a trifle limp but she had a
commendable taste in dress Madeline a couple of years younger presented a
more healthy physique and a less common comeliness but in the matter of costume
she lacked her sisters discretion Her colours were illmatched her ornaments
awkwardly worn even her hair sought more freedom than was consistent with
grace The youngest girl Zillah who was about nineteen had been less kindly
dealt with by nature like Barbara she was of very light complexion and this
accentuated her plainness She aimed at no compensation in attire unless it
were that her sober garments exhibited perfect neatness and complete
inoffensiveness Zillahs was a good face in spite of its unattractive
features she had a peculiarly earnest look a reflective manner and much
conscientiousness of speech
Common to the three was a resolve to be modern advanced and emancipated
or perish in the attempt Every one who spoke with them must understand that
they were no everyday young ladies imbued with notions and prejudices
recognized as feminine frittering away their lives amid the follies of the
drawingroom and of the circulating library Culture was their pursuit
heterodoxy their pride If indeed it were true as Mrs Bradshaw somewhat
acrimoniously declared that they were all desperately bent on capturing
husbands then assuredly the poor girls went about their enterprise with
singular lack of prudence
Each had her rôle Barbaras was to pose as the adorer of Italy the
enthusiastic glorifier of Italian unity She spoke Italian feebly but with
English people never lost an opportunity of babbling its phrases Speak to her
of Rome and before long she was sure to murmur rapturously »Roma capitale
dItalia« the watchword of antipapal victory Of English writers she loved
or affected to love those only who had found inspiration south of the Alps The
proud mother repeated a story of Barbaras going up to the wall of Casa Guidi
and kissing it In her view the modern Italians could do no wrong they were
divinely regenerate She praised their architecture
Madeline whom her sisters addressed affectionately as Mad professed a
wider intellectual scope less given to the melting mood than Barbara less
naïve in her enthusiasms she took for her province æsthetic criticism in its
totality and shone rather in censure than in laudation French she read
passably German she had talked so much of studying that it was her belief she
had acquired it Greek and Latin were beyond her scope but from modern
essayists who wrote in the flamboyant style she had gathered enough knowledge of
these literatures to be able to discourse of them with a very fluent inaccuracy
With all schools of painting she was of course quite familiar the great
masters vulgarly so known interested her but moderately and to praise them
was in her eyes to incur a suspicion of philistinism From her preceptors in
this sphere she had learnt certain names old and new which stood for more
exquisite virtues and the frequent mention of them with a happy vagueness made
her conversation very impressive to the generality of people The same in music
It goes without saying that Madeline was an indifferentist in politics and on
social questions at the introduction of such topics she smiled
Zillahs position was one of more difficulty With nothing of her sisters
superficial cleverness with a mind that worked slowly and a memory
irretentive she had a genuine desire to instruct herself and that in a solid
way She alone studied with real persistence and by the irony of fate she
alone continually exposed her ignorance committed gross blunders was guilty of
deplorable lapses of memory Her unhappy lot kept her in a constant state of
nervousness and shame She had no worldly tact no command of her modest
resources yet her zeal to support the credit of the family was always driving
her into hurried speech sure to end in some disastrous pitfall Conscious of
æsthetic defects Zillah had chosen for her speciality the study of the history
of civilization But for being a Denyer she might have been content to say that
she studied history and in that case her life might also have been solaced by
the companionship of readable books but as modernism would have it she could
not be content to base her historical inquiries on anything less than strata of
geology and biological elements with the result that she toiled day by day at
perky little primers and compendia and only learnt one chapter that it might be
driven out of her head by the next Equally out of deference to her sisters she
smothered her impulses to conventional piety and made believe that her
spiritual life supported itself on the postulates of science As a result of all
which the poor girl was not very happy but in that again did she not give
proof of belonging to her time
There existed a Mr Denyer but this gentleman was very seldom indeed in the
bosom of his family Letters and remittances came from him from the most
surprising quarters of the globe His profession was that of speculator at
large and with small encouragement of any kind he toiled unceasingly to
support his wife and daughters in their elegant leisure At one time he was
eagerly engaged in a project for making starch from potatoes in the south of
Ireland When this failed he utilized a knowledge of Spanish casually picked
up like all his acquirements and was next heard of at Vera Cruz where he
dealt in cochineal indigo sarsaparilla and logwood Yellow fever interfered
with his activity and after a brief sojourn with his family in the United
States where they had joined him with the idea of making a definite settlement
he heard of something promising in Egypt and thither repaired A spare
vivacious pathetically sanguine man always speaking of the day when he would
settle down in enjoyment of a moderate fortune and most obviously doomed never
to settle at all save in the final home of mortality
Mrs Lessingham and her niece entered the room On Cecily as usual all
eyes were more or less openly directed Her evening dress was simple though
with the simplicity not to be commanded by every one who wills and her
demeanour very far from exacting general homage but her birthright of
distinction could not be laid aside and the suave Mrs Gluck was not singular
in recognizing that here was such a guest as did not every day grace her
pension Barbara and Madeline Denyer never looked at her without secret pangs
In appearance however they were very friendly and Cecily had met their
overtures from the first with the simple goodwill natural to her She went and
seated herself by Madeline who had on her lap a little portfolio
»These are the drawings of which I spoke« said Madeline half opening the
portfolio
»Mr Marshs Oh I shall be glad to see them«
»Of course we ought to have daylight but well look at them again
tomorrow You can form an idea of their character«
They were small watercolours the work as each declared in fantastic
signature of one Clifford Marsh spoken of by the Denyers and by Madeline in
particular as a personal friend He was expected to arrive any day in Naples
The subjects Cecily had been informed were natural scenery the style
impressionist Impressionism was no novel term to Cecily and in Paris she had
had her attention intelligently directed to good work in that kind she knew of
course that like every other style it must be judged with reference to its
success in achieving the end proposed But the first glance at the first of Mr
Marshs productions perplexed her A study on the Roman Campagna said Madeline
It might just as well for all Cecily could determine have been a study of
cloudforms or of a storm at sea or of anything or of nothing nor did there
seem to be any cogent reason why it should be looked at one way up rather than
the other Was this genius or impudence
»You dont know the Campagna yet« remarked Madeline finding that the
other kept silence »Of course you cant appreciate the marvellous truthfulness
of this impression but it gives you new emotions doesnt it«
Mrs Lessingham would have permitted herself to reply with a pointed
affirmative Cecily was too considerate of others feelings for that yet had
not the habit of smooth falsehood
»I am not very familiar with this kind of work« she said »Please let me
just look and think and tell me your own thoughts about each«
Madeline was not displeased Already she had discovered that in most
directions Miss Doran altogether exceeded her own reach and that it was not
safe to talk conscious nonsense to her The tone of modesty seemed unaffected
and as Madeline had reasons for trying to believe in Clifford Marsh it
gratified her to feel that here at length she might tread firmly and hold her
own The examination of the drawings proceeded with the result that Cecilys
original misgiving was strongly confirmed What would Ross Mallard say
Mallards own work was not of the impressionist school and he might suffer
prejudice to direct him but she had a conviction of how his remarks would sound
were this portfolio submitted to him Genius scarcely And if not then
assuredly the other thing and that in flagrant degree
Most happily the dinnerbell came with its peremptory interruption
»I must see them again tomorrow« said Cecily in her pleasantest voice
At table the ladies were in a majority Mr Bradshaw was the only man past
middle life Next in age to him came Mr Musselwhite who looked about forty
and whose aquiline nose high forehead light bushy whiskers and air of vacant
satisfaction marked him as the aristocrat of the assembly This gentleman
suffered under a truly aristocratic affliction the everreviving difficulty of
passing his day Mild in demeanour easy in the discharge of petty social
obligations perfectly inoffensive he came and went like a vivified statue of
gentlemanly ennui Every morning there arrived for him a consignment of English
newspapers these were taken to his bedroom at nine oclock together with a cup
of chocolate They presumably occupied him until he appeared in the
drawingroom just before the hour of luncheon when in spite of the freshness
of his morning attire he seemed already burdened by the blank of time always
sitting down to the meal with an audible sigh of gratitude Invariably he
addressed to his neighbour a remark on the direction of the smoke from Vesuvius
If the neighbour happened to be uninformed in things Neapolitan Mr Musselwhite
seized the occasion to explain at length the meteorologic significance of these
varying fumes Luncheon over he rose like one who is summoned to a painful
duty in fact the great task of the day was before him the struggle with time
until the hour of dinner You would meet him sauntering sadly about the gardens
of the Villa Nazionale often looking at his watch which he always regulated by
the cannon of Sant Elmo or gazing with lacklustre eye at a shopwindow in the
Toledo or sitting with a little glass of Marsala before him in one of the
fashionable cafés sunk in despondency But when at length he appeared at the
dinnertable once more fresh from his toilet then did a gleam of animation
transform his countenance for the victory was won yet again was old time
defeated Then he would discourse his best Two topics were his the weather
and my brother the baronets place in Lincolnshire The manner of his monologue
on this second and more fruitful subject was really touching When so fortunate
as to have a new listener he began by telling him or her that he was his
fathers fourth son and consequently third brother to Sir Grant Musselwhite
who goes in so much for modelfarming you know At the hereditary place in
Lincolnshire he had spent the bloom of his life which he now looked back upon
with tender regrets He did not mention the fact that at the age of
fiveandtwenty he had been beguiled from that Arcadia by wily persons who took
advantage of his innocent youth who initiated him into the metropolitan
mysteries which sadden the soul and deplete the pocket who finally abandoned
him upon the shoal of a youngest brothers allowance when his father passed away
from the place in Lincolnshire and young Sir Grant reigning in the old
baronets stead deemed himself generous in making the family scapegrace any
provision at all Yet such were the outlines of Mr Musselwhites history Had
he been the commonplace spendthrift one knows pretty well on what lines his
subsequent life would have run but poor Mr Musselwhite was at heart a domestic
creature Exiled from his home he wandered in melancholy year after year
round a circle of continental resorts never seeking relief in dissipation
never discovering a rational pursuit imagining to himself that he atoned for
the disreputable past in keeping far from the track of his distinguished
relatives
Ah that place in Lincolnshire To the listeners mind it became one of the
most imposing of English ancestral abodes The house was of indescribable
magnitude and splendour It had a remarkable turret whence across many miles
of plain Lincoln Cathedral could be discovered by the naked eye it had an
interminable drive from the lodge to the stately portico it had gardens of
fabulous fertility it had stables which would have served a cavalry regiment
In what region were the kine of Sir Grant Musselwhite unknown to fame Who had
not heard of his dairyproduce Three stories was Mr Musselwhite in the habit
of telling scintillating fragments of his blissful youth one was of a foxcub
and a terrier another of a heifer that went mad the third and the most
thrilling of a dismissed coachman who turned burglar and in the dead of night
fired shots at old Sir Grant and his sons In relating these anecdotes his eye
grew moist and his throat swelled
Mr Musselwhites place at table was next to Barbara Denyer So long as Miss
Denyer was new or comparatively new to her neighbours reminiscences all went
well between them Barbara condescended to show interest in the place in
Lincolnshire she put pertinent questions she smiled or looked appropriately
serious in listening to the three stories But this could not go on
indefinitely and for more than a week now conversation between the two had been
a trying matter For Mr Musselwhite to sustain a dialogue on such topics as
Barbara had made her own was impossible and he had no faculty even for the
commonest kind of impersonal talk He devoted himself to his dinner in amiable
silence enjoying the consciousness that nearly an hour of occupation was before
him and that bedtime lay at no hopeless distance
Moreover there was a boy yet it is doubtful whether he should be so
described for though he numbered rather less than sixteen years experience
had already made him blasé He sat beside his mother a Mrs Strangwich For
Master Strangwich the ordinary sources of youthful satisfaction did not exist
he talked with the mature on terms of something more than equality and always
gave them the impression that they had still much to learn This objectionable
youth had long since been everywhere and seen everything The naïveté of finding
pleasure in novel circumstances moved him to a pitying surprise Speak of the
glories of the Bay of Naples and he would remark with hands in pockets and
head thrown back that he thought a good deal more of the Golden Horn If
climate came up for discussion he gave an impartial vote based on much
personal observation in favour of Southern California His parents belonged to
the race of modern nomads those curious beings who are reviving an early stage
of civilization as an ingenious expedient for employing money and time which
they have not intelligence enough to spend in a settled habitat It was already
noticed in the pension that Master Strangwich paid somewhat marked attentions to
Madeline Denyer there was no knowing what might come about if their
acquaintance should be prolonged for a few weeks
But Madeline had at present something else to think about than the
condescending favour of Master Strangwich As the guests entered the
diningroom Mrs Gluck informed Mrs Denyer that the English artist who was
looked for had just arrived and would in a few minutes join the company »Mr
Marsh is here« said Mrs Denyer aloud to her daughters in a tone of no
particular satisfaction Madeline glanced at Miss Doran who however did not
seem to have heard the remark
And whilst the guests were still busy with their soup Mr Clifford Marsh
presented himself Within the doorway he stood for a moment surveying the room
with placid eye he selected Mrs Denyer and approached her just to shake hands
her three daughters received from him the same attention Words Mr Marsh had
none but he smiled as smiles the man conscious of attracting merited
observation Indeed it was impossible not to regard Mr Marsh with curiosity
His attire was very conventional in itself but somehow did not look like the
evening uniform of common men it sat upon him with an artistic freedom and
seemed the garb of a man superior to his surroundings The artist was slight
pale rather feminine of feature he had delicate hands which he managed to
display to advantage his auburn hair was not long behind as might have been
expected but rolled in a magnificent mass upon his brows Many were the
affectations whereby his countenance rendered itself unceasingly interesting At
times he wrinkled his forehead down the middle and then smiled at vacancy a
humorous sadness or his eyes became very wide as he regarded yet appeared not
to see some particular person or his lips drew themselves in a symbol of
meaning reticence All this moreover not in such degrees as to make him
patently ridiculous by no means Mr and Mrs Bradshaw might exchange frequent
glances and have a difficulty in preserving decorum but they were
unsophisticated Mrs Lessingham smiled indeed when there came a reasonable
pretext but not contemptuously Mr Marshs aspect if anything pleased her
she liked these avoidances of the commonplace Cecily did not fail to inspect
the new arrival She too was well aware that hatred of vulgarity constrains many
persons who are anything but fools to emphasize their being in odd ways and it
might still in spite of the impressionist watercolours be proved that Mr
Marsh had a right to vary from the kindly race of men She hoped he was really a
person of some account it delighted her to be with such And then she suspected
that Madeline Denyer had something more than friendship for Mr Marsh and her
sympathies were moved
»What sort of weather did you leave in England« Mrs Denyer inquired when
the artist was seated next to her
»I came away from London on the third day of absolute darkness« replied Mr
Marsh genially
»Oh dear« exclaimed Mrs Gluck and at once translated this news for the
benefit of Frau Wohlgemuth who murmured »Ach« and shook her head
»The fog is even yet in my throat« proceeded the artist to whom most of
the guests were listening »I can still see nothing but lurid patches of
gaslight on a background of solid mephitic fume There are fine effects to be
caught theres no denying it but not every man has the requisite physique for
such studies As I came along here from the railwaystation it occurred to me
that the Dante story might have been repeated in my case the Neapolitans should
have pointed at me and whispered Behold the man who has been in hell«
Cecily was amused she looked at Madeline and exchanged a friendly glance
with her At the same time she was becoming aware that Mr Marsh who sat
opposite vouchsafed her the homage of his gaze rather too frequently and
persistently It was soon manifest to her moreover that Madeline had noted the
same thing and not with entire equanimity So Cecily began to converse with
Mrs Lessingham and no longer gave heed to the artists utterances
She was going to spend an hour with Miriam this evening without express
invitation Mr Bradshaw would drive up the hill with her and doubtless Mr
Spence would see her safely home Thus she saw no more for the present of the
Denyers friend
Those ladies had a private sittingroom and thither in the course of the
evening Clifford Marsh repaired Barbara and Zillah with their mother
remained in the drawingroom On opening the door to which he had been directed
Marsh found Madeline bent over a book She raised her eyes carelessly and said
»Oh I hoped it was Barbara«
»I will tell her at once that you wish to speak to her«
»Dont trouble«
»No trouble at all«
He turned away and at once Madeline rose impatiently from her chair
speaking with peremptory accent
»Please do as I request you Come and sit down«
Marsh obeyed and more than obeyed He kicked a stool close to her dropped
upon it with one leg curled underneath him and leaned his head against her
shoulder Madeline remained passive her features still showing the resentment
his manner had provoked
»Ive come all this way just to see you Mad when Ive no right to be here
at all«
»Why no right«
»I told you to prepare yourself for bad news«
»Thats a very annoying habit of yours I hate to be kept in suspense in
that way Why cant you always say at once what you mean Father does the same
thing constantly in his letters Im sure weve quite enough anxiety from him I
dont see why you should increase it«
Without otherwise moving he put his arm about her
»What is it Clifford Tell me and be quick«
»Its soon told Mad My stepfather informs me that he will continue the
usual allowance until my twentysixth birthday eighteenth of February next
yon know and no longer than that After then I must look out for myself«
Madeline wrinkled her brows
»Whats the reason« she asked after a pause
»The old trouble He says Ive had quite long enough to make my way as an
artist if Im going to make it at all In his opinion I am simply wasting my
time and his money No cash results that is to say no success Of course his
view«
The girl kept silence Marsh shifted his position slightly so as to get a
view of her face
»Somebody elses too Im half afraid« he murmured dubiously
Madeline was thinking of a look she had caught on Miss Dorans face when the
portfolio disclosed its contents of Miss Dorans silence of certain other
persons looks and silence or worse than silence The knitting of her brows
became deeper Marsh felt an uneasy movement in her frame
»Speak plainly« he said »Its far better«
»Its very hot Clifford Sit on a chair we can talk better«
»I understand«
He moved a little away from her and looked round the room with a smile of
disillusion
»You neednt insult me« said Madeline but not with the former petulance
»Often enough you have done that and yet I dont think I have given you cause«
Still crouching upon the stool he clasped his hands over his knee jerked
his head back a frequent movement to settle his hair and smiled with
increase of bitterness
»I meant no insult« he said »either now or at other times though you are
always ready to interpret me in that way I merely hint at the truth which
would sound disagreeable in plain terms«
»You mean of course that I think of nothing have never thought of
anything but your material prospects«
»Why didnt you marry me a year ago Mad«
»Because I should have been mad indeed to have done so You admit it would
have caused your step at once to stop his allowance And pray what would have
become of us«
»Exactly See your faith in me brought to the touchstone«
»I suppose the present day would have seen you as it now does«
»Yes if you had embarrassed me with lack of confidence Decidedly not if
you had been to me the wife an artist needs My future has lain in your power to
make or mar You have chosen to keep me in perpetual anxiety and now you take a
suitable opportunity to overthrow me altogether or rather you try to We will
see how things go when I am free to pursue my course untroubled«
»Do so by all manner of means« exclaimed Madeline her voice trembling
»Perhaps I shall prove to have been your friend in this way at all events As
your wife in London lodgings on the third floor I confess it is very unlikely I
should have aided you I havent the least belief in projects of that kind At
best you would have been forced into some kind of paltry work just to support
me and where would be the good of our marriage You know perfectly well that
lots of men have been degraded in this way They take a wife to be their Muse
and she becomes the millstone about their neck then they hate her and I dont
blame them Whats the good of saying one moment that you know your work can
never appeal to the multitude and the next affecting to believe that our
marriage would make you miraculously successful«
»Then it would have been better to part before this«
»No doubt as it turns out«
»Why do you speak bitterly I am stating an obvious fact«
»If I remember rightly you had some sort of idea that the fact of our
engagement might help you That didnt seem to me impossible It is a very
different thing from marriage on nothing a year«
»You have no faith in me you never had And how could you believe in what
you dont understand I see now what I have been forced to suspect that your
character is just as practical as that of other women Your talk of art is
nothing more than talk You think in truth of pounds shillings and pence«
»I think of them a good deal« said Madeline »and I should be an idiot if I
didnt What is art if the artist has nothing to live on Pray what are you
going to do henceforth Shall you scorn the mention of pounds shillings and
pence Come to see me when you have had no dinner today and are feeling very
uncertain about breakfast in the morning and I will say Pooh your talk about
art was after all nothing but talk you are a sham«
Marshs leg began to ache He rose and moved about the room Madeline at
length turned her eyes to him he was brooding genuinely and not for effect
Her glance discerned this
»Well and what are you going to do in fact« she asked
»Im hanged if I know Mad and theres the truth«
He turned and regarded her with wide eyes seriously perceptive of a blank
horizon
»Ive asked him to let me have half the money but he refuses even that His
object is of course to compel me into the life of a Philistine I believe the
fellow thinks its kindness I know my mother does She of course has as
little faith in me as you have«
Madeline did not resent this She regarded the floor for a minute and
without raising her eyes said
»Come here Clifford«
He approached Still without raising her eyes she again spoke
»Do you believe in yourself«
The words were impressive Marsh gave a start uttered an impatient sound
and half turned away
»Do you believe in yourself Clifford«
»Of course I do« came from him blusterously
»Very well In that case struggle on If you care for the kind of help you
once said I could give you I will try to give it still Paint something that
will sell and go on with the other work at the same time«
»Something that will sell« he exclaimed with disgust »I cant so theres
an end of it«
»And an end of your artist life it seems to me Unless you have any other
plan«
»I wondered whether you could suggest any«
Madeline shook her head slowly They both brooded in a cheerless way When
the girl again spoke it was in an undertone as if not quite sure that she
wished to be heard
»I had rather you were an artist than anything else Clifford«
Marsh decided not to hear He thrust his hands deeper into his pockets and
trod about the floor heavily Madeline made another remark
»I suppose the kind of work that is proposed for you would leave you no
time for art«
»Pooh of course not Who was ever Philistine and artist at the same time«
»Well its a bad job I wish I could help you I wish I had money«
»If you had I shouldnt benefit by it« was the exasperated reply
»Will you please to do what you were going to do at first and tell Barbara
I wish to speak to her«
»Yes I will«
His temper grew worse In his weakness he really had thought it likely that
Madeline would suggest something hopeful Men of his stamp constantly entertain
unreasonable expectations and are angry when the unreason is forced upon their
consciousness
»One word before you go please« said Madeline standing up and speaking
with emphasis »After what you said just now this is of course our last
interview of this kind When we meet again and I think it would be gentlemanly
in you to go and live somewhere else you are Mr Marsh and I if you please
am Miss Denyer«
»I will bear it in mind«
»Thank you« He still lingered near the door »Be good enough to leave me«
He made an effort and left the room When the door had closed Madeline
heaved a deep sigh and was for some minutes in a brown if not a black study
Then she shivered a little sighed again and again took up the volume she had
been reading It was Daudets »Les Femmes dArtistes«
Not long after all the Denyers were reunited in their sittingroom Mrs
Denyer had brought up an open letter
»From your father again« she said addressing the girls conjointly »I am
sure he wears me out This is worse than the last The fact of the matter is I
must warn you very seriously that I cant supply you with as much as I have been
doing I repeat that I am serious this time Its a horrible bore and a good
deal worse than a bore If I could keep your remittances the same by doing on
less myself I would but theres no possibility of that I shall be in
Alexandria in ten days and perhaps Colossi will have some money for me but I
cant count on it Things have gone deuced badly and are likely to go even
worse as far as I can see Do think about getting less expensive quarters I
wish to heaven poor little Mad could get married Hasnt Marsh any prospects
yet«
»Thats all at an end« remarked Madeline interrupting »Weve just come to
an understanding«
Mrs Denyer stared
»Youve broken off«
»Mr Marshs allowance is to be stopped His prospects are worse than ever
Whats the good of keeping up our engagement«
There was a confused colloquy between all four Barbara shrugged her fair
shoulders Zillah looked very gravely and pitifully at Madeline Madeline
herself seemed the least concerned
»I wont have this« cried Mrs Denyer finally »His stepfather is willing
to give him a position in business and he must accept it then the marriage can
be soon«
»The marriage will decidedly not be soon mother« replied Madeline
haughtily »I shall judge for myself in this at all events«
»You are a silly emptyheaded girl« retorted her mother with swelling
bosom and reddening face »You have quarrelled on some simpletons question no
doubt He will accept his stepfathers offer we know that well enough He
ought to have done so a year ago and our difficulties would have been
lightened Your father means what he says«
»Wolf« cried Barbara petulantly
»Well I can see that the wolf has come at last in good earnest My girl
youll have to become more serious Barbara you at all events cannot afford to
trifle«
»I am no trifler« cried the enthusiast for Italian unity and regeneracy
»Let us have proof of that then« Mrs Denyer looked at her meaningly
»Mother« said Zillah earnestly »do let me write to Mrs Stonehouse and
beg her to find me a place as nursery governess I can manage that I feel
sure«
»Ill think about it dear But Madeline I insist on your putting an end
to this ridiculous state of things You will order him to take the position
offered«
»Mother I can do nothing of the kind If necessary Ill go for a governess
as well«
Thereupon Zillah wept protesting that such desecration was impossible The
scene prolonged itself to midnight On the morrow with the exception of Mrs
Denyers resolve to subdue Marsh all was forgotten and the Denyer family
pursued their old course putting off decided action until there should come
another cry of Wolf
Chapter IV
Miriams Brother
But for the aid of his wifes more sympathetic insight Edward Spence would have
continued to interpret Miriams cheerless frame of mind as a mere result of
impatience at being removed from the familiar scenes of her religious activity
and of disquietude amid uncongenial surroundings »A Puritan at Naples« that
was the phrase which represented her to his imagination his liking for the
picturesque and suggestive led him to regard her solely in that light No strain
of modern humanitarianism complicated Miriams character One had not to take
into account a possible melancholy produced by the contrast between her life of
ease in the South and the squalor of laborious multitudes under a sky of
millsmoke and English fog Of the new philanthropy she spoke if at all with
angry scorn holding it to be based on rationalism radicalism positivism or
whatsoever name embodied the conflict between the children of this world and the
children of light Far from Miriam any desire to abolish the misery which was
among the divinelyappointed conditions of this preliminary existence No she
was uncomfortable and content that others should be so for discomforts sake
It fretted her that the Sunday in Naples could not be as universally dolorous as
it was at Bartles It revolted her to hear happy voices in a country abandoned
to heathendom
»Whenever I see her looking at old Vesuvius« said Spence to Eleanor his
eye twinkling »I feel sure that she muses on the possibility of another
tremendous outbreak She regards him in a friendly way he is the minister of
vengeance«
Eleanors discernment was not long in bringing her to a modification of this
estimate
»I am convinced Ned that her thoughts are not so constantly at Bartles as
we imagine In any case I begin to understand what she suffers from most It is
want of occupation for her mind She is crushed with ennui«
»This is irreverence As well attribute ennui to the Prophet Jeremiah
meditating woes to come«
»I allow you your joke but I am right for all that She has nothing to
think about that profoundly interests her her books are all but as sapless to
her as to you or me She is sinking into melancholia«
»But my dear girl the chapel«
»She only pretends to think of it Miriam is becoming a hypocrite I have
noted several little signs of it since Cecily came She poses and in
wretchedness Please to recollect that her age is fourandtwenty«
»I do so frequently and marvel at human nature«
»I do so and without marvelling at all for I see human nature justifying
itself Ill tell you what I am going to do I shall propose to her to begin and
read Dante«
»The Inferno Why yes«
»And I shall craftily introduce to her attention one or two wicked and
worldly little books such as The Improvisatore and the Golden Treasury and
so on Any such attempts at first would have been premature but I think the
time has come«
Miriam knew no language but her own and Eleanor by no means purposed
inviting her to a course of grammar and exercise She herself with her
husbands assistance had learned to read Italian in the only rational way for
matureminded persons simply taking the text and a close translation and
glancing from time to time at a skeleton accidence This of course will not do
in the case of fools but Miriam Baske all appearances notwithstanding did not
belong to that category On hearing her cousins proposition she at first
smiled coldly but she did not reject it and in a day or two they had made a
fair beginning of the Inferno Such a beginning indeed as surprised Eleanor
who was not yet made aware that Miriam worked at the book in private with
feverish energy drank at the fountain like one perishing of thirst Andersens
exquisite story was not so readily accepted yet this too before long showed a
bookmarker And Miriams countenance brightened she could not conceal this
effect Her step was a little lighter and her speech became more natural
A relapse was to be expected it came at the bidding of sirocco One morning
the heavens lowered grey rolling it might have been England Vesuvius
heavily laden at first with a cloud like that on Olympus when the gods are
wrathful by degrees passed from vision withdrew its form into recesses of dun
mists The angry blue of Capri faded upon a troubled blending of sea and sky
everywhere the horizon contracted and grew mournful rain began to fall
Miriam sank as the heavens darkened The strength of which she had lately
been conscious forsook her all her body was oppressed with languor her mind
miserably void No book made appeal to her and the sight of those which she had
brought from home was intolerable She lay upon a couch her limbs torpid
burdensome Eleanors company was worse than useless
»Please leave me alone« she said at length »The sound of your voice
irritates me«
An hour went by and no one disturbed her mood Her languor was on the
confines of sleep when a knock at the door caused her to stir impatiently and
half raise herself It was her maid who entered holding a note
»A gentleman has called maam He wished me to give you this«
Miriam glanced at the address and at once stood up only her pale face
witnessing the lack of energy of a moment ago
»Is he waiting«
»Yes maam«
The note was of two or three lines »Will you let me see you Of course I
mean alone Its a long time since we saw each other RE«
»I will see him in this room«
The footstep of the maid as she came back along the tiled corridor was
accompanied by one much heavier Miriam kept her eyes turned to the door her
look was of pained expectancy and of sternness She stood close by the window
as if purposely drawing as far away as possible The visitor was introduced and
the door closed behind him
He too stood still as far from Miriam as might be His age seemed to be
seven or eightandtwenty and the cast of his features so strongly resembled
Miriams that there was no doubt of his being her brother Yet he had more
beauty as a man than she as a woman Her traits were in him developed so as to
lose severity and attain a kind of vigour which at first sight promised a rich
and generous nature his excellent forehead and dark imaginative eyes indicated
a mind anything but likely to bear the trammels in which Miriam had grown up In
the attitude with which he waited for his sister to speak there was both pride
and shame his look fell before hers but the constrained smile on his lips was
one of selfesteem at issue with adversity He wore the dress of a gentleman
but it was disorderly His light overcoat hung unbuttoned and in his hand he
crushed together a hat of soft felt
»Why have you come to see me Reuben« Miriam asked at length speaking with
difficulty and in an offended tone
»Why shouldnt I Miriam« he returned quietly steping nearer to her »Till
a few days ago I knew nothing of the illness you have had or I should at all
events have written When I heard you had come to Naples I well I followed
I might as well be here as anywhere else and I felt a wish to see you«
»Why should you wish to see me What does it matter to you whether I am well
or ill«
»Yes it matters though of course you find it hard to believe«
»Very when I remember the words with which you last parted from me If I
was hateful to you then how am I less so now«
»A man in anger and especially one of my nature often says more than he
means It was never you that were hateful to me though your beliefs and your
circumstances might madden me into saying such a thing«
»My beliefs as I told you then are a part of myself are myself«
She said it with irritable insistence an accent which would doubtless have
been significant in the ears of Eleanor Spence
»I dont wish to speak of that Have you recovered your health Miriam«
»I am better«
He came nearer again throwing his hat aside
»Will you let me sit down Ive had a long journey in thirdclass and I
feel tired Such weather as this doesnt help to make me cheerful I imagined
Naples with a rather different sky«
Miriam motioned towards a chair and looked drearily from the window at the
dreary sea Neither spoke again for two or three minutes Reuben Elgar surveyed
the room but inattentively
»What is it you want of me« Miriam asked facing him abruptly
»Want You hint that I have come to ask you for money«
»I shouldnt have thought it impossible If you were in need you spoke of
a thirdclass journey I am at all events the natural person for your
thoughts to turn to«
Reuben laughed dispiritedly
»No no Miriam I havent quite got to that You are the very last person I
should think of in such a case«
»Why«
»Simply because I am not quite so contemptible as you think me I dont
quarrel with my sister and come back after some years to make it up just
because I want to make a demand on her purse«
»You havent accustomed me to credit you with high motives Reuben«
»No And I have never succeeded in making you understand me I suppose its
hopeless that you ever will We are too different You regard me as a vulgar
reprobate who by some odd freak of nature happens to be akin to you I can
picture so well what your imagination makes of me All the instances of
debauchery and general blackguardism that the commerce of life has forced upon
your knowledge go towards completing the ideal Its a pity I have always felt
that you and I might have been a great deal to each other if you had had a
reasonable education I remember you as a child rebelling against the idiocies
of your training before your brain and soul had utterly yielded then you were
my sister and even then if it had been possible I would have dragged you away
and saved you«
»I thank Heaven« said Miriam »that my childhood was in other hands than
yours«
»Yes and it is very bitter to me to hear you say so«
Miriam kept silence but looked at him less disdainfully
»I suppose« he said »the people you are staying with have much the same
horror of my name as you have«
»You speak as loosely as you think The Spences can scarcely respect you«
»You purpose remaining with them all the winter«
»It is quite uncertain With what intentions have you come here Do you wish
me to speak of you to the Spences or not«
He still kept looking about the room Perhaps upon him too the baleful
southern wind was exercising its influence for he sat listlessly when he was
not speaking and had a weary look
»You may speak of me or not as you like I dont see that anythings to be
gained by my meeting them but Ill do just as you please«
»You mean to stay in Naples«
»A short time Ive never been here before and as I said I may as well be
here as anywhere else«
»When did you last see Mr Mallard«
»Mallard Why what makes you speak of him«
»You made his acquaintance I think not long after you last saw me«
»Ha I understand That was why he sought me out You and your friends sent
him to me as a companion likely to do me good«
»I knew nothing of Mr Mallard then nothing personally But he doesnt
seem to be the kind of man whose interest you would resent«
»Then you know him« Reuben asked in a tone of some pleasure
»He is in Naples at present«
»Im delighted to hear it Mallard is an excellent fellow in his own way
Somehow Ive lost lost sight of him for a long time Hes painting here I
suppose Where can I find him«
»I dont know his address but I can at once get it for you You are sure
that he will welcome you«
»Why not Have you spoken to him about me«
»No« Miriam replied distantly
»Why shouldnt he welcome me then We were very good friends Do you
attribute to him such judgments as your own«
His way of speaking was subject to abrupt changes When as in this
instance he broke forth impulsively there was a corresponding gleam in his
fine eyes and a nervous tension in all his frame His voice had an extraordinary
power of conveying scornful passion at such moments he seemed to reveal a
profound and strong nature
»I am very slightly acquainted with Mr Mallard« Miriam answered with the
cold austerity which was the counterpart in her of Reubens fiery impulsiveness
»but I understand that he is considered trustworthy and honourable by people of
like character«
Elgar rose from his chair and in doing so all but flung it down
»Trustworthy and honourable Why so is many a greengrocer How the artist
would be flattered to hear this estimate of his personality The honourable
Mallard I must tell him that«
»You will not dare to repeat words from my lips« exclaimed Miriam sternly
»You have sunk lower even than I thought«
»What limit then did you put to my debasement In what direction had I
still a scrap of trustworthiness and honour left«
»Tell me that yourself instead of talking to no purpose in this frenzied
way Why do you come here if you only wish to renew our old differences«
»You were the first to do so«
»Can I pretend to be friendly with you Reuben What word of penitence have
you spoken In what have you amended yourself Is not every other sentence you
speak a defence of yourself and scorn upon me«
»And what right have you to judge me Of course I defend myself and as
scornfully as you like when I am despised and condemned by one who knows as
little of me as the first stranger I pass on the road Cannot you come forward
with a face like a sisters and leave my faults for my own conscience You
judge me What do you with your nuns experiences your heart chilled your
paltry view of the world through a chapel window know of a man whose passions
boil in him like the fire in yonder mountain I should subdue my passions
Excellent text for a copybook in a girls school I should be another man than I
am I should remould myself I should cool my brain with doctrine With a
bullet if you like say that and you will tell the truth But with the truth
you have nothing to do too long ago you were taught that you must never face
that Do you deal as truthfully with yourself as I with my own heart I wonder
I wonder«
Miriams eyes had fallen She stood quite motionless with a face of
suffering
»You want me to confess my sins« Reuben continued walking about in
uncontrollable excitement »What is your chapel formula Find one comprehensive
enough and let me repeat it after you only mind that it includes hypocrisy
for the sake of the confession I tell you I am conscious of no sins Of
follies of ignorances of miseries as many as you please And to what account
should they all go Was I so admirably guided in childhood and boyhood that my
subsequent life is not to be explained It succeeded in your case my poor
sister Oh nobly Dont be afraid that I shall outrage you by saying all I
think But just think of me as a result of Jewish education applied to an
English lad and one whose temperament was plain enough to eyes of ordinary
penetration My very name Your name too You it has made a Jew in soul upon
me it weighs like a curse as often as I think of it It symbolizes all that is
making my life a brutal failure a failure a failure«
He threw himself upon the couch and became silent his strength at an end
even his countenance exhausted of vitality looking haggard and almost ignoble
Miriam stirred at length for the first time and gazed steadily at him
»Reuben let us have an end of this« she said in a voice half choked
»Stay or go as you will but I shall utter no more reproaches You must make of
your life what you can As you say I dont understand you Perhaps the mere
fact of my being a woman is enough to make that impossible Only dont throw
your scorn at me for believing what you cant believe Talk quietly avoid those
subjects tell me if you wish to what you are doing or think of doing«
»You should have spoken like this earlier Miriam It would have spared my
memory its most wretched burden«
»How«
»You know quite well that I valued your affection and that it had no little
importance in my life Instead of still having my sister I had only the memory
of her anger and injustice and of my own cursed temper«
»I had no influence for good«
»Perhaps not in the common sense of the words I am not going to talk humbug
about a womans power to make a man angelic that will do for thirdrate novels
and plays But I shouldnt have thrown myself away as I have done if you had
cared to know what I was doing«
»Did I not care Reuben«
»If so you thought it was your duty not to show it You thought harshness
was the only proper treatment for a case such as mine I had had too much of
that«
»What did you mean just now by speaking as though you were poor«
»I have been poor for a long time poor compared with what I was Most of
my money has gone on the fools way I havent come here to lament over it
Its one of my rules never if I can help it to think of the past What has
been has been and what will be will be When I fume and rage like an idiot
thats only the blood in me getting the better of the brain an example of the
fault that always wrecks me Do you think I cannot see myself Just now I
couldnt keep back the insensate words insensate because useless but I
judged myself all the time as distinctly as I do now its over«
»Your money gone Reuben« murmured his sister in consternation
»You might have foreseen that Come and sit down by me Miriam I am tired
and wretched Where is the sun Surely one may have sunshine at Naples«
He was now idly fretful Miriam seated herself at his side and he took her
hand
»I thought you might perhaps receive me like this at first I came only with
that hope I wish you looked better Miriam How do you employ yourself here«
»I am much out of doors I get stronger«
»You spoke of old Mallard Im glad he is here really glad You know
Mallards a fellow of no slight account I should think you might even like
him«
»But yourself Reuben«
»No no let me rest a little Im sick and tired of myself Lets talk of
old Mallard And whats become of little Cecily Doran«
»She is here with her aunt«
»She here too By Jove Well of course I shall have nothing to do with
them Mallard still acting as her guardian I suppose Rather a joke that I
never could get him to speak on the subject But I feel glad you know him Hes
a solid fellow tremendously conscientious just the things you would like in a
man no doubt Have you seen any of his paintings«
Miriam shook her head absently unable to find voice for the topic which
was remote from her thoughts
»Hes done fine things great things I shall look him up and well drink a
bottle of wine together«
He kept stroking Miriams hand a white hand with blue veins a strong
hand though so delicately fashioned The touch of the weddingring again gave a
new direction to his discursive thoughts
»After this shall you go back to that horrible hole in Lancashire«
»I hope to go back home certainly«
»Home home« he muttered impatiently »It has made you ill poor girl
Stay in Italy a long time now you are once here For you to be here at all
seems a miracle it gives me hopes«
Miriam did not resent this in word at all events She was submitting again
to physical oppression her head drooped and her abstracted gaze was veiled
with despondent lassitude Reuben talked idly in loose sentences
»Do you think of me as old or young Miriam« he asked when both had kept
silence for a while
»I no longer think of you as older than myself«
»That is natural I imagined that In one way I am old enough but in
another I am only just beginning my life and have all my energies fresh I
shall do something yet can you believe it«
»Do what« she asked wearily
»Oh I have plans all sorts of plans«
He joined his hands together behind his head and began to stir with a
revival of mental energy
»But plans of what sort«
»There is only one direction open to me My law has of course gone to to
limbo it was always an absurdity Most of my money has gone the same way and
Im not sorry for it If I had never had anything I should have set desperately
to work long ago Now I am bound to work and you will see the results Of
course in our days theres only one road for a man like me I shall go in for
literature«
Miriam listened but made no comment
»My life hitherto has not been wasted« Elgar pursued leaning forward with
a new light on his countenance »I have been gaining experience Do you
understand Few men at my age have seen more of life the kind of life that is
useful as literary material Its only quite of late that I have begun to
appreciate this to see all the possibilities that are in myself It has taken
all this time to outgrow the miserable misdirection of my boyhood and to become
a man of my time Thank the fates I no longer live in the Pentateuch but at
the latter end of the nineteenth century Many a lad has to work this
deliverance for himself nowadays I dont wish to speak unkindly any more
Miriam but I must tell you plain facts Some fellows free themselves by dint of
hard study In my case that was made impossible by all sorts of reasons
temperament mainly as you know I was always a rebel against my fetters I had
not to learn that liberty was desirable but how to obtain it and what use to
make of it All the disorder through which I have gone was a struggle towards
selfknowledge and understanding of my time You and others are wildly in error
in calling it dissipation profligacy recklessness and so on You at least
Miriam ought to have judged me more truly you at all events should not have
classed me with common men«
His eyes were now agleam and the beauty of his countenance fully manifest
He held his head in a pose of superb confidence There was too much real force
in his features to make this seem a demonstration of idle vanity Miriam
regarded him and continued to do so
»To be sure my powers are in your eyes valueless« he pursued »or rather
your eyes have never been opened to anything of the kind The nineteenth century
is nothing to you its special opportunities and demands and characteristics
would revolt you if they were made clear to your intelligence If I tell you I
am before everything a man of my time I suppose this seems only a cynical
confession of all the weaknesses and crimes you have already attributed to me
It shall not always be so Why what are you after all Miriam Twentythree
twentyfour which is it Why you are a child still your time of education is
before you You are a child come to Italy to learn what can be made of life«
She averted her face but smiled and not quite so coldly as of wont She
could not but think of Cecily whose words a few days ago had been in spirit so
like these so like them in the ring of enthusiasm
»Some day« Elgar went on exalting himself more and more »you shall wonder
in looking back on this scene between us wonder how you could have been so
harsh to me It is impossible that you and I sole brother and sister should
move on constantly diverging paths Tell me you are not really without some
kind of faith in my abilities«
»You know it has always been my grief that you put them to no use«
»Very well But it remains for you to learn what my powers really are and
to bring yourself to sympathize with my direction You are a child there is my
hope You shall be taught yes yes Your obstinacy shall be overcome you
shall be made to see your own good«
»And who is to be so kind as to take charge of my education« Miriam asked
without looking at him in an idly contemptuous tone
»Why not old Mallard« cried Reuben breaking suddenly into jest »The
tutorship of children is in his line«
Miriam showed herself offended
»Please dont speak of me I am willing to hear what you purpose for
yourself but dont mix my name with it«
Elgar resumed the tone of ambition Whether he had in truth definite
literary schemes could not be gathered from the rhetoric on which he was borne
His main conviction seemed to be that he embodied the spirit of his time and
would ere long achieve a work of notable significance the fruit of all his
experiences Miriam though with no sign of strong interest gave him her full
attention
»Do you intend to work here« she asked at length
»I cant say At present I am anything but well and I shall get what
benefit I can from Naples first of all I suppose the sun will shine again
before long This sky is depressing«
He stood up and went to the windows then came back with uncertain step
»Youll tell the Spences Ive been«
»I think I had better They will know of course that I have had a
visitor«
»Should I see them« he asked with hesitation
»Just as you please«
»I shall have to sooner or later Why not now«
Miriam pondered
»Ill go and see if they are at leisure«
During her absence Elgar examined the books on the table He turned over
each one with angry mutterings The chapel plans were no longer lying about
only yesterday Miriam had rolled them up and put them away temporarily Before
the »St Cecilia« he stood in thoughtful observation and was still there when
Miriam returned She had a look of uneasiness
»Miss Doran and her aunt are with Mrs Spence Reuben«
»Oh in that case « he began carelessly with a wave of the arm
»But they will be glad to see you«
»Indeed I look rather seedy Im afraid«
»Take off your overcoat«
»Im all grimy I came here straight from the railway«
»Then go into my bedroom and make yourself presentable«
A few moments sufficed for this As she waited for his return Miriam stood
with knitted brows her eyes fixed on the floor Reuben reappeared and she
examined him
»Youre bitterly ashamed of me Miriam«
She made no reply and at once led the way along the corridor
Mrs Spence had met Reuben in London since her marriage by invitation he
came to her house but neglected to repeat the visit To Mrs Lessingham he was
personally a stranger But neither of these ladies received the honour of much
attention from him for the first few moments after he had entered the room his
eyes and thoughts were occupied with the wholly unexpected figure of Cecily
Doran In his recollection she was a slight pale shy little girl fond of
keeping in corners with a book and seemingly marked out for a life of
dissenting piety and provincial surroundings She had interested him little in
those days and seldom did anything to bring herself under his notice He last
saw her when she was about twelve Now he found himself in the presence of a
beautiful woman every line of whose countenance told of instruction thought
spirit whose bearing was refined beyond anything he had yet understood by that
word whose modest revival of old acquaintance made his hand thrill at her
touch and his heart beat confusedly as he looked into her eyes With difficulty
he constrained himself to common social necessities and made show of conversing
with the elder ladies He wished to gaze steadily at the girls face and
connect past with present to revive his memory of six years ago and convince
himself that such development was possible At the same time he became aware of
a reciprocal curiosity in Cecily When he turned towards her she met his glance
and when he spoke she gave him a smile of pleased attentiveness The consequence
was that he soon began to speak freely to pick his words to balance his
sentences and shun the commonplace
»I saw Florence and Rome in 76« he replied to a question from Mrs
Lessingham »In Rome my travelling companion fell ill and we returned without
coming further south It is wrong however to say that I saw anything my mind
was in far too crude a state to direct my eyes to any purpose I stared about me
a good deal and got some notions of topography and there the matter ended for
the time«
»The benefit came with subsequent reflection no doubt« said Mrs
Lessingham who found one of her greatest pleasures in listening to the talk of
young men with brains Whenever it was possible she gathered such individuals
about her and encouraged them to discourse of themselves generally quite as
much to their satisfaction as to her own Already she had invited with some
success the confidence of Mr Clifford Marsh who proved interesting but not
unfathomable he belonged to a class with which she was tolerably familiar
Reuben Elgar she perceived at once was not without characteristics linking him
to that same group of the new generation but it seemed probable that its
confines were too narrow for him There was comparatively little affectation in
his manner and none in his aspect his voice rang with a sincerity which
claimed serious audience and his eyes had something more than surface
gleamings Possibly he belonged to the unclassed and the unclassable in which
case the interest attaching to him was of the highest kind
»Subsequent reflection« returned Elgar »has at all events enabled me to
see myself as I then was and I suppose selfknowledge is the best result of
travel«
»If one agrees that selfknowledge is ever a good at all« said the
speculative lady with her impartial smile
»To be sure« Elgar looked keenly at her probing the significance of the
remark »The happy human being will make each stage of his journey a phase of
more or less sensual enjoyment delightful at the time and valuable in memory
The excursion will be his life in little I envy him but I cant imitate him«
»Why envy him« asked Eleanor
»Because he is happy surely a sufficient ground«
»Yet you give the preference to selfknowledge«
»Yes I do Because in that direction my own nature tends to develop itself
But I envy every lower thing in creation I wont pretend to say how it is with
other people who are forced along an upward path in my own case every step is
made with a groan and why shouldnt I confess it«
»To do so enhances the merit of progress« observed Mrs Lessingham
mischievously
»Merit I know nothing of merit I spoke of myself being forced upwards If
ever I feel that I am slipping back I shall state it with just as little
admission of shame«
Miriam heard this modern dialogue with grave features At Bartles such talk
would have qualified the talker for social excommunication and every other pain
and penalty Bartles had in its power to inflict She observed that Cecilys
interest increased The girl listened frankly no sense of anything improper
appeared in her visage Nay she was about to interpose a remark
»Isnt there a hope Mr Elgar that this envy of which you speak will be
one of the things that the upward path leaves behind«
»I should like to believe it Miss Doran« he answered his eyes kindling at
hers »Its true that I havent yet gone very far«
»I like so much to believe it that I do believe it« the girl continued
impulsively
»Your progress in that direction exceeds mine«
»Dont be troubled by the compliment« interjected Eleanor before Cecily
could speak »There is no question of merit«
Mrs Lessingham laughed
The rain still fell and the grey heavens showed no breaking Shortly after
this Elgar would have risen to take his leave but Mrs Spence begged him to
remain and lunch with them The visitors from the Mergellina declined a similar
invitation
Edward Spence was passing his morning at the Museum On his return at
luncheontime Eleanor met him with the intelligence that Reuben Elgar had
presented himself and was now in his sisters room
»In formâ pauperis presumably« said Spence raising his eyebrows
»I cant say but I fear it isnt impossible Cecily and her aunt happened
to call this morning and he had some talk with them«
»Is he very much of a blackguard« inquired her husband disinterestedly
»Indeed no That is to say externally and in his conversation Its a
decided improvement on our old impressions of him«
»Im glad to hear it« was the dry response
»He has formed himself in some degree Hints that he is going to produce
literature«
»Of course« Spence laughed merrily »The last refuge of a scoundrel«
»I dont like to judge him so harshly Ned He has a fine face«
»And is Miriam killing the fatted calf«
»His arrival seems to embarrass rather than delight her«
»Depend upon it the fellow has come to propose a convenient division of her
personal property«
When he again appeared Elgar was in excellent spirits He met Spence with
irresistible frankness and courtesy his talk made the luncheon cheery and
dismissed thought of sirocco It appeared that he had as yet no abode his
luggage was at the station A suggestion that he should seek quarters under the
same roof with Mallard recommended itself to him
»I feel like a giant refreshed« he declared in privately taking leave of
Miriam »Coming to Naples was an inspiration«
She raised her lips to his for the first time but said nothing
Chapter V
The Artist Astray
From the Strada di Chiaia the narrow street winding between immense houses all
day long congested with the merry tumult of Neapolitan traffic where herds of
goats and milch cows placidly make their way among vehicles of every possible
and impossible description where cocchieri crack their whips and belabour their
hapless cattle and yell their Ah h h Ah h h where teams of horse
ox and ass the three abreast drag piles of country produce jingling their
fantastic harness and primitive carts laden with redsoaked winecasks rattle
recklessly along where barefooted girdled and tonsured monks plod on their
nobusiness and every third man one passes is a rotund ecclesiastic who never
in his life walked at more than a mile an hour where at evening carriages
returning from the Villa Nazionale cram the thoroughfare from side to side and
make one aware if one did not previously know it that parts of the street have
no pedestrians pavement from the Strada di Chiaia now doomed alas by the
exigencies of lo sventramento and il risanamento turn into the public staircase
and climb through the dusk with all possible attention to where you set your
foot past the unmelodious beggars to the Ponte di Chiaia bridge which spans
the roadway and looks down upon its crowd and clamour as into a profound valley
thence proceed uphill on the lava paving between fruitshops and sausageshops
and wineshops always in an atmosphere of fried oil and roasted chestnuts and
baked pinecones and presently turn left into a still narrower street with
tailors and bootmakers and smiths all at work in the open air and pass through
the Piazzetta Mondragone and turn again to the left but this time downhill
then lose yourself amid filthy little alleys where the scent of oil and
chestnuts and pinecones is stronger than ever then emerge on a little terrace
where there is a noble view of the bay and of Capri then turn abruptly between
walls overhung with figtrees and orangetrees and lemontrees and you will
reach Casa Rolandi
It is an enormous house with a great arched entrance admitting to the inner
court where on the wall is a Madonnas shrine lampillumined of evenings A
great staircase leads up from floor to floor On each story are two tenements
the doors facing each other In 1878 one of the apartments at the very top an
ascent equal to that of a moderate mountain was in the possession of a certain
Signora Bassano whose name might be read on a brass plate This lady had
furnished rooms to let and here it was that Ross Mallard established himself
for the few days that he proposed to spend at Naples
Already he had lingered till the few days were become more than a fortnight
and still the day of his departure was undetermined This was most unwonted
waste of time not easily accounted for by Mallard himself A morning of sunny
splendour coming after much cloudiness and a good deal of rain plucked him
early out of bed strong in the resolve that tomorrow should see him on the
road to Amalfi He had slept well an exception in the past week and his mind
was open to the influences of sunlight and reason Before going forth for
breakfast he had a letter to write a brief account of himself addressed to the
murky little town of Sowerby Bridge in Yorkshire This finished he threw open
the big windows stepped out on to the balcony and drank deep draughts of air
from the sea In the street below was passing a flock of shegoats all ready to
be milked each with a bell tinkling about her neck The goatherd kept summoning
his customers with a long musical whistle Mallard leaned over and watched the
cleanfleeced slender graceful animals with a smile of pleasure Then he
amused himself with something that was going on in the house opposite A woman
came out on to a balcony high up bent over it and called »Annina Annina«
until the call brought another woman on to the balcony immediately below
whereupon the former let down a cord and her friend catching the end of it
made it fast to a basket which contained food covered with a cloth The basket
was drawn up the women gossiped and laughed for a while in pleasant voices
then they disappeared All around the familiar Neapolitan clamour was
beginning Church bells were ringing as they ring at Naples a great crash
followed by a rapid succession of quivering little shakes then the crash again
Hawkers were crying fruit and vegetables and fish in rhythmic cadence a donkey
was braying obstreperously
Mallard had just taken a light overcoat on his arm and was ready to set
out when some one knocked He turned the key in the door and admitted Reuben
Elgar
»Im off to Pompeii« said Elgar vivaciously
»All right Youll go to the Sole I shall be there myself tomorrow
evening«
»Im likely to stay several days so we shall have more talk«
They left the house together and presently parted with renewed assurance of
meeting again on the morrow
Mallard went his way thoughtfully the smile quickly passing from his face
At a little caffè known to him of old he made a simple breakfast glancing the
while over a morning newspaper and watching the children who came to fetch
their due soldi of coffee in tiny tins Then he strolled away and supplemented
his meal with a fine bunch of grapes bought for a penny at a stall that glowed
and was fragrant with piles of fruit Heedless of the carriagedrivers who
shouted at him and even dogged him along street after street he sauntered in
the broad sunshine plucking his grapes and relishing them Coming out by the
seashore he stood for a while to watch the fishermen dragging in their nets
picturesque fellows with swarthy faces and suntanned legs of admirable outline
hauling slowly in files at interminable rope which boys coiled lazily as it
came in or the oysterdredgers poised on the side of their boats over the blue
water At the foot of the seawall tumbled the tideless breakers their drowsy
music counselled enjoyment of the hour and carelessness of what might come
hereafter
With no definite purpose he walked on and on for the most part absorbed in
thought He passed through the long grotta of Posillipo gloomy chilly and
dank then out again into the sunshine and along the road to Bagnoli On walls
and stoneheaps the little lizards darted about innumerable in vineyards men
were at work dismantling the vineprops often singing at their task From
Bagnoli still walking merely that a movement of his limbs might accompany his
busy thoughts he went along by the seashore and so at length still long
before midday had come to Pozzuoli A sharp conflict with the swarm of guides
who beset the entrance to the town and again he escaped into quietness
wandered among narrow streets between blue red and yellow houses stopping at
times to look at some sunny upper window hung about with clusters of sorbe and
pomidori By this time he had won appetite for a more substantial meal In the
kind of eatinghouse that suited his mood an obscure bettola probably never yet
patronized by Englishman he sat down to a dish of maccheroni and a bottle of
red wine At another table were some boatmen who after greeting him went on
with their lively talk in a dialect of which he could understand but few words
Having eaten well and drunk still better he lit a cigar and sauntered forth
to find a place for dreaming Chance led him to the patch of public garden with
its shrubs and young palmtrees which looks over the little port Here when
once he had made it clear to a succession of rhetorical boatmen that he was not
to be tempted on to the sea he could sit as idly and as long as he liked
looking across the sapphire bay and watching the bright sails glide hither and
thither With the help of sunlight and red wine he could imagine that time had
gone back twenty centuries that this was not Pozzuoli but Puteoli that over
yonder was not Baia but Baiæ that the men among the shipping talked to each
other in Latin and perchance of the perishing Republic
But Mallards fancy would not dwell long in remote ages As he watched the
smoke curling up from his cigar he slipped back into the world of his active
being and made no effort to obscure the faces that looked upon him They were
those of his mother and sisters thought of whom carried him to the northern
island now grim cold and sunless beneath its lowering sky These relatives
still lived where his boyhood had been passed a life strangely unlike his own
and even alien to his sympathies but their house was still all that he could
call home Was it to be always the same
Fifteen years now since at the age of twenty he painted his first
considerable landscape a tract of moorland on the borders of Lancashire and
Yorkshire This was his native ground At Sowerby Bridge a manufacturing town
which like many others in the same part of England makes a blot of ugliness on
country in itself sternly beautiful his father had settled as the manager of
certain ropeworks Mr Mallards state was not unprosperous for he had
invented a process put in use by his employers and derived benefit from it He
was a man of habitual gravity occasionally severe in the rule of his household
very seldom unbending to mirth Though not particularly robust he employed his
leisure in long walks about the moors walks sometimes prolonged till after
midnight sometimes begun long before dawn His acquaintances called him
unsociable and doubt less he was so in the sense that he could not find at
Sowerby Bridge any one for whose society he greatly cared It was even a rare
thing for him to sit down with his wife and children for more than a few
minutes if he remained in the house he kept apart in a room of his own musing
over rather than reading a little collection of books one of his favourites
being Defoes »History of the Devil« He often made ironical remarks and seemed
to have a grim satisfaction when his hearers missed the point Then he would
chuckle and shake his head and go away muttering
Young Ross who made no brilliant figure at school and showed a turn for
drawing was sent at seventeen to the factory of Messrs Gilstead Miles and
Doran to become a designer of patterns The result was something more than his
father had expected for Mr Doran who had his abode at Sowerby Bridge quickly
discovered that the lad was meant for far other things and by dint of personal
intervention caused Mr Mallard to give his son a chance of becoming an artist
A remarkable man this Mr Doran By nature a Bohemian somehow made into a
Yorkshire millowner a strong active nobly featured man who dressed as no
one in the factory regions ever did before or probably ever will again his
usual appearance suggesting the common notion of a bushranger an artist to the
core a purchaser of pictures by unknown men who had a future at the sale of
his collection three Robert Cheeles got into the hands of dealers all of them
now the boasted possessions of great galleries a passionate lover of music he
had been known to make the journey to Paris merely to hear Diodati sing
finally in common rumour a profligate whom no prudent householder would admit
to the society of his wife and daughters However at the time of young
Mallards coming under his notice he had been married about a year Mrs Doran
came from Manchester she was very beautiful but had slight education and
before long Sowerby Bridge remarked that the husband was too often away from
home
Doran and the elder Mallard having once met were disposed to see more of
each other in spite of the difference of social standing they became
intimates and Mr Mallard had at length some one with whom he found pleasure in
conversing He did not long enjoy the new experience In the winter that
followed he died of a cold contracted on one of his walks when the hills were
deep in snow
Doran remained the firm friend of the family Local talk had inspired Mrs
Mallard with a prejudice against him but substantial services mitigated this
and the widow was in course of time less uneasy at her sons being practically
under the guardianship of this singular man of business Mallard after
preliminary training was sent to the studio of a young artist whom Doran
greatly admired Cullen Banks then struggling for the recognition he was never
to enjoy death being beforehand with him Mrs Mallard was given to understand
that no expenses were involved save those of the lads support in Manchester
where Banks lived and Mallard himself did not till long after know that his
friend had paid the artist a fee out of his own pocket Two things did Mallard
learn from Doran himself which were to have a marked influence on his life a
belief that only in landscape can a painter of our time hope to do really great
work and a limitless contempt of the Royal Academy In Manchester he made the
acquaintance of several people with whom Doran was familiar among them Edward
Spence then in the shippingoffice and Jacob Bush Bradshaw well on his way to
making a fortune out of silk On Bankss death Mallard now nearly twentyone
went to London for a time His patrimony was modest but happily if the capital
remained intact sufficient to save him from the cares that degrade and waste a
life His mother and sisters had also an income adequate to their simple habits
In the meantime Mrs Doran was dead After giving birth to a daughter she
fell into miserable health her husband took her abroad and she died in
Germany Thereafter Sowerby Bridge saw no more of its bugbear Doran abandoned
commerce and became a Bohemian in earnest save that his dinner was always
assured He wandered over Europe he lived with Bohemian society in every
capital he kept adding to his collection of pictures stored in a house at
Woolwich which he freely lent as an abode to a succession of illtodo
artists and finally he was struck with paralysis whilst conducting to their
home the widow and child of a young painter who had suddenly died in the
Ardennes The poor woman under his protection had to become his guardian He was
brought to the house at Woolwich and there for several months lay between life
and death A partial recovery followed and he was taken to the Isle of Wight
where in a short time a second attack killed him
His child Cecily was twelve years old For the last five years she had
been living in the care of Mrs Elgar at Manchester This lady was an intimate
friend of Mrs Dorans family and in entrusting his child to her Doran had
given a strong illustration of one of the singularities of his character Though
by no means the debauchee that Sowerby Bridge declared him he was not a man of
conventional morality yet in the case of people who were in any way entrusted
to his care he showed a curious severity of practice Ross Mallard for
instance no provincial Puritan could have instructed the lad more strenuously
in the accepted moral code than did Mr Doran on taking him from home to live in
Manchester In choosing a wife he went to a family of conventional Dissenters
and he desired his daughter to pass the years of her childhood with people who
he knew would guide her in the very straitest way of Puritan doctrine What his
theory was in this matter if he had one he told nobody Dying he left it to
the discretion of the two trustees to appoint a residence for Cecily if for any
reason she could not remain with Mrs Elgar This occasion soon presented
itself and Cecily passed into the care of Dorans sister Mrs Lessingham who
was just entered upon a happy widowhood Mallard most unexpectedly left sole
trustee had no choice but to assent to this arrangement the only other home
possible for the girl was with Miriam at Redbeck House but Mr Baske did not
look with favour on that proposal Hitherto Mr Trench the elder trustee who
lived in Manchester had alone been in personal relations with Mrs Elgar and
little Cecily even now Mallard did not make the personal acquaintance of Mrs
Elgar otherwise he would doubtless have met Miriam but saw Mrs Lessingham in
London and for the first time met Cecily when she came to the south in her
aunts care He knew what an extreme change would be made in the manner of the
girls education and it caused him some mental trouble but it was clear that
Cecily might benefit greatly in health by travel and as for the moral
question Mrs Lessingham strongly stirred his sympathies by the dolorous
account she gave of the childs surroundings in the north Cecily was being
intellectually starved that seemed clear to Mallard himself after a little
conversation with her It was wonderful how much she had already learnt
impelled by sheer inner necessity of things which in general she was
discouraged from studying So Cecily left England to return only for short
intervals spent in London Between that departure and this present meeting
Mallard saw her only twice but the girl wrote to him with some regularity
These letters grew more and more delightful Cecily addressed herself with
exquisite frankness as to an old friend old in both senses of the word
collected they made a history of her rapidly growing mind such as the shy
artist might have glorified in possessing In reality he did nothing of the
kind he wished the letters would not come and disturb him in his work He sent
gruff little answers over which Cecily laughed as so characteristic
Yes there was a distinct connection between those homely memories and
picturings which took him in thought to Sowerby Bridge and the image of Cecily
Doran which had caused him to waste all this time in Naples They represented
two worlds in both of which he had some part but it was only too certain with
which of them he was the more closely linked What but mere accident put him in
contact with the world which was Cecilys Through her aunt she had aristocratic
relatives her wealth made her a natural member of what is called society her
beauty and her brilliancy marked her to be one of societys ornaments What
could she possibly be to him Ross Mallard landscapepainter of small if any
note as unaristocratic in mind and person as any one that breathed To put the
point with uncompromising plainness and therefore in all its absurdity how
could he possibly imagine Cecily Doran called Mrs Mallard
The thing was flagrantly grossly palpably absurd He tingled in the ears
in trying to represent to himself how Cecily would think of it if by any
misfortune it were ever suggested to her
Then why not in the name of common sense cease to ponder such follies and
get on with the work which waited for him Why this fluttering about a flame
which scorched him more and more dangerously It was not the first time that he
had experienced temptations of this kind a story of five years ago its scene
in London should have reminded him that he could stand a desperate wrench when
convinced that his lifes purpose depended upon it Here were three years of
trusteeship before him he could not or would not count on her marrying
before she came of age Her letters would still come from time to time
doubtless he must meet her It had all resulted from this confounded journey
taken together Why knowing himself sufficiently did he consent to meet the
people at Genoa loitering there for a couple of days in expectancy Why had he
come to Italy at all just now
The answers to all such angry queries were plain enough however he had
hitherto tried to avoid them He was a lonely man like his father but not
content with loneliness friendship was always strong to tempt him and when the
thought of something more than friendship had been suffered to take hold upon
his imagination it held with terrible grip burning torturing He had come
simply to meet Cecily there was the long and short of it It was a weakness
such as any man may be guilty of particularly any artist who groans in lifelong
solitude Let it be recognized let it be flung savagely into the past like so
many others encountered and overcome on his course
The other day when it was rainy and sunless he had seemed all at once to
find his freedom In a moment of mental languor he was able to view his
position clearly as though some other man were concerned and to cry out that
he had triumphed but within the same hour an event befell which revived all the
old trouble and added new Reuben Elgar entered his room coming directly from
Villa Sannazaro in a state of excitement talking at once of Cecily Doran as
though his acquaintance with her had been unbroken from the time when she was in
his mothers care to now Irritation immediately scattered the thoughts Mallard
had been ranging he could barely make a show of amicable behaviour a cold fear
began to creep about his heart The next morning he woke to a new phase of his
conflict the end further off than ever Unable to command thought and feeling
he preserved at least the control of his action and could persevere in the
resolve not to see Cecily to avoid casual meetings he kept away even from the
Spences He shunned all places likely to be visited by Cecily and either sat at
home in dull idleness or strayed about the swarming quarters of the town trying
to entertain himself with the spectacle of Neapolitan life Today the delicious
weather had drawn him forth in a heedless mood And indeed it did not much
matter now whether he met his friends or not he had spoken the word tomorrow
he would go his way
At the very moment of thinking this thought when his cigar was nearly
finished and he had begun to stretch his limbs wearied by remaining in one
position shadows and footsteps approached him He looked up and
»Mr Mallard So we have caught you at last It only needed this to complete
our enjoyment Now you will go across to Baiæ with us«
Cecily with Mrs Baske and Spence She had run eagerly forward and her
companions were advancing at a more sober pace Mallard rose with his grim
smile and of course forgot that it is customary to doff ones beaver when
ladies approach he took the offered hand said »How do you do« and turned to
the others
»A fair capture« exclaimed Spence »Just now at lunch we were speculating
on such a chance The cigar argues a broken fast I take it«
»Yes I have had my maccheroni«
»We are going to take a boat over to Baiæ Suppose you come with us«
»Of course Mr Mallard will come« said Cecily her face radiant »He can
make no pretence of work interrupted«
Already the group was surrounded by boatmen offering their services Spence
led the way down to the quay and after much tumult a boat was selected and a
bargain struck the original demand made by the artless sailors being of course
five times as much as was ever paid for the transit They rowed out through the
cluster of little craft then hoisted a sail and glided smoothly over the blue
water
»Where is Mrs Lessingham« Mallard inquired of Cecily
»At the Hôtel Bristol with some very disagreeable people who have just
landed on their way from India a military gentleman and a more military lady
and a most military son relatives of ours We spent last evening with them and
I implored to be let off today«
Mallard propped himself idly and from under the shadow of his hat often
looked at her He had begun to wonder at the unreserved joy with which she
greeted his joining the party Of course she could have no slightest suspicion
of what was in his mind one moments thought of him in such a light must have
altered her behaviour immediately Altered in what way That he in vain tried to
imagine his knowledge of her did not go far enough But he could not be wrong
in attributing unconsciousness to her Moreover with the inconsistency of a man
in his plight he resented it To sit thus almost touching him gazing freely
into his face and yet to be in complete ignorance of suffering which racked
him seemed incompatible with fine qualities either of heart or mind What
rubbish was talked about womans insight about her delicate sympathies
»Mrs Spence is very sorry not to see you occasionally Mr Mallard«
It was Miriam who spoke Mallard was watching Cecily and now on turning
his head he felt sure that Mrs Baske had been observant of his countenance
Her eyes fell whilst he was seeking words for a reply
»I shall call to see her tomorrow morning« he said »just to say goodbye
for a time«
»You really go tomorrow« asked Cecily with interest but nothing more
»Yes I hope to see Mrs Lessingham for a moment also Can you tell me when
she is likely to be at home«
»Certainly between two and three if you could come then«
He waited a little then looked unexpectedly at Miriam Again her eyes were
fixed on him and again they fell with something of consciousness Did she
perchance understand him
His speculations concerning Cecily became comparative In point of age the
distance between Cecily and Miriam was of some importance the fact that the
elder had been a married woman was of still more account On the first day of
his meeting with Mrs Baske he had thought a good deal about her since then
she had slipped from his mind but now he felt his interest reviving Surely she
was as remote from him as a woman well could be yet his attitude towards her
had no character of intolerance he half wished that he could form a closer
acquaintance with her At present the thought of calm conversation with such a
woman made a soothing contrast to the riot excited in him by Cecily Did she
read his mind For one thing it was not impossible that the Spences had spoken
freely in her presence of himself and his odd relations to the girl there was
no doubting how they regarded him Possibly he was a frequent subject of
discussion between Eleanor and her cousin Mature women could talk with each
other freely of these things
On the other hand whatever Mrs Lessingham might have in her mind she
certainly would not expose it in dialogue with her niece Cecily was in an
unusual position for a girl of her age she had he believed no intimate
friend at all events she had none who also knew him Girls to be sure had
their own way of talking over delicate points just as married women had theirs
and with intimates of the ordinary kind Cecily must have come by now to consider
her guardian as a male creature of flesh and blood What did it mean that she
did not
A question difficult of debate involving much that the mind is wont to slur
over in natural scruple Mallard was no slave to the imbecile convention which
supposes a young girl sexless in her understanding he could not in conformity
with the school of hypocritic idealism regard Cecily as a child of womans
growth No She had the fruits of a modern education she had a lucid brain of
late she had mingled and conversed with a variety of men and women most of them
anything but crassly conventional It was this very aspect of her training that
had caused him so much doubt And he knew by this time what his doubt
principally meant in a measure it came of native conscientiousness of
prejudice which testified to his origin but more than that it signified
simple jealousy Secretly he did not like her outlook upon the world to be so
unrestrained he would have preferred her to view life as a simpler matter
Partly for this reason did her letters so disturb him No it would have been an
insult to imagine her with the moral sensibilities of a child of twelve
Was she intellectual at the expense of her emotional being Was she guarded
by nature against these disturbances Somewhat ridiculous to ask that and then
look up at her face effulgent with the joy of life She who could not speak
without the note of emotion who so often gave way to lyrical outbursts of
delight who was so warmhearted in her friendship whose every movement was in
glad harmony with the loveliness of her form must surely have the
corresponding capabilities of passion
After all and it was fetching a great compass to reach a point so near at
hand might she not take him at his own profession Might she not view him as a
man indeed and one not yet past his youth but still as a man who suffered no
trivialities to interfere with the grave objects of his genius She had so long
had him represented to her in that way from the very first of their meetings
indeed Grant her mature sense and a reflective mind was that any reason why
she should probe subtly the natural appearance of her friend and attribute to
him that which he gave no sign of harbouring Why must she be mysteriously
conscious of his inner being rather than take him ingenuously for what he
seemed She had instruction and wit but she was only a girl her experience was
as good as nil Mallard repeated that to himself as he looked at Mrs Baske To
a great extent Cecily did in fact inhabit an ideal world She was ready to
accept the noble as the natural Untroubled herself she could contemplate
without scepticism the image of an artist finding his bliss in solitary toil
This was the ground of the respect she had for him disturb this idea and he
became to her quite another man one less interesting and it might be less
lovable in either sense of the word
Spence maintained a conversation with Miriam chiefly referring to the
characteristics of the scene about them he ignored her peculiarities and
talked as though everything must necessarily give her pleasure Her face proved
that at all events the physical influences of this day in the open air were
beneficial The soft breeze had brought a touch of health to her cheek and
languid inattention no longer marked her gaze at sea and shore she was often
absent but never listless When she spoke her voice was subdued and grave it
always caused Mallard to glance in her direction
At Baiæ they dismissed the boat purposing to drive back to Naples In their
ramble among the ruins Mallard did his best to be at ease and seem to share
Cecilys happiness in any case it was better to talk of the Romans than of
personal concerns When in after he recalled this day it seemed to him that he
had himself been well contented it dwelt in his memory with a sunny glow He
saw Cecilys unsurpassable grace as she walked beside him and her look of
winning candour turned to him so often and he fancied that it had given him
pleasure to be with her And pleasure there was no doubt but inextricably
blended with complex miseries To Cecily his mood appeared more gracious than
she had ever known it he did not disdain to converse on topics which
presupposed some knowledge on her part and there was something of unusual
gentleness in his tone which she liked
»Some day« she said »we shall talk of Baiæ in London in a November fog«
»I hope not«
»But such contrasts help one to get the most out of life« she rejoined
laughing »At all events when some one happens to speak to me of Mr Mallards
pictures I shall win credit by casually mentioning that I was at Baiæ in his
company in suchandsuch a year«
»You mean when I have painted my last«
»No no It would be no pleasure to me to anticipate that time«
»But natural in talking with a veteran«
It was against his better purpose that he let fall these words they
contained almost a hint of his hidden self and he had not yet allowed anything
of the kind to escape him But the moment proved too strong
»A veteran who fortunately gives no sign of turning grey« replied Cecily
glancing at his hair
An interruption from Spence put an end to this dangerous dialogue Mallard
inwardly growling at himself resisted the temptation to further têteàtête
and in a short time the party went in search of a conveyance for their return
None offered that would hold four persons the ordinary public carriages have
convenient room for two only and a separation was necessary Mallard succeeded
in catching Spences eye and made him understand with a savage look that he was
to take Cecily with him This arrangement was effected and the first carriage
drove off with those two Cecily exchanging merry words with an old Italian who
had rendered no kind of service but came to beg his mancia on the strength of
being able to utter a few sentences in English
For the first time Mallard was alone with Mrs Baske Miriam had not
concealed surprise at the new adjustment of companionship she looked curiously
both at Cecily and at Mallard whilst it was going on The first remark which the
artist addressed to her when they had been driving for a few minutes was
perhaps she thought an explanation of the proceeding
»I shall meet your brother again at Pompeii tomorrow Mrs Baske«
»Have you seen much of him since he came« Miriam asked constrainedly She
had not met Mallard since Reubens arrival
»Oh yes We have dined together each evening«
Between two such unloquacious persons dialogue was naturally slow at first
but they had a long drive before them Miriam presently trusted herself to ask
»Has he spoken to you at all of his plans of what he is going to do when
he returns to England«
»In general terms only He has literary projects«
»Do you put any faith in them Mr Mallard«
This was a sudden step towards intimacy As she spoke Miriam looked at him
in a way that he felt to be appealing He answered the look frankly
»I think he has the power to do something worth doing Whether his
perseverance will carry him through it is another question«
»He speaks to me of you in a way that He seems I mean to put a value on
your friendship and I think you may still influence him I am very glad he has
met you here«
»I have very little faith in the influence of one person on another Mrs
Baske For ill yes that is often seen but influence of the kind you suggest
is the rarest of things«
»Im afraid you are right«
She retreated into herself and when he looked at her he saw cold reserve
once more on her countenance Doubtless she did not choose to let him know how
deeply this question of his power concerned her Mallard felt something like
compassion yet not ordinary compassion either for at the same time he had a
desire to break down this reserve and see still more of what she felt Curious
that evening when he dined at the villa he had already become aware of this
sort of attraction in her an appeal to his sympathies together with the
excitement of his combative spirit if that expressed it
»No man« he remarked »ever did solid work except in his own strength One
can be encouraged in effort but the effort must originate in ones self«
Miriam kept silence He put a direct question
»Have you yourself encouraged him to pursue this idea«
»I have not discouraged him«
»In your brothers case discouragement would probably be the result if
direct encouragement were withheld«
Again she said nothing and again Mallard felt a desire to subdue the pride
or whatever it might be that had checked the growth of friendliness between
them in its very beginning He remained mute for a long time until they were
nearing Pozzuoli but Miriam showed no disposition to be the first to speak At
length he said abruptly
»Shall you go to the San Carlo during the winter«
»The San Carlo« she asked inquiringly
»The opera«
Mallard was in a strange mood Whenever he looked ahead at Cecily he had a
miserable longing which crushed his heart down down in struggling against
this he felt that Mrs Baskes proximity was an aid but that it would be still
more so if he could move her to any unusual selfrevelation He had impulses to
offend her to irritate her prejudices anything so she should but be moved
This question that fell from him was mild in comparison with some of the
subjects that pressed on his harassed brain
»I dont go to theatres« Miriam replied distantly
»That is losing much pleasure«
»The word has very different meanings«
She was roused Mallard observed with a perverse satisfaction the scorn
implied in this rejoinder He noted that her features had more decided beauty
than when placid
»I imagine« he resumed smiling at her »that the life of an artist must
seem to you frivolous if not something worse I mean an artist in the sense of
a painter«
»I cannot think it the highest kind of life« Miriam replied also smiling
but ominously
»As Miss Doran does« added Mallard his eyes happening to cath Cecilys
face as it looked backwards and his tongue speaking recklessly
»There are very few subjects on which Miss Doran and I think alike«
He durst not pursue this in his state of mind the danger of committing
some flagrant absurdity was too great The subject attracted him like an evil
temptation for he desired to have Miriam speak of Cecily But he mastered
himself
»The artists life may be the highest of which a particular man is capable
For instance I think it is so in my own case«
Miriam seemed about to keep silence again but ultimately she spoke The
voice suggested that upon her too there was a constraint of some kind
»On what grounds do you believe that«
His eyes sought her face rapidly Was she ironical at his expense That
would be new light upon her mind for hitherto she had seemed to him painfully
literal Irony meant intellect mere scorn or pride might signify anything but
that And he was hoping to find reserves of power in her such as would rescue
her from the imputation of commonplaceness in her beliefs Testing her with his
eye he answered meaningly
»Not I admit on the ground of recognized success«
Miriam made a nervous movement and her brows contracted Without looking at
him she said in a voice which seemed rather to resent his interpretation than
to be earnest in deprecating it
»You know Mr Mallard that I meant nothing of the kind«
»Yet I could have understood you if you had Naturally you must wonder a
little at a mans passing his life as I do You interpret life absolutely it is
your belief that it can have only one meaning the same for all involving
certain duties of which there can be no question and admitting certain
relaxations which have endured the moral test A man may not fritter away the
years that are granted him and that is what I seem to you to be doing at
best«
»Why should you suppose that I take upon myself to judge you«
»Forgive me I think it is one result of your mental habits that you judge
all who differ from you«
This time she clearly was resolved to make no reply They were passing
through Pozzuoli and she appeared to forget the discussion in looking about
her Mallard watched her but she showed no consciousness of his gaze
»Even if the world recognized me as an artist of distinction« he resumed
»you would still regard me as doubtfully employed Art does not seem to you an
end of sufficient gravity Probably you had rather there were no such thing if
it were practicable«
»There is surely a great responsibility on any one who makes it the end of
life«
This was milder again and just when he had anticipated the opposite
»A responsibility to himself yes Well when I say that I believe this
course is the highest I can follow I mean that I believe it employs all my best
natural powers as no other would As for highest in the absolute sense that is
a different matter Possibly the life of a hospital nurse of a sister of mercy
something of that kind comes nearest to the ideal«
She glanced at him evidently in the same kind of doubt about his meaning as
he had recently felt about hers
»Why should you speak contemptuously of such people«
»Contemptuously I speak sincerely In a world where pain is the most
obvious fact the task of mercy must surely take precedence of most others«
»I am surprised to hear you say this«
It was spoken in the tone most characteristic of her that of a proud
condescension
»Why Mrs Baske«
She hesitated a little but made answer
»I dont mean that I think you unfeeling but your interests seem to be so
far from such simple things«
»True«
Again a long silence The carriage was descending the road from Pozzuoli it
approached the seashore where the gentle breakers were beginning to be tinged
with evening light Cecily looked back and waved her hand
»When you say that art is an end in itself« Miriam resumed abruptly »you
claim I suppose that it is a way of serving mankind«
Mallard was learning the significance of her tones In this instance he
knew that the words serving mankind were a contemptuous use of a phrase she had
heard a phrase which represented the philosophy alien to her own
»Indeed I claim nothing of the kind« he replied laughing »Art may or
may not serve such a purpose but be assured that the artist never thinks of
his work in that way«
»You make no claim then even of usefulness«
»Most decidedly none You little imagine how distasteful the word is to me
in such connection«
»Then how can you say you are employing your best natural powers«
She had fallen to ingenuous surprise and Mallard again laughed partly at
the simplicity of the question partly because it pleased him to have brought
her to such directness
»Because« he answered »this work gives me keener and more lasting pleasure
than any other would And I am not a man easily pleased with my own endeavours
Mrs Baske I work with little or no hope of ever satisfying myself that is
another thing I have heard men speak of my kind of art as the noble pursuit of
Truth and so on I dont care for such phrases they may mean something but as
a rule come of the very spirit so opposed to my own that which feels it
necessary to justify art by bombast The one object I have in life is to paint a
bit of the world just as I see it I exhaust myself in vain toil I shall never
succeed but I am right to persevere I am right to go on pleasing myself«
Miriam listened in astonishment
»With such views Mr Mallard it is fortunate that you happen to find
pleasure in painting pictures«
»Which at all events do people no harm«
She turned upon him suddenly
»Do you encourage my brother in believing that his duty in life is to please
himself«
»It has been my effort« he replied gravely
»I dont understand you« Miriam said in indignation
»No you do not I mean to say that I believe your brother is not really
pleased with the kind of life he has too long been leading that to please
himself he must begin serious work of some kind«
»That is playing with words and on a subject illchosen for it«
»Mrs Baske do you seriously believe that Reuben Elgar can be made a man of
steady purpose by considerations that have primary reference to any one or
anything but himself«
She made no answer
»I am not depreciating him The same will apply if you are content to face
the truth to many a man whom you would esteem I am sorry that I have lost your
confidence but that is better than to keep it by repeating idle formulas that
the worlds experience has outgrown«
Miriam pondered then said quietly
»We have different thoughts Mr Mallard and speak different languages«
»But we know a little more of each other than we did For my part I feel it
a gain«
During the rest of the drive they scarcely spoke at all the few sentences
exchanged were mere remarks upon the scenery Both carriages drew up at the gate
of the villa where Miriam and Mallard alighted Spence rising called to the
latter
»Will you accompany Miss Doran the rest of the way«
»Certainly«
Mallard took his seat in the other carriage and as it drove off he looked
back Miriam was gazing after them
Cecily was a little tired and not much disposed to converse Her companion
being still less so they reached the Mergellina without having broached any
subject
»It has been an unforgettable day« Cecily said as they parted
Chapter VI
Captive Travellers
He had taken leave of the Spences and Mrs Baske yet was not sure that he
should go He had said goodbye to Mrs Lessingham and to Cecily herself yet
made no haste to depart It drew on to evening and he sat idly in his room in
Casa Rolandi looking at his traps half packed Then of a sudden up he started
»Imbecile Insensate I give you fifteen minutes to be on your way to the
station Miss the next train and sink to the level of common men« Shirts
socks straps locks adieux tips horses whips Clatter through the
Piazzetta Mondragone down at breakneck speed to the Toledo across the Piazza
del Municipio a goodbye to the public scriveners sitting at their little
tables by the San Carlo sharp round the corner and along by the Porto Grande
with its throng of vessels All the time he sings a tune to himself caught up
in the streets of the tuneful city an air lilting to the refrain
»Io ti voglio bene assaje
E tu non pienz a me«
Just after nightfall he alighted from the train at Pompeii Having stowed away
certain impedimenta at the station he took his travellingbag in his hand
broke with small ceremony through porters and hoteltouts came forth upon the
highroad and stepped forward like one to whom the locality is familiar In a
minute or two he was overtaken by a little lad who looked up at him and said in
an insinuating voice »Albergo del Sole signore«
»Prendi bambino« was Mallards reply as he handed the bag to him
»Avanti«
A divine evening softly warm dimglimmering The dusty road ran on between
white trunks of planetrees when the station and the houses near it were left
behind no other building came in view To the left of the road hidden behind
its long earthrampart lay the dead city far beyond rose the dark shape of
Vesuvius crested with beaconglow a small red fire now angry now murky now
for a time extinguished The long rumble of the train died away and there
followed silence absolute scarcely broken for a few minutes by a peasant
singing in the distance the wailing song so often heard in the south of Italy
Silence that was something more than the wonted soundlessness of night the
haunting oblivion of a time long past a melancholy brooding voiceless upon the
desolate home of forgotten generations
A walk of ten minutes and there shone light from windows The lad ran
forward and turned in at the gate of a garden Mallard followed and approached
some persons who were standing at an open door He speedily made arrangements
for his nights lodging saw his room and went to the quarter of the inn where
dinner was already in progress This was a building to itself at one side of
the garden Through the doorway he stepped immediately into a lowroofed hall
where a number of persons sat at table Pillars supported the ceiling in the
middle and the walls were in several places painted with heads or landscapes
the work of artists who had made their abode here one or two cases with glass
doors showed relics of Pompeii
Elgar was one of the company When he became aware of Mallards arrival he
stood up with a cry of All hail and pointed to a seat near him
»I began to be afraid you wouldnt come this evening Try the risotto its
excellent Ye gods what an appetite I had when I sat down Today have I
ascended Vesuvius How many bottles of wine I drank between starting and
returning I cannot compute I never knew before what it was to be athirst Why
their vino di Vesuvio is for all the world like cider I thought at first I was
being swindled not an impossible thing in these regions I must tell you a
story about a party of Americans I encountered at Bosco Reale«
The guests numbered seven or eight with one exception besides Elgar they
were Germans all artists of one kind or another fellows of genial appearance
loud in vivacious talk The exception was a young Englishman somewhat oddly
dressed and with a great quantity of auburn hair that rolled forward upon his
distinguished brow At a certain pension on the Mergellina he was well known He
sat opposite Elgar and had been in conversation with him
Mallard cared little what he ate and ate little of anything Neither was he
in the mood for talk but Elgar who had finished his solid meal and now amused
himself with grapes in two forms spared him the necessity of anything but an
occasional monosyllable The young man was elated and grew more so as he
proceeded with his dessert his cheeks were deeply flushed his eyes gleamed
magnificently
In the meantime Clifford Marsh had joined in conversation with the Germans
his use of their tongue was far from idiomatic but by sheer determination to
force a way through linguistic obstacles he talked with a haphazard fluency
which was amusing enough No false modesty imposed a check upon his eloquence
It was to the general table that he addressed himself on the topic that had
arisen in an English dress his speech ran somewhat as follows
»Gentlemen allow me to say that I have absolutely no faith in the future of
which you speak It is my opinion that democracy is the fatal enemy of art How
can you speak of ancient and mediæval states Neither in Greece nor in Italy was
there ever what we understand by a democracy«
»Factisch Der Herr hat Recht« cried some one and several other voices
strove to make themselves heard but the orator raised his note and overbore
interruption
»You must excuse me gentlemen if I say that however it may be from other
points of view from the standpoint of art democracy is simply the triumph of
ignorance and brutality« »Gewisz« »Nimmermehr« »Vortrefflich« »I dont
care to draw distinctions between forms of the thing Socialism communism
collectivism parliamentarism all these have one and the same end to put men
on an equality and in proportion as that end is approached so will art in
every shape languish Art gentlemen is nourished upon inequalities and
injustices« »Ach« »Wie kann man so etwas sagen« »Hoch verissime« »I
am not representing this as either good or bad It may be well that justice
should be established even though art perish I simply state a fact« »Doch«
»Erlauben Sie« »Supremacy of the vulgar interest means supremacy of ignoble
judgment in all matters of mind See what plutocracy already makes of art«
Here one of the Germans insisted on a hearing a fine fellow with Samsonic
locks and a ringing voice
»Sir sir who talks of a genuine democracy with mankind in its present
state Before it comes about the multitude will be instructed exalted
emancipated humanized«
»Sir« shouted Marsh »who talks of the Millennium I speak of things
possible within a few hundred years The multitude will never be humanized
Civilization is attainable only by the few nature so ordains it«
»Pardon me for saying that is a lie I use the word controversially«
»It is a manifest truth« cried the other »Who ever doubted it but a
Dummkopf I use the word with reference to this argument only«
So it went on for a long time Mallard and Elgar knew no German so could
derive neither pleasure nor profit from the high debate
»Are you as glum here as in London« Reuben asked of his companion in a
bantering voice »I should have pictured you grandly jovial wreathed perhaps
with ruddy vineleaves the light of inspiration in your eye and in your hand a
mantling goblet Drink man drink you need a stimulant an exhilarant an
antiphlegmatic a counterirritant against English spleen You are still on the
other side of the Alps of the Channel the fogs yet cling about you Clear your
brow O painter of Ossianic wildernesses Taste the foam of life We are in the
land of Horace and nunc est bibendum Seriously do you never relax«
»Oh yes You should see me over the fifth tumbler of whiskey at Stornoway«
»Bah you might as well say the fifth draught of fishoil at the North Cape
How innocent this wine is A gallon of it would give one no more than a pleasant
glow the faculty of genial speech Take a glass with me to the health of your
enchanting ward«
»Please to command your tongue« growled Mallard with a look that was not
to be mistaken
»I beg your pardon It shall be to the health of that superb girl we saw in
the Mercato But as far as I can judge yet the Neapolitan type doesnt appeal
to me very strongly It is finely animal and of course that has its value but
I prefer the suggestion of a soul dont you I remember a model old Langton had
in Rome a girl fresh from the mountains by Juno a glorious creature I dare
say you have seen her portrait in his studio he likes to show it But it does
her nothing like justice she might have sat for the genius of the Republic
Utterly untaught and intensely stupid but there were marvellous things to be
read in her face Ah but give me the girls of Venice You know them how they
walk about the piazza their tall lithe forms the counterpart of the
gondolier their splendid black hair elaborately braided and pierced with large
ornaments their noble aristocratic grave features their long shawls What
natural dignity What eloquent eyes I like to imagine them profoundly
intellectual which they are unhappily not«
Marsh had withdrawn from colloquy with the Germans and kept glancing across
the table at his compatriots obviously wishing that he might join them
Mallard upon whom Elgars excited talk jarred more and more noticed the
strangers looks and at length leaned forward to speak to him
»As usual we are in a minority among the sunworshippers«
»Sunworshippers Good« laughed the other »Yes I have never met more than
one or two chance Englishmen at the Sole«
»But you are at your ease with our friends there I think you know as
little German as I do Elgar«
»Devilish bad at languages To tell you the truth I cant endure the sense
of inferiority one has in beginning to smatter with foreigners I read four or
five but avoid speaking as much as possible«
Marsh took an early opportunity of alluding to the argument in which he had
recently taken part The subject was resumed At Elgars bidding the waiter had
brought cigars and things looked comfortable the Germans talked with more
animation than ever
»One of the worst evils of democracy in England« said Reuben forcibly »is
its alliance with Puritan morality«
»Oh that is being quickly outgrown« cried Marsh »Look at the spread of
rationalism«
»You take it for granted that Puritanism doesnt survive religious dogma
Believe me you are greatly mistaken I am sorry to say I have a large
experience in this question The mass of the English people have no genuine
religious belief but none the less they are Puritans in morality The same
applies to the vastly greater part of those who even repudiate Christianity«
»One must take account of the national hypocrisy« remarked the younger man
with an air of superiority shaking his head as his habit was
»Its a complicated matter The representative English bourgeois is a
hypocrite in essence but is perfectly serious in his judgment of the man next
door and the latter characteristic has more weight than the former in
determining his life Puritanism has aided the material progress of England but
its effect on art But for it we should have a school of painters corresponding
in greatness to the Elizabethan dramatists Depend upon it the democracy will
continue to be Puritan Every picture every book will be tried by the same
imbecile test Enforcement of Puritan morality will be one of the ways in which
the mob come to power will revenge itself on those who still remain its
superiors«
Marsh was not altogether pleased at finding his facile eloquence outdone In
comparing himself with Elgar he was conscious of but weakly representing the
tendencies which were a passionate force in this man with the singularly fine
head with such a glow of wild life about him He abandoned the abstract
argument and struck a personal note
»However it may be in the future I grant you the artist has at present no
scope save in one direction For my own part I have fallen back on landscape
Let those who will paint Miss Wilhelmina in the nursery with an interesting
doll of her own size or a member of Parliament rising to deliver a great speech
on the liquor traffic or Mrs Whatdoyoucallher lecturing on womans
rights These are the subjects our time affords«
Mallard eyed with fresh curiosity the gentleman who had fallen back on
landscape
»What did you formerly aim at« he inquired with a sort of suave gruffness
»Things which were hopelessly out of the question I worked for a long time
at a Death of Messalina That was in Rome I had a splendid inspiration for
Messalinas face But my hand was paralyzed when I thought of the idiotic
comments such a picture would occasion in England One fellow would say I had
searched through history in a prurient spirit for something sensational
another that I read a moral lesson of terrible significance and so on«
»A grand subject decidedly« exclaimed Elgar with genuine enthusiasm
which restored Marsh to his own good opinion »Go on with it Bid the fools be
hanged Have you your studies here«
»Unfortunately not They are in Rome«
Mallard delivered himself of a blunt opinion
»That is no subject for a picture Use it for literature if you like«
The inevitable discussion began the discussion so familiar nowadays and
which would have sounded so odd to the English painters who were wont to call
themselves historical Where is the line between subjects for the easel and
subjects for the desk What distinguishes the art of the illustrator from the
art of the artist
That was a great evening round the table at the Albergo del Sole How
gloriously the air thickened with tobaccosmoke What removal of empty bottles
and replacing them with full The Germans were making it a set Kneipe the
Englishmen unable to drink quite so heroically were scarce behind in vehemence
of debate Mallard grimly accepting the help of wine against his inner foes at
length earned Elgars approval he had relaxed indeed and was no longer under
the oppression of English fog But with him such moods were of brief duration
he suddenly quitted the table and went out into the night air
The late moon was rising ambercoloured on a sky of dusky azure He walked
from the garden across the road and towards the ruins of the Amphitheatre
which lie some distance apart from the Pompeian streets that have been
unearthed he passed beneath an arch and stood looking down into the dark
hollow so often thronged with citizens of Latin speech Small wonder that
Benvenutos necromancer could evoke his myriads of flitting ghosts in the
midnight Colosseum here too it needed but to stand for a few minutes in the
dead stillness and the air grew alive with mysterious presences murmurous with
awful whisperings Mallard enjoyed it for awhile but at length turned away
abruptly feeling as if a cold hand had touched him
As he reentered the innprecincts he heard voices still uproarious in the
diningroom but he had no intention of going among them again His bedroom was
one of a row which opened immediately upon the garden He locked himself in
went to bed but did not sleep for a long time A wind was rising and a branch
of a tree constantly tapped against the pane It might have been some
centuriesdead inhabitant of Pompeii trying to deliver a message from the silent
world
The breakfastparty next morning lacked vivacity Clifford Marsh was mute
and dolorous of aspect no doubt his personal embarrassments were occupying him
Yesterdays wine had become his foe instead of an ally urging him to dare all
in the cause of art He consumed his coffee and roll in the manner of ordinary
mortals not once flourishing his dainty hand or shaking his ambrosial hair
Elgar was very stiff from his ascent of Vesuvius and he too found that the foam
of life had an unpleasant aftertaste suggestive of wrecked fortunes and a
dubious future Mallard was only a little gruffer than his wonted self
»I am going on at once to Sorrento« he said meeting Elgar afterwards in
the garden »Tomorrow I shall cross over the hills to Positano and Amalfi
Suppose you come with me«
The other hesitated
»You mean you are going to walk«
»No I have traps to carry on from the station We should have a carriage to
Sorrento and tomorrow a donkey for the baggage«
They paced about hands in pockets It was a keen morning the tramontana
blew blusterously causing the smoke of Vesuvius to lie all down its long slope
a dense white cloud or a vast turbid torrent breaking at the foot into foam
and spray The clearness of the air was marvellous Distance seemed to have no
power to dim the details of the landscape The Apennines glistened with
newfallen snow
»I hadnt thought of going any further just now« said Elgar who seemed to
have a difficulty in simply declining the invitation as he wished to do
»What should you do then«
»Spend another day here I think Ive only had a few hours among the
ruins you know and then go back to Naples«
»What to do there« asked Mallard bluntly
»Give a little more time to the museum and see more of the surroundings«
»Better come on with me I shall be glad of your company«
It was said with decision but scarcely with heartiness Elgar looked about
him vaguely
»To tell you the truth« he said at last »I dont care to incur much
expense«
»The expenses of what I propose are trivial«
»My traps are at Naples and I have kept the room there No I dont see my
way to it Mallard«
»All right«
The artist turned away He walked about the road for ten minutes Very
well then he too would return to Naples Why What was altered Even if Elgar
accompanied him to Amalfi it would only be for a few days there was no
preventing the fellows eventual return his visits to the villa perhaps to
Mrs Glucks Again imbecile and insensate What did it all matter
He stopped short He would sit down and write a letter to Mrs Baske A
pretty complication that What grounds for such a letter as he meditated
The devil Had he not a stronger will than Reuben Elgar If he wished to
carry a point with such a weakling was he going to let himself be thwarted
Grant it was help only for a few days no matter Elgar should go with him
He walked back to the garden Good there the fellow loitered obviously
irresolute
»Elgar youd better come after all« he said with a grim smile »I want
to have some talk with you Let us pay our shot and walk on to the station«
»What kind of talk Mallard«
»Various Get whatever you have to carry Ill see to the bill«
»But how can I go on without a shirt«
»I have shirts in abundance A truce to your obstacles March«
And before very long they were side by side in the vehicle speeding along
the level road towards Castellammare and the mountains This exertion of native
energy had been beneficial to Mallards temper he talked almost genially
Elgar too had subdued his restiveness and began to look forward with pleasure
to the expedition
»I only wish this wind would fall« he exclaimed »Its cold and I hate a
wind of any kind«
»Hate a wind Youre effeminate youre a boulevardier It would do you good
to be pitched in a gale about the coast of Skye A fellow of your temperament
has no business in these relaxing latitudes You want tonics«
»Too true old man I know myself at least as well as you know me«
»Then what a contemptible creature you must be If a man knows his weakness
he is inexcusable for not overcoming it«
»A preposterous contradiction allow me to say A man is what he is and
will be ever the same Have you no tincture of philosophy You talk as though
one could govern fate«
»And you very much like the braying jackass in the field there«
Mallard had a savage satisfaction in breaking all bounds of civility He
overwhelmed his companion with abuse revelled in insulting comparisons Elgar
laughed and stretched himself on the cushions so as to avoid the wind as much
as possible
They clattered through the streets of Castellammare pursued by urchins
crying Un sordo signori Thence on by the seaside road to Vico Equense Elgar
every now and then shouting his ecstasy at the view The hills on this side of
the promontory climb for the most part softly and slowly upwards everywhere
thickly clad with olives and orangetrees figtrees and aloes Beyond Vico
comes a jutting headland the road curves round it clinging close on the
hillside turns inland and all at once looks down upon the Piano di Sorrento
Instinctively the companions rose to their feet as though any other attitude
on the first revelation of such a prospect were irreverent It is not really a
plain but a gently rising wide and deep lap surrounded by lofty mountains and
ending at a line of sheer cliffs along the seafront A vast garden planted for
Natures joy a pleasance of the gods a haunt of the spirit of beauty set
between sunsmitten crags and the enchanted shore
»Heaven be praised that you forced me to come« muttered Elgar in his
choking throat
Mallard could say nothing He had looked upon this scene before but it
affected him none the less
They drove into the town of Tasso and to an inn which stood upon the edge
of a profound gorge cloven towards the seacliffs Sauntering in the yard
whilst dinner was made ready they read an inscription on a homely fountain
»Sordibus abstersis instructo marmore priscus
Fons nitet et manat gratior unda tibi«
»Eternal gratitude to our old schoolmasters« cried Elgar »who thrashed us
through the Eton Latin grammar What is Italy to the man who cannot share our
feelings as we murmur that distich I marvel that I was allowed to learn this
heathen tongue Had my parents known what it would mean to me I should never
have chanted my hic hæc hoc«
He was at his best this afternoon Mallard could scarcely identify him with
the reckless and sometimes vulgar spendthrift who had been rushing his way to
ruin in London His talk abounded in quotation in literary allusion in
highspirited jest in poetical feeling When had he read so much What a memory
he had In a world that consisted of but one sex what a fine fellow he would
have been
»What do you think of my sister« he asked à propos of nothing as they
idled about the Capo di Sorrento and on the road to Massa
»An absurd question«
»You mean that I cannot suppose you would tell me the truth«
»And just as little the untruth I do not know your sister«
»We had a horrible scene that day I turned up I behaved brutally to her
poor girl«
»Im afraid you have often done so«
»Often I rave at her superstition how can she help it But shes a good
girl and has wit enough if she might use it Oh if some generous
largebrained man would drag her out of that slough of despond What a
marriage that was Powers of darkness what a marriage«
Mallard was led to no question
»I shall never understand it never« went on Elgar in excitement »If you
had seen that oily beast I dont know what criterion girls have Several of my
acquaintance have made marriages that set my hair on end Lives thrown away in
accursed ignorance thats my belief«
Mallard waited for the next words expecting that they would torture him
There was a long pause however and what he awaited did not come
»Do you hate the name Miriam as I do«
»Hate it no«
»I wonder they didnt call her Keziah and me Mephibosheth It isnt a nice
thing to detest the memory of ones parents Mallard It doesnt help to make
one a wellbalanced man How on earth did I get my individuality And you
mustnt think that Miriam is just what she seems I mean there are
possibilities in her I am convinced of it«
»Did it ever occur to you that your own proceedings may have acted as a
check upon those possibilities«
»I dont know that I ever thought of it« said Elgar ingenuously
»You never reflected that her notion of the liberated man is yourself«
»You are right Mallard I see it What other example had she«
They walked as far as Massa Lubrense a little town on the steep shore over
against it the giant cliffs of Capri every cleft and scar and jutting rock
discernible through the pellucid air every minutest ruggedness casting its
clearcut shadow But the surpassing glory was the prospect at the Cape of
Sorrento when they reached it on their walk back Before them the entire sweep
of the gulf from Ischia to Capri Naples in its utmost extent an unbroken line
of delicate pink from Posillipo to Torre Annunziata Far below their feet the
little marina of Sorrento with its row of boats drawn up on the strand behind
them noble limestone heights The sea was foaming under the tramontana and its
foam took colour from the declining sun
Next morning they set forth again as Mallard had proposed their baggage
packed on a donkey a guide with them to lead the way over the mountains to the
other shore A long climb and at the culminating point of the ridge they rested
to look the last on Naples thenceforward their faces were set to the far blue
hills of Calabria
»Yonder lies Pæstum« said Mallard pointing to the dim plain beyond the
Gulf of Salerno and his companions eyes were agleam
Early in the afternoon they reached the coast at Positano and thence took
boat for Amalfi Elgar was like one possessed at his first sight of the
wonderful old town nested in its mountain gorge overlooked by wild crags this
relic saved from the waste of mediæval glory When they had put up at an inn
less frequented and much cheaper than the Cappuccini he would not rest until he
had used the last hour of sunlight in clambering about the little maze of
streets or rather of mountain paths and burrows beneath houses piled one upon
another indistinguishably Forced back by hunger he still lingered upon the
windowbalcony looking up at the hoary riven tower set high above the town on
what seems an inaccessible peak or at the cathedral and its manycoloured
campanile
How could Mallard help comparing these manifestations of ardent temper with
what he had witnessed in Cecily The resemblance was at moments more than he
could endure once or twice he astonished Elgar with a reply of unprovoked
savageness The emotions of the day even more than its bodily exercise had so
wearied him that he went early to bed They had a doublebedded room and Elgar
continued talking for hours Even without this Mallard felt that he would have
been unable to sleep To add to his torments the clock of the cathedral which
was just on the opposite side of the street had the terrible southern habit of
striking the whole hour after the chime at each quarter by midnight the
clangour was all but incessant Elgar sank at length into oblivion but to his
companion sleep came not Very early in the morning there sounded the loud blast
of a horn all through the town and away into remoteness Signify what it might
the practical result seemed to be a rousing of the population to their daily
life lively voices the tramp of feet the clatter of vehicles began at once
and waxed with the spread of daylight
The sun rose but only to gleam for an hour on clouds and vapours which it
had not power to disperse The mountain summits were hidden and down their
sides crept ominously the ragged edges of mist a thin rain began to fall and
grew heavier as the sky dulled Having breakfasted the two friends spent an
hour in the cathedral which was dark and chill and gloomy Two or three old
people knelt in prayer their heads bowed against column or wall remarking the
strangers they came up to them and begged
»My spirits are disagreeably on the ebb« said Elgar »If its to be a
Scotch day let us do some mountaineering«
They struck up the gorge intending to pursue the little river but were
soon lost among ascents and descents narrow stairs precipitous gardens and
noisy papermills Probably no unassisted stranger ever made his way out of
Amalfi on to the mountain slopes They had scorned to take a guide but did so
at length in selfdefence so pestered were they by all but every person they
passed man woman and child beset them for soldi either frankly begging or
offering a direction and then extending their hands The papermills were not
romantic the old women who came along bending under huge bales of rags were
anything but picturesque And it rained it rained
Wet and weary they had no choice but to return to the inn Elgars
animation had given place to fretfulness Mallard after his miserable night
cared little to converse and would gladly have been alone A midday meal with
liberal supply of wine helped them somewhat and they sat down to smoke in
their bedroom It rained harder than ever from the window they could see the
old tower on the crag smitten with white scud
»Come now« said Mallard forcing himself to take a livelier tone »tell me
about those projects of yours Are you serious in your idea of writing«
»Perfectly serious«
»And what are you going to write«
»That I havent quite determined I am revolving things I have ideas
without number«
»Too many for use then You need to live in some such place as this for a
few weeks and clear your thoughts Company villanous company is the first
thing to be avoided«
»No doubt you are right«
But it was halfheartedly said and with a restless glance towards the
window Mallard in whose heart a sick weariness conflicted with his will and
his desire went on in a dogged way
»I want to work here for a time« Work The syllable was like lead upon his
tongue and the thought a desolation in his mind »Write to your sister get her
to send your belongings from Casa Rolandi together with a ream of
scribblingpaper I shall be out of doors most of the day and no one will
disturb you here Use the opportunity like a man Fall to I have a strong
suspicion that it is now or never with you«
»I doubt whether I could do anything here«
»Perhaps not on a day like this but it is happily exceptional Remember
yesterday Were I a penman the view from this window in sunlight would make the
ink flow nobly«
Elgar was mute for a few minutes
»I believe I need a big town Scenes like this dispose me to idle enjoyment
I have thought of settling in Paris for the next six months«
Mallard made a movement of irritation
»Then why did you come here at all You say you have no money to waste«
»Oh it isnt quite so bad with me as all that« replied Elgar as if he
slightly resented this interference with his private affairs
Yet he had yesterday in the flow of his goodhumour all but confessed that
it was high time he looked out for an income Mallard examined him askance The
other aware of this scrutiny put on a smile and said with an air of
selfconquest
»But you are right I have every reason to trust your advice Ill tell you
what Mallard Tomorrow Ill drive to Salerno take the train to Naples pack
my traps and relieve Miriams mind by an assurance that Im going to work in
your company then at once come back here«
»I dont see the need of going to Naples Write a letter Heres paper
heres pen and ink«
Elgar was again mute His companion in an access of intolerable suffering
cried out vehemently
»Cant you see into yourself far enough to know that you are paltering with
necessity Are you such a feeble creature that you must be at the mercy of every
childish whim and ruin yourself for lack of courage to do what you know you
ought to do If instability of nature had made such work of me as it has of you
Id cut my throat just to prove that I could at least once make my hand obey my
will«
»It would be but the final proof of weakness« replied Elgar laughing »Or
to be more serious what would it prove either one way or the other If you cut
your throat it was your destiny to do so just as it was to commit the follies
that led you there What is all this nonsense about weak men and strong men I
act as I am bound to act I refrain as I am bound to refrain You know it well
enough«
This repeated expression of fatalism was genuine enough It manifested a
habit of his thought One of the characteristics of our time is that it produces
men who are determinists by instinct who anything but profound students or
subtle reasoners catch at the floating phrases of philosophy and recognize them
as the index of their being adopt them thenceforth as clarifiers of their vague
selfconsciousness In certain moods Elgar could not change from one seat to
another without its being brought to his mind that he had moved by necessity
»What if that be true« said Mallard with unexpected coldness »In practice
we live as though our will were free Otherwise why discuss anything«
»True This very discussion is a part of the scheme of things the necessary
antecedent of something or other in your life and mine I shall go to Naples
tomorrow I shall spend one day there on the day after I shall be with you
again My hand upon it Mallard I promise«
He did so with energy And for the moment Mallard was the truer fatalist
Again they left the inn this time going seaward Still in rain they walked
towards Minori along the road which is cut in the mountainside high above the
beach They talked about the massive strongholds which stand as monuments of the
time when the coasttowns were in fear of pirates Melancholy brooded upon land
and sea the hills of Calabria yesterday so blue and clear had vanished like a
sunny hope
The morrow revealed them again But again for Mallard there had passed a
night of much misery On rising he durst not speak so bitter was he made by
Elgars singing and whistling Yet he would not have cared to prevent the
journey to Naples had it been in his power He was sick of Elgars company he
wished for solitude When his eyes fell on the materials of his art he turned
away in disgust
»Youll get to work as soon as Im gone« cried Reuben cheerfully
»Yes«
He said it to avoid conversation
»Cheer up old man I shall not disappoint you this time You have my
promise«
»Yes«
A twohorse carriage was at the door Mallard looked at it from the balcony
and was direly tempted No fear of his yielding however It was not his fate to
scamper whither desire pointed him
»I have already begun to work out an idea« said Elgar as he breakfasted
merrily »I woke in the night and it came to me as I heard the bell striking
My mind is always active when I am travelling ten to one I shall come back
ready to begin to write I fear theres no decent ink purchasable in Amalfi I
mustnt forget that Bythebye is there anything I can bring you«
»Nothing thanks«
They went down together shook hands and away drove the carriage At the
public fountain in the little piazza where stands the image of Sant Andrea a
group of women were busy or idling washing clothes and vegetables and fish
drawing water in vessels of beautiful shape chattering incessantly such a
group as may have gathered there any morning for hundreds of years Children
darted after the vehicle with their perpetual cry of »Un sord signor« and
Elgar royally threw to them a handful of coppers looking back to laugh as they
scrambled
A morning of mornings deliciously fresh after the rain the air exquisitely
fragrant On the mountaintops ever so slight a mist still clinging moment by
moment fading against the blue
»Yes I shall be able to work here« said Elgar within himself »December
January February I can be ready with something for the spring«
Chapter VII
The Martyr
Clifford Marsh left Pompeii on the same day as his two chance acquaintances he
returned to his quarters on the Mergellina much perturbed in mind beset with
many doubts with divers temptations »Shall I the spigot wield« Must the
ambitions of his glowing youth come to naught and he descend to rank among the
Philistines For to give him credit for a certain amount of good sense he
never gravely contemplated facing the world in the sole strength of his genius
He knew one or two who had done so before his minds eye was a certain little
garret in Chelsea where an acquaintance of his a man of real and various
powers was year after year taxing his brain and heart in a bitter struggle with
penury and these glimpses of Bohemia were far from inspiring Clifford with zeal
for naturalization Elated with wine and companionship he liked to pose as one
who was sacrificing prospects to artistic conscientiousness but even though he
had fallen back on landscape he was very widely awake to the fact that his
impressionist studies would not supply him with bread to say nothing of butter
and Clifford must needs have both
That stepfather of his was a welltodo manufacturer of shoddy in Leeds
one Hibbert a goodnatured man on the whole but of limited horizon He had
married a widow above his own social standing and for a long time was content
to supply her idolized son with the means of pursuing artistic studies in London
and abroad But Mr Hibbert had a strong opinion that this money should by now
have begun to make some show of productiveness Domestic grounds of
dissatisfaction ripened his resolve to be firm with young Mr Marsh Mrs
Hibbert was extravagant doubtless her son was playing the fool in the same
direction After all one could pay too much for the privilege of being snubbed
by ones superior wife and stepson If Clifford were willing to buckle to at
sober business it was now too late for him to learn a profession well and
good he should have an opening at which many a young fellow would jump
Otherwise let the fastidious gentleman pay his own tailors bills
Cliffords difficulties were complicated by his relations with Madeline
Denyer It was a year since he had met Madeline at Naples had promptly fallen
in love with her face and her advanced opinions and had won her affection in
return Clifford was then firm in the belief that if he actually married Mr
Hibbert would not have the heart to stop his allowance Mrs Denyer had reasons
for thinking otherwise and her daughter saw the case in the same light It must
be added that he presumed the Denyers to be better off than they really were in
fact he was to a great extent misled His dignity if the worst came about
would not have shrunk from moderate assistance at the hands of his
parentsinlaw Madeline knew well enough that nothing of this kind was
possible and in the end made her lovers mind clear on the point Since then
the course of these young peoples affections had been anything but smooth
However the fact remained that there mutual affection which to be sure made
the matter worse
Distinctly so since the estrangement which had followed Marshs arrival at
the boardinghouse He did not take Madelines advice to seek another abode and
for two or three days Madeline knew not whether to be glad or offended at his
remaining For two or three days only then she began to have a pronounced
opinion on the subject It was monstrous that he should stay under this roof and
sit at this table after what had happened He had no delicacy he was behaving
as no gentleman could It was high time that her mother spoke to him
Mrs Denyer solemnly invited the young man to a private interview
»Mr Marsh« she began with pained dignity whilst Clifford stood before
her twiddling his watchchain »I really think the time has come for me to ask
an explanation of what is going on My daughter distresses me by saying that all
is at an end between you If that is really the case why do you continue to
live here when you must know how disagreeable it is to Madeline«
»Mrs Denyer« replied Clifford in a friendly tone »there has been a
misunderstanding between us but I am very far from reconciling myself to the
thought that everything is at an end My remaining surely proves that«
»I should have thought so But in that case I am obliged to ask you another
question What can you mean by paying undisguised attentions to another young
lady who is living here«
»You astonish me What foundation is there for such a charge«
»At least you wont affect ignorance as to the person of whom I speak I
assure you that I am not the only one who has noticed this«
»You misinterpret my behaviour altogether Of course you are speaking of
Miss Doran If your observation had been accurate you would have noticed that
Miss Doran gives me no opportunity of paying her attentions if I wished
Certainly I have had conversations with Mrs Lessingham but I see no reason why
I should deny myself that pleasure«
»This is sophistry You walked about the museum with both these ladies for a
long time yesterday«
Clifford was startled and could not conceal it
»Of course« he exclaimed »if my movements are watched with a view to my
accusation «
And he broke off significantly
»Your movements are not watched But if I happen to hear of such things I
must draw my own conclusions«
»I give you my assurance that the meeting was purely by chance and that our
conversation was solely of indifferent matters of art of Pompeii and so on«
»Perhaps you are not aware« resumed Mrs Denyer with a smile that made
caustic comment on this apology »that when we sit at table your eyes are
directed to Miss Doran with a frequency that no one can help observing«
Marsh hesitated then throwing his head back remarked in an unapproachable
manner
»Mrs Denyer you will not forget that I am an artist«
»I dont forget that you profess to be one Mr Marsh«
This was retort with a vengeance Clifford reddened slightly and looked
angry Mrs Denyer had reached the point to which her remarks were from the
first directed and it was not her intention to spare the young mans
susceptibilities She had long ago gauged him and not inaccurately on the
whole it seemed to her that he was of the men who can be managed
»I fail to understand you« said Marsh with dignity
»My dear Clifford let me speak to you as one who has your wellbeing much
at heart I have no wish to hurt your feelings but I have been upset by this
silly affair and it makes me speak a little sharply Now I see well enough
what you have been about it is an old device of young gentlemen who wish to
revenge themselves just a little for what they think a slight Of course you
have never given a thought to Miss Doran who as you say would never dream of
carrying on a flirtation for she knows how things are between you and Madeline
and she is a young lady of very proper behaviour In no case as you of course
understand could she be so indelicate as anything of this kind would imply No
but you are vexed with Madeline about some silly little difference and you play
with her feelings There has been enough of it I must interfere And now let us
talk a little about your position Madeline has of course told me everything
Listen to me my dear Clifford you must at once accept Mr Hibberts kindly
meant proposal you must indeed«
Marsh had reflected anxiously during this speech He let a moment of silence
pass then said gravely
»I cannot consent to do anything of the kind Mrs Denyer«
»Oh yes you can and will Clifford Silly boy dont you see that in this
way you secure yourself the future just suited to your talents As an artist you
will never make your way that is certain As a man with a substantial business
at your back you can indulge your artistic tastes quite sufficiently and will
make yourself the centre of an admiring circle We cannot all be stars of the
first magnitude Be content to shine in a provincial sphere at all events for a
time Madeline as your wife will help you substantially You will have good
society and better the richer you become You are made to be a rich man and to
enjoy life Now let us settle this affair with your stepfather«
Still Clifford reflected and again with the result that he appeared to have
no thought of being persuaded to such concessions The debate went on for a long
time ultimately with no little vigour on both sides Its only immediate result
was that Marsh left the house for a few days retiring to meditate at Pompeii
In the mean time there was no apparent diminution in Madelines friendliness
towards Cecily Doran It was not to be supposed that Madeline thought tenderly
of the others beauty or with warm admiration of her endowments but she would
not let Clifford Marsh imagine that it mattered to her in the least if he at
once transferred his devotion to Miss Doran Her tone in conversing with Cecily
became a little more patronizing though she spoke no more of impressionism
in proportion as she discovered the younger girls openness of mind and her lack
of selfassertiveness
»You play the piano I think« she said one day
»For my own amusement only«
»And you draw«
»With the same reserve«
»Ah« said Madeline »I have long since given up these things Dont you
think it is a pity to make a pastime of an art I soon saw that I was never
likely really to do anything in music or drawing and out of respect for them I
ceased to to potter Please dont think I apply that word to you«
»Oh but it is very applicable« replied Cecily with a laugh »I think you
are quite right I often enough have the same feeling But I am full of
inconsistencies as you are finding out I know«
Mrs Lessingham displayed good nature in her intercourse with the Denyers
She smiled in private and of course breathed to Cecily a word of warning but
the family entertained her and Madeline she came really to like With Mrs
Denyer she compared notes on the Italy of other days
»A sad sad change« Mrs Denyer was wont to sigh »All the poetry gone
Think of Rome before 1870 and what it is now becoming One never looked for
intellect in Italy living intellect of course I mean but natural poetry
one did expect and find It is heartbreaking this progress If it were not for
my dear girls I shouldnt be here they adore Italy of course never having
known it as it was And I am sure you must feel as I do Mrs Lessingham the
miserable results of cheapened travel Oh the people one sees at
railwaystations even meets in hotels I am sorry to say sometimes In a few
years I do believe Genoa and Venice will strongly remind one of Margate«
No echo of the cry of Wolf ever sounded in Mrs Denyers conversation when
she spoke of her husband That Odysseus of commerce was always referred to as
being concerned in enterprises of mysterious importance and magnitude she would
hint that he had political missions naturally not to be spoken of in plain
terms Mrs Lessingham often wondered with a smile what the truth really was
she saw no reason for making conjectures of a disagreeable kind but it was
pretty clear to her that selfishness idleness and vanity were at the root of
Mrs Denyers character and in a measure explained the position of the family
During the last few days Barbara had exhibited a revival of interest in the
place in Lincolnshire Her experiments proved that it needed but a moderate
ingenuity to make Mr Musselwhites favourite topic practically inexhaustible
The place itself having been sufficiently described it was natural to inquire
what other places were its neighbours what were the characteristics of the
nearest town how long it took to drive from the place to the town from the
place to such another place and so on Mr Musselwhite was undisguisedly
grateful for every remark or question that kept him talking at his ease It was
always his dread lest a subject should be broached on which he could say nothing
whatever there were so many such and as often as Barbara broke a silence
without realizing his fear he glanced at her with the gentlest and most amiable
smile Never more than glanced yet this did not seem to be the result of
shyness rather it indicated a lack of mental activity of speculation of
interest in her as a human being
One morning he lingered at the luncheontable when nearly all the others had
withdrawn playing with crumbs and doubtless shrinking from the ennui that lay
before him until dinnertime Near him Mrs Denyer Barbara and Zillah were
standing in conversation about some photographs that had this morning come by
post
»This one isnt at all like you my dear« said Mrs Denyer with emphasis
to her eldest girl »The other is passable but I wouldnt have any of these«
»Well of course I am no judge« replied Barbara »but I cant agree with
you I much prefer this one«
Mr Musselwhite was slowly rising
»Let us take some one elses opinion« said the mother »I wonder what Mr
Musselwhite would say«
The mention of his name caused him to turn his head half absently with an
inquiring smile Barbara withdrew a step but Mrs Denyer in the most natural
way possible requested Mr Musselwhites judgment on the portraits under
discussion
He took the two in his hands and after inspecting them looked round to
make comparison with the original Barbara met his gaze placidly with
gracefully poised head her hands joined behind her It was such a long time
before the arbiter found anything to remark that the situation became a little
embarrassing Zillah laughed girlishly and her sisters eyes fell
»Really its very hard to decide« said Mr Musselwhite at length with
grave conscientiousness »I think theyre both remarkably good I really think I
should have some of both«
»Barbara thinks that this makes her look too childish« said Mrs Denyer
using her daughters name with a pleasant familiarity
Again Mr Musselwhite made close comparison It was in fact the first time
that he had seen the girls features hitherto they had been like everything
else not embalmed in his memory a mere vague perception a detail of the
phantasmic world through which he struggled against his ennui
»Childish Oh dear no« he remarked almost vivaciously »It is charming
they are both charming Really Id have some of both Miss Denyer«
»Then we certainly will« was Mrs Denyers conclusion and with a gracious
inclination of the head she left the room followed by her daughters Mr
Musselwhite looked round for another glance at Barbara but of course he was
just too late
Poor Madeline in the meantime was being sorely tried Whilst Clifford
Marsh was away at Pompeii daily scenes took place between her and her mother
Mrs Denyer would have had her make conciliatory movements whereas Madeline
who had not exchanged a word with Clifford since the parting in wrath was
determined not to be the first to show signs of yielding And she held her
ground tearless resentful strong in a sense of her own importance
When he again took his place at Mrs Glucks table Clifford had the air of
a man who has resigned himself to the lack of sympathy and appreciation nay
who defies everything external and in the strength of his genius goes serenely
onwards Never had he displayed such selfconsciousness not for an instant did
he forget to regulate the play of his features Mrs Denyer he had greeted
distantly her daughters more distantly still He did not look more than once
or twice in Miss Dorans direction for Mrs Denyers reproof had made him
conscious of an excess in artistic homage His neighbour being Mr Bradshaw he
conversed with him agreeably smiling seldom He seemed neither depressed nor
uneasy his countenance wore a grave and noble melancholy now and then
illumined with an indescribable ardour
The Bradshaws had begun to talk of leaving Naples but this seemed to be the
apology for enjoying themselves which is so characteristic of English people
Even Mrs Bradshaw found her life from day to day very pleasant and in
consequence never saw her friends at the villa without expressing much
uneasiness about affairs at home and blaming her husband for making so long a
stay Both of them were now honoured with the special attention of Mr Marsh
Clifford was never so much in his element as when conversing of art and kindred
matters with persons who avowed their deficiencies in that sphere of knowledge
yet were willing to learn relieved from the fear of criticism he expanded he
glowed he dogmatized With Mrs Lessingham he could not be entirely at his
ease her eye was occasionally disturbing to a pretender who did not lack
discernment But in walking about the museum with Mr Bradshaw he was the most
brilliant of ciceroni Jacob was not wholly credulous for he had spoken of the
young man with Mrs Lessingham but he found such companionship entertaining
enough from time to time and Cliffords knowledge of Italian was occasionally a
help to him
A day or two of moderate intimacy with any person whatsoever always led
Clifford to a revelation of his private circumstances it was not long before
Mr Bradshaw was informed not only of Mr Hibberts harshness but of the
painful treatment to which Clifford was being subjected at the hands of Mrs
Denyer and Madeline The latter point was handled with a good deal of tact for
Clifford had it in view that through Mr Bradshaw his words would one way or
other reach Mrs Lessingham and so perchance come to Miss Dorans ears He made
no unworthy charges he spoke not in anger but in sorrow he was misunderstood
he was depreciated by those who should have devoted themselves to supporting
his courage under adversity And as he talked he became the embodiment of calm
magnanimity the rhetoric which was meant to impress his listener had an
exalting effect upon himself as usual
»You mean to hold out then« asked the bluff Jacob with a smile which all
but became a chuckle
»I am an artist« was the noble reply »I cannot abandon my lifes work«
»But how about bread and cheese They are necessary to an artist as much as
to other men Im afraid«
Clifford smiled calmly
»I shall not be the first who has starved in such a cause«
Jacob roared as he related this conversation to his wife
»I must keep an eye on the lad« he said »When I hear hes given in Ill
write him a letter of congratulation«
Chapter VIII
Proof against Illusion
An interesting conversation took place one morning between Mrs Spence and Mrs
Lessingham with regard to Cecily They were alone together at the villa Cecily
and Miriam had gone for a drive with the Bradshaws After speaking of Reuben
Elgar Mrs Lessingham passed rather abruptly to what seemed a disconnected
subject
»I dont think its time yet for Cecily to give up her set studies I should
like to find some one to read with her regularly again before long say Latin
and history there would be no harm in a little mathematics But theres a
difficulty in finding the suitable person« She smiled »Im afraid only a lady
will answer the purpose«
»Better no doubt« assented Eleanor also with a smile
»And ladies who would be any good to Cecily are not at ones disposition
every day What an admirable mind she has I never knew any one acquire with so
little effort Of course she has long ago left me behind in everything The
only use I can be to her is to help her in gaining knowledge of the world not
to be learnt entirely out of books we know«
»What is your system with her«
»You see that I have one« said Mrs Lessingham gratified and rustling her
plumage a little as a lady does when she is about to speak in confidence of
something that pleases her »Of course I very soon understood that the ordinary
surveillance and restrictions and moral theories were of little use in her case
I may speak with you quite freely I am sure Im afraid the results would
have been very sad if Cecily had grown up in Lancashire«
»I doubt whether she would have grown up at all«
»Indeed it seemed doubtful If her strength had not utterly failed she
must have suffered dreadfully in mind I studied her carefully during the first
two years then I was able to pursue my method with a good deal of confidence
It has been my aim to give free play to all her faculties to direct her
intelligence but never to check its growth as is commonly done We know what
is meant by a girls education as a rule it is not so much the imparting of
knowledge as the careful fostering of special ignorances I think I put it
rightly«
»I think so«
»It is usual to say that a girl must know nothing of this and that and the
other thing these things being in fact the most important for her to
understand I wont say that every girl can safely be left so free as I have
left Cecily but when one has to deal with exceptional intelligence why not
yield it the exceptional advantages Then again I had to bear in mind that
Cecily has strong emotions This seemed to me only another reason for releasing
her mind from the misconceptions it is usual to encourage I have done my best
to help her to see things as they are not as moral teachers would like them to
be and as parents makebelieve to their girls that they are indeed«
Mrs Lessingham ended on a suave note of triumph and smiled very graciously
as Eleanor looked approval
»The average parent says« she pursued »that his or her daughter must be
kept pureminded and therefore must grow up in a fools paradise I have no
less liking for purity but I understand it in rather a different sense certain
examples of the common purity that I have met with didnt entirely recommend
themselves to me Then again the average parent says that the daughters lot in
life is marriage and that after marriage is time enough for her to throw away
the patent rosecoloured spectacles I on the other hand should be very sorry
indeed to think that Cecily has no lot in life besides marriage to me she
seemed a human being to be instructed and developed not a pretty girl to be
made ready for the market The rose coloured spectacles had no part whatever in
my system I have known some who threw them aside at marriage in the ordinary
way with the result that they thenceforth looked on everything very obliquely
indeed Im sorry to say that it was my own fate to wear those spectacles and I
know only too well how hard a struggle it cost me to recover healthy eyesight«
»Mine fell off and got broken long before I was married« said Eleanor »and
my parents didnt think it worth while to buy new ones«
»Wise parents No I have steadily resisted the theory that a girl must know
nothing think nothing but what is likely to meet the approval of the average
husband that is to say the foolish and worse than foolish husband I see no
such difference between girl and boy as demands a difference in moral training
we know what comes of the prevalent contrary views And in Cecilys case I
believe I have vindicated my theory She respects herself she knows all that
lack of selfrespect involves She has been fed on wholesome victuals not on
adulterated milk She is not haunted with that vulgar shame which passes for
maiden modesty Do you find fault with her as a girl«
»I should have to ponder long for an objection«
»And what is the practical result In whatever society she is I am quite
easy in mind about her Cecily will never do anything foolish Its only the
rosecoloured spectacles that cause stumbling And I mean by stumbling all the
silliness to which girls are subject Ah if I could live my girlhood over
again and with some sensible woman to guide me If I could have been put on my
guard against idiotic illusions as Cecily is«
»We mustnt expect too much of education« Eleanor ventured to remark
»There is no way of putting experience into a young girls head It would say
little for her qualities if a girl could not make a generous mistake«
»Such mistakes are not worthy of being called generous as a rule They are
too imbecile That state of illusion is too contemptible There is very little
danger of Cecilys seeing any one in a grossly false light«
Eleanor did not at once assent
»You seem to doubt that« added the other with a searching look
»I think she is as well guarded as a girl can be but as I said before
education is no substitute for experience Dont think me captious however I
sympathize entirely with the course you have taken If I had a daughter I
should like her to be brought up on the same principles«
»Cecily is very mature for her age« continued Mrs Lessingham with evident
pleasure in stating and restating her grounds of confidence »She feels
strongly but never apart from judgment Now and then she astonishes me with her
discernment of character clearness of thought seems almost to anticipate in her
the experience on which you lay such stress Have you noticed her with Mr
Mallard How differently many girls would behave But Cecily understands him so
well she knows he thinks of her as a child and nothing could be more simply
natural than her friendship for him I suppose Mr Mallard is one of the artists
who never marry«
»I dont know him well enough to decide that« answered Eleanor with a
curious smile
It was in the evening of this day when the Spences and Miriam were sitting
together after dinner that a servant announced a visit of Reuben Elgar adding
that he was in his sisters room Miriam went to join him
»You can spare me a minute or two« he asked cheerily as she entered
»Certainly You are just back from Pompeii«
»From Castellamare from Sorrento the indescribable from Amalfi the
unimaginable from Salerno Leave Naples without seeing those places and hold
yourself for ever the most wretched of mortals Old Mallard forced me to go with
him and I am in his debt to eternity«
This exalted manner of speech was little to Miriams taste especially from
her brother Sobriety was what she desired in him It seemed a small advantage
that his extravagance should exhibit itself in this way rather than in worse
the danger was still there
»Sit down and talk more quietly You say Mr Mallard forced you to go«
»I was coming back to Naples from Pompeii Bythebye I went up Vesuvius
and descended shoeless The guides ought to have metal boots on hire I was
coming back but Mallard clutched me by the coatcollar Even now Ive come
sorely against his will I left him at Amalfi Im going to settle my affairs
here tomorrow and join him again Hes persuaded me to try and work at
Amalfi«
»How long do you think of staying there«
»It all depends Perhaps I shant be able to do anything after all«
»But surely that depends on yourself«
»Not a bit If I were a carpenter or bricklayer one might say so in a
sense But such work as I am going to do is a question of mood influences
caprices «
Miriam reflected
»Mr Mallard was unwilling to let you return here«
»Naturally He knows my uncertainty But I have promised him I shall keep
my word«
»He is working himself«
»Will be by now we had a horrible day of rain at Amalfi He seems rather
glummer than usual but that wont hinder his work I wish I had the old
fellows energy After all though one can force ones self to use pencils and
brushes its a different thing when all has to come from the brain If you
havent a quiet mind «
»What disturbs you« Miriam asked watching him
»Oh theres always something I wish you could give me a share of your
equanimity Never mind I shall try Bythebye I ought to have a word with
Mrs Lessingham and Cecily before I go Are they likely to be here tomorrow«
»I cant say«
»Then I shall call at their place When will they be at home«
»Do you think you ought to do that« Miriam asked without looking at him
»Why on earth not«
His brow darkened and he seemed about to utter something not unlike his
vehemencies on the day of arrival
»You must judge for yourself of course« said Miriam »We wont talk about
it«
Reuben nodded agreement carelessly Then he began to talk of his proposed
work and presently they went to join the Spences For an hour or more Reuben
held forth rapturously on what he had seen these last few days He could not
rest seated but paced up and down the room gesticulating fervidly eloquent
»Do play me something will you Mrs Spence« he asked at length His
cousinship with Eleanor had never been affirmed by intimate association and he
had not the habit of addressing her by the personal name »Just for ten
minutes then Ill be off and trouble you no more Something to invigorate A
rugged piece«
Eleanor made a choice from Beethoven and whilst she played Elgar leant
forward on the back of a chair Then he bade them goodbye his pulse at
fevertime
Halfpast ten next morning found him walking hither and thither on the
Mergellina frequently consulting his watch He decided at length to approach
the house in which his acquaintances dwelt Passing through the portone whom
should he encounter but Clifford Marsh known to him only from the casual
meeting at Pompeii not by name They stopped to speak Elgar inquired if the
other lived at Mrs Glucks
»For the present«
»I have friends here« Reuben added »You know Mrs Lessingham«
»Oh yes« replied Clifford eyeing his collocutor »If you are calling to
see those ladies« he continued »they went out half an hour ago I saw them
drive away«
Elgar muttered his annoyance Though he disliked doing so he asked Marsh
whether he knew when the ladies were likely to return Clifford declared his
ignorance The two looked at each other smiled said good morning and turned
different ways
Reuben walked about the seafront for a couple of hours »Who is that
confounded fellow« he kept asking in his mind adding the highly ludicrous
question »What business has he to know them« His impatience waxed now and
then he strode at such a pace that perspiration covered him The most trivial
discomposure had often much the same effect on him if he happened to have a
difficulty in finding his way for instance he would fume himself into
exasperated heat
»What business have they to live in a vulgar boardinghouse Its abominable
bad taste and indiscretion in that woman In fact I dont like Mrs Lessingham
And what the devil has it to do with me«
He strode up to the villa Possibly they were there yet he didnt like to
call for various reasons He fretted about the roads this way and that till
hunger oppressed him Having eaten at the first restaurant he came to he
directed his steps towards the Mergellina again At two oclock he reached the
house and made inquiry The ladies had not yet returned
He struck off towards the Chiaia again paced backwards and forwards cursed
at carriagedrivers who plagued him tried to amuse himself on the Santa Lucia
And pray what was all this fuss about When he rose this morning he had half a
mind to start at once for Amalfi and not see Mrs Lessingham and her niece at
all he didnt know that he cared much He had met Cecily Doran twice The
second time was on the Strada Nuova di Posillipo where he encountered a
carriage in which Cecily and her aunt were taking the air he talked with them
for three minutes It was the undeniable fact that he had broken away from old
Mallard merely to see Cecily again He had never tried to blind himself to it
that kind of thing was not in his way None the less was it a truth that he
thought himself capable of saying goodbye to the wonderful girl and posting
off to his literary work Why expose himself to temptation Because he chose to
because it was pleasant surely an excellent reason
If only he hadnt come up against that confounded artistfellow That had
upset him most absurdly A half goodlooking sort of fellow a fellow who could
prate with a certain brio not unlikely to make something of a figure in the
eyes of a girl like Cecily And what then
Before now Elgar had confessed to a friend that he couldnt read the
marriagecolumn in a newspaper without feeling a distinct jealousy of all the
male creatures there mentioned
He sought out a caffè and sat there for an hour drinking a liquor that
called itself lacrymaChristi but would at once have been detected for a
pretender by a learned palate He drank it for the first time and tried to
enjoy it but his mind kept straying to alien things When it was nearly four
oclock he again went forth took a carriage and bade the man drive quickly
This time he was successful A servant conducted him by many stairs and
passages to Mrs Lessinghams sittingroom He entered and found himself alone
with Cecily
»Mrs Lessingham will certainly be back very soon« she said in shaking
hands with him »They told me you had called before and I thought you would
like better to wait a few minutes than to be disappointed again«
»I think of going to Amalfi tomorrow morning perhaps for a long time«
remarked the visitor »I wished to say goodbye«
The accumulated impatience and nervousness of the whole morning disturbed
his pulses and put a weight upon his tongue he spoke with awkward indecision
held himself awkwardly His own voice sounded boorish to him after Cecilys
accents
Cecily began to speak of how she had spent the day Her aunt was making
purchases was later in returning than had been expected Then she asked for an
account of Elgars doings since they last met The conversation grew easier
Reuben began to recover his natural voice and to lose disagreeable
selfconsciousness in the delight of hearing Cecily and meeting her look Had he
known her better he would have observed that she spoke with unusual diffidence
that she was not quite so selfpossessed as of wont and that her manner was
deficient in the frank gaiety which as a rule made its great charm Her tone
softened itself in questioning she listened so attentively that when he had
ceased speaking her eyes always rose to his as if she had expected something
further
»Who is the young artist that lives here«Elgar inquired »I met him at
Pompeii and today came upon him here in the courtyard A slight rather boyish
fellow«
»I think you mean Mr Marsh« replied Cecily smiling »He has recently been
at Pompeii I know«
»You are on friendly terms with him«
»Not on unfriendly« she answered with amusement
Elgar averted his face Instantly the flow of his blood was again turbid he
felt an inclination to fling out some illmannered remark
»You must come in contact with all kinds of odd people in a place like
this«
»One or two are certainly odd« was the reply in a gentle tone »but most
of them are very pleasant to be with occasionally Naturally we see more of the
Bradshaws than of any one else Theres a family named Denyer a lady with
three daughters I dont think you would dislike them Mr Marsh is their
intimate friend«
It was all but as though she pleaded against a mistaken judgment which
troubled her To Mallard she had spoken of her fellowboarders in quite a
different way with merry though kindly criticism or in the strain of generous
idealization which so often marked her language
»Do you know anything of his work« Elgar pursued
»I have seen a few of his watercolour drawings«
»He showed you them«
»No one of the Miss Denyers did He had given them to her«
»Oh« He at once brightened »And how did they strike you«
»Im sorry to say they didnt interest me much But I have no right to sit
in judgment«
Elgar had the good taste to say nothing more on the subject He let his eyes
rest on her downturned face for a moment
»You see a good deal of Miriam Im glad to hear«
»I am sometimes afraid I trouble her by going too often«
»Have no such fear I wish you were living under the same roof with her No
ones society could do her so much good as yours The poor girl has too long
been in need of such an aid to rational cheerfulness«
They were interrupted by the entrance of an English maidservant who asked
whether Miss Doran would have tea brought at once or wait till Mrs
Lessinghams return
»You see how English we are« said Cecily to her visitor »I think well
have it now Mrs Lessingham may be here any moment«
It was growing dusk Whilst the conversation was diverted by trifles two
lighted lamps were brought into the room Elgar had risen and gone to the
window
»We wont shut out the evening sky« said Cecily standing not far from him
The door closed upon the servant who had carried in the teatray Elgar
turned to his companion and said in a musing tone with a smile
»How long is it since we saw each other every day in Manchester«
»Seven years since that short time you spent with us«
»Seven yes You were not twelve then I was not quite twentyone As
regards change a lifetime might have passed since with both of us Yet I dont
feel very old not oppressively ancient«
»And Im sure I dont«
They laughed together
»You are younger than you were then« he continued in his most
characteristic voice the voice which was musical and alluring and suggestive
of his natures passionate depths and heights »You have grown into health of
body and soul and out of all the evil things that would have robbed you of
natural happiness Nothing ever made me more glad than first seeing you at the
villa I didnt know what you had become and in looking at you I rejoiced on
your account You would gladden even miserable old age like sunlight on a
morning of spring«
Cecily moved towards the teatable in silence She began to fill one of the
cups but put the teapot down again and waited for a moment Having resumed her
purpose she looked round and saw Elgar seated sideways on a chair by the
window With the cup of tea in her hand she approached him and offered it
without speaking He rose quickly to take it and went to another part of the
room
»I hope Miriam will stay here the whole winter« Cecily said as she seated
herself by the table
»I hope so« he assented absently putting his tea aside »How long are you
and Mrs Lessingham likely to stay«
»At least till February I think«
»Shall you get as far as Amalfi some day«
»Oh yes And Miriam will come with us I hope And to Capri too«
»I must see Capri I shouldnt wonder if I go there soon probably it would
suit my purpose better than Amalfi Yet I must be alone if I am to work I
havent Mallards detachment That seems to you a paltry confession of
weakness«
»No indeed I am told that Mr Mallard is quite exceptional in his power of
disregarding everything but his work«
»Exceptional in many things no doubt I must seem very insignificant in
comparison«
»Why should you Mr Mallard is so much older he has long been fixed in his
course«
»Older yes« assented Elgar with satisfaction »Perhaps at his age I too
may have done something worth doing«
»Who could doubt it«
»It does me good to hear you say that«
He moved from his distant place and threw himself in one of his usual
careless attitudes on a nearer chair »But Miriam has no faith in me not a jot
Does she speak harshly of me to you«
»No«
Cecily shook her head and seemed unable to speak more than the
monosyllable
»But she has nothing encouraging to say She shows that she looks upon me as
one of whom no good can come That is the impression you have received from
her«
Cecily looked at him gravely
»She has scarcely spoken of you at all scarcely more than the few words
that were inevitable«
»In itself a condemnation«
Cecily was mute Before Elgar could say anything more the door opened With
a sudden radiance on her features the girl looked up to greet Mrs Lessinghams
entrance
»How long you have been aunt«
»Yes I am sorry How do you do Mr Elgar Tea Cecily lest I perish«
From the doorway her quick glance had scrutinized both the young people Of
course she betrayed no surprise neither did she make exhibition of pleasure
Her greeting of the visitor was gracefully casual given in passing She sank
upon a low chair as if overcome with weariness Mrs Lessingham had nothing to
learn in the arts wherewith social intercourse is kept smooth in spite of
natures improprieties When she chose she could be the aweinspiring chaperon
no less completely than she was at other times the contemner of the commonplace
»So you leave us tomorrow Mr Elgar I have just met Mr Spence and heard
the news from him I am glad you could find a moment to call You are going to
be very busy I hear for the rest of the winter«
»I hope so« Elgar replied walking across the room to fetch his
halfemptied teacup
»We shall look eagerly for the results of your work«
For ten minutes the conversation kept a rather flat course Cecily only
spoke when addressed by her aunt then quite in her usual way Elgar took the
first opportunity to signal departure When Cecily gave him her hand it was
with a moments unfaltering look a look very different from that which charmed
everyday acquaintances at their coming and going unlike anything man or woman
had yet seen on her countenance The faintest smile hovered about her lips as
she said »Goodbye« her steadfast eyes added the hope which there was no need
to speak
When he was gone Mrs Lessingham sipped her tea in silence Cecily moved
about and presently brought a book to her chair by the teatable
»No doubt you had the advantage of hearing Mr Elgars projects detailed«
said her aunt with irony which presumed a complete understanding between them
»No« Cecily shook her head and smiled
»Curious how closely he and Mr Marsh resemble each other at times«
»Do you think so«
»Havent you noticed it There are differences of course Mr Elgar is
originally much better endowed though at present I should think he is even less
to be depended upon either intellectually or morally But they belong to the
same species What numbers of such young men I have met«
»What are the characteristics of the species aunt« Cecily inquired with a
pleasant laugh
»I dare say you know them almost as well as I do You might write an essay
on The Young Man of Promise of our day I should be rather too severe you would
treat them with a lighter hand and therefore more effectually«
In speaking she kept her eyes on the girl who appeared to muse the subject
with sportful malice
»I am not sure« said Cecily »that Mr Elgar would come into the essay«
»You mean that his promise is too obviously delusive«
»Not exactly that I rather think he should have an essay to himself«
»Of what tendency« asked Mrs Lessingham still closely observant
»Oh it would need much meditation but I think I could make it
interesting«
With another laugh she dismissed the subject nor did her aunt endeavour to
revive it
The morrow was Sunday Elgar knew at what time his train left for Salerno the
timetable was the same as for other days Yet he lay in bed till nearly noon
till the train had long since started No he should not go today
It irked him to rise at all He had not slept his head was hot and his
hands shook nervously Dressed he sat down for a minute and remained seated
half an hour gazing at the wall When at length he left the house he walked
without seeing anything stumbling against things and people
Of course he knew last night that there was no journey for him today
Promise A promise is void when its fulfilment has become impossible Very
likely Mallard had a conviction that he would not come back at the appointed
time Tomorrow perhaps and perhaps not even tomorrow It had got beyond his
control
He ate and returned to his room Just now his need was physical repose
undisturbed indulgence of reverie And the reverie of a man in his condition is
a singular process It consists of a small number of memories forecasts
imaginings repeated over and over again till one would think the brain must
weary itself beyond endurance It can go on for many hours consecutively and
not only remain a sufficient and pleasurable employment but render every other
business repulsive all but impossible
At evening there came a change He was now unable to keep still he went
into the town and exhausted himself with walking up and down the hilly streets
Society would have helped him but he could find none He would not go to the
villa still less could he visit the boardinghouse
What a night At times he moved about his room like one in frantic pain
finally flinging himself upon the bed and lying there till the impulse of his
fevered mind broke the beginnings of sleep Or he walked the length of the
floor with measured step fifty times counting each time he turned a sort of
conscious insanity Or he took his pocketknife and drove the point into the
flesh of his arm satisfied when the pang became intolerable Then again a loss
of all control in mere frenzy the desire to shout to yell
Elgar was out of the house at sunrise He went down to the Chiaia loitered
this way and that always in the end facing towards Posillipo He drank his
coffee but ate nothing then again walked along the seafront Between nine and
ten he turned into the upward road and went with purpose towards Villa
Sannazaro
Chapter IX
In the Dead City
Though it was Sunday Cecily resolved to go and spend the afternoon with Miriam
She was restless and could not take pleasure in Mrs Lessinghams conversation
Possibly her arrival at the villa would be anything but welcome but she must
see Miriam
She drove up by herself and first of all saw the Spences From them she
learnt that Miriam as usual on Sunday was keeping her own room
»Do you think I may venture Mrs Spence«
»Go and announce yourself my dear If you are bidden avaunt come back and
cheer us old people with your brightness«
So Cecily went with light step along the corridor and with light fingers
tapped at Miriams room The familiar voice bade her enter Miriam was sitting
near the window on her lap a closed book
»May I «
»Of course you may« was the quiet answer
Cecily closed the door came forward and bent to kiss her friend Then she
glanced at the »St Cecilia« then examined herself for a moment in one of the
mirrors then took off her hat mantle and gloves
»I want to stay as long as your patience will suffer me«
»Do so«
»You avoid saying how long that is likely to be«
»How can I tell«
»Oh you have experience of me You know how trying you find me in certain
moods Today I am in a very strange mood indeed very malicious very wicked
And it is Sunday«
Miriam did not seem to resent this She looked away at the window but
smiled Could Cecily have been aware how her face had changed when the door
opened she would not have doubted whether she was truly welcome
»What book is that Miriam«
Cecily had been half afraid to ask to her surprise it proved to be Dante
»Do you read this on Sunday«
Miriam deigned no reply The other sitting just in front of her took up
the volume and rustled its leaves
»How far have you got This pencil mark Amor cha null amato amar
perdona«
She read the line in an undertone slowly towards the close Miriams face
showed a sudden and curious emotion Glancing at the book she said abruptly
»No thats an old mark a difficulty I had Im long past that«
»So am I Amor cha null «
Miriam stretched out her hand and took the volume with impatience
»Im at the end of this canto« she said pointing »Never mind it now I
should have thought you would have gone somewhere such a fine afternoon«
»That sounds remarkably like a hint that patience is near its end«
»I didnt mean it for that«
»Then let us get a carriage and drive somewhere together we two alone«
Miriam shook her head
»Because it is Sunday« asked Cecily with a mischievous smile leaning her
head aside
»There is an understanding between us Cecily Dont break it«
»But I told you my mood was wicked I feel disposed to break any and every
undertaking I should like to fret and torment and offend you I should like to
ask you why I am allowed to enjoy the sunshine and you not Oggi è festa What
a dreadful sound that must have in your ears Miriam«
»But they dont apply it to Sunday« returned the other who seemed to
resign herself to this teasing
»Indeed they do« With a sudden change of subject Cecily added »Your
brother came to see us yesterday to say goodbye«
»Did he«
»It doesnt interest you You care nothing where he goes or what he does
nothing whatever Miriam He told me so but I knew it already«
»He told you so« Miriam asked with cold surprise
»Yes You are unkind you are unnatural«
»And you Cecily are childish I never knew you so childish as today«
»I warned you He and I had a long talk before aunt came home«
»Im sorry he should have thought it necessary to talk about himself«
»What more natural when he is beginning a new portion of life Never mind
we wont speak of it May I play you a new piece I have learnt«
»Do you mean of sacred music«
»Sacred Why all music is sacred There are tunes and jinglings that I
shouldnt call so but neither do I call them music just as I distinguish
between bad or foolish verse and poetry Everything worthy of being called art
is sacred I shall keep telling you that till in selfdefence you are forced to
think about it And now I shall play the piece whether you like it or not«
She opened the piano What she had in mind was one of the »Moments Musicaux«
of Schubert a strain of exquisite melody which ceased too soon Cecily sat
for a few moments at the keyboard after she had finished her head bent then
she came and stood before Miriam
»Do you like it«
There was no answer She looked steadily at the troubled face and as it
still kept averted from her she laid her arms softly half playfully about
Miriams neck
»Why must there always be such a distance between us Miriam dear Even when
I seem so near to you as this what a deep black gulf really separates us«
»You were once on my side of it« said Miriam her voice softened »How did
you pass to the other«
»How could I tell you No one read me lectures or taught me hard arguments
The change came insensibly like passing out of a dream into the light of
morning I followed where my nature led and my thoughts about everything
altered I dont know how it might have been if I had lived on with you But my
happiness was not there«
»Happiness« murmured the other scornfully
»A word you dont wont understand Yet to me it means much Who knows
Perhaps there may come a day when I shall look back upon it and see it as empty
of satisfaction as it now seems to you But more likely that I shall live to
look back in sorrow for its loss«
The dialogue became such as they had held more than once of late fruitless
it seemed only saddening to both And Cecily was today saddened by it beyond
her wont her excessive gaiety yielded to a dejection which passed indeed but
for a while made her very unlike herself silent with troubled eyes
»I had one valid excuse for coming to see you today« she said when gaiety
and dejection had both gone by »Mr and Mrs Bradshaw seriously think of going
to Rome at the end of next week and they wish to have another day at Pompeii
They would like it so much if you would go with them If you do I also will we
shall make four for a carriage and drive there and come back by train«
»What day«
»Tomorrow if it be fine Let me take them your assent«
Miriam agreed
On Monday morning as arranged she was driving down to the Mergellina when
with astonishment she saw her brother standing by the roadside beckoning to
her The carriage stopped and he came up to speak
»Where are you off to« he asked
»You are still here«
»I havent been well Didnt feel able to go yesterday I was just coming to
see you«
»Not well Reuben Why didnt you come before«
»I couldnt I want to speak to you Where are you going«
She told him the plan for the day Elgar turned aside and meditated
»Ill see you there at Pompeii somewhere Itll be on my way«
»I had rather not go at all Ill ask them to excuse me Mrs Lessingham
will perhaps take my place and «
»No Ill see you at Pompeii I shall have no difficulty in finding you«
Miriam looked at him anxiously
»I dont wish you to meet us there Reuben«
»And I do wish Let me have my way Miriam Say nothing about me and let
the meeting seem by chance«
»I cant do that You make yourself ridiculous after «
»Let me judge for myself Go on or youll be late«
She half rose as if about to descend from the carriage Elgar laid his hand
on her arm and clutched it so strongly that she sank back and regarded him with
a look of anger
»Miriam Do as I wish dear Be kind to me for this once If you refuse it
will make no difference Have some feeling for me This one day Miriam«
Again she looked at him and reflected On account of the driver though of
course he could not understand them they had subdued their voices and Reubens
sudden action had not been noticeable
»This one piece of sisterly kindness« he pleaded
»It shall be as you wish« Miriam replied her face cast down
»Thank you a thousand times Avanti cocchiere«
Scrutiny less keen than Miriams could perceive that Cecily had not her usual
pleasure in todays expedition Even Mrs Bradshaw sitting over against her in
the carriage noticed that the girls countenance lacked its natural animation
wore now and then a tired look the lids hung a little heavily over the
beautiful eyes and the cheeks were a thought pale When she forgot herself in
conversation Cecily was the same as ever mirthful brightly laughing fervent
in expressing delight but her thoughts too often made her silent and then one
saw that she was not heart and soul in the present It was another Cecily than
on that day at Baiæ »She has been overexciting herself since she came here«
was Mrs Bradshaws mental remark Miriam anxiously observant made a different
interpretation and was harassed with a painful conflict of thoughts
Jacob Bush Bradshaw had no eyes for these trivialities He sat in the
squared posture of a hearty Englishman amusing himself with everything they
passed on the road selfcongratulant on the knowledge and experience he had
been storing joking as often as he spoke
»The lad Marsh would have uncommonly liked an invitation to come with us
today« he said about midway in the drive »What precious mischief we could
have made by asking him Hannah«
»Theres no room for him fortunately«
»Oh yes up on the box«
His eye twinkled as he looked at Cecily She questioned him
»Where would be the mischief Mr Bradshaw«
»He talks nonsense my dear« interposed Mrs Bradshaw »Pay no attention to
him«
Miriam had heard now and then of Clifford Marsh She met Jacobs smile and
involuntarily checked it by her gravity
»We might have asked the Denyers as well« said Cecily »and have had
another carriage or gone by train«
Mr Bradshaw chuckled for some minutes at this proposal but his wife would
not allow him to pursue the jest
They lunched at the Hôtel Diomède before entering the precincts of the
ruins Mr Bradshaw had invariably a splendid appetite and was by this time
skilled in ordering the meals that suited him The few phrases of Italian which
he had appropriated were given forth ore rotundo with Anglosaxon emphasis on
the os and accompanied with large gestures His mere appearance always
sufficed to put landlords and waiters into their most urbane mood they never
failed to take him for one of the English nobility a belief confirmed by the
handsomeness of his gratuities Mrs Bradshaw was not perhaps the ideal lady
of rank but the fine selfsatisfaction on her matronly visage the goodnatured
disdain with which she allowed herself to be waited upon by foolish foreigners
her solid disregard of everything beyond the circle of her own party were
impressive enough and exacted no little subservience
Strong in the experience of two former visits Mr Bradshaw would have no
guide today Murray in hand he knew just what he wished to see again and
where to find it
As Miriam was at Pompeii for the first time he took her especially under
his direction and showed her the city much as he might have led her over his
silkmill in Manchester Unimbued with history and literature he knew nothing
of the scholars or the poets enthusiasm his gratification lay in exercising
his solid intelligence on a lot of strange and often grotesque facts Here men
had lived two thousand years ago There was no mistake about it you saw the
deep ruts of their wheels along the rugged street nay you saw the wearing of
their very feet on the comically narrow pavements And their life had been as
different as possible from that of men in Manchester Everything excited him to
merriment
»Now this is the house of old Pansa no doubt an ancestor of friend
Sancho« with a twinkle in his eye »Well go over this carefully Mrs Baske
its one of the largest and completest in Pompeii Here we are in what they
called the atrium«
Cecily spoke seldom Of course she would have preferred to be alone here
with Miriam best of all or nearly so if they could have made the same party
as at Baiæ At times she lingered a little behind the others and seemed deep in
contemplation of some object or she stood to watch the lizards darting about
the sunny old walls When all were enjoying the view from the top of Jupiters
Temple she gazed long towards the Sorrento promontory the height of St
Angelo
»Amalfi is over on the far side« she said to Miriam »They are both working
there now«
Miriam replied nothing
When they were in the Street of Tombs Cecily again paused by the sepulchre
of the Priestess Mamia whence there is a clear prospect across the bay towards
the mountains Turning back again she heard a voice that made her tremble with
delighted surprise A wall concealed the speaker from her she took a few quick
steps and saw Reuben Elgar shaking hands with the Bradshaws He looked at her
and came forward She could not say anything and was painfully conscious of the
blood that rushed to her face never yet had she known this stress of heartbeats
that made suffering of joy and the misery of being unable to command herself
under observant eyes
It was years since Elgar and the Bradshaws had met As a boy he had often
visited their house but from the time of his leaving home at sixteen to go to a
boardingschool his acquaintance with them as with all his other Manchester
friends practically ceased They had often heard of him too often in their
opinion Aware of his arrival at Naples they had expressed no wish to see him
Still now that he met them in this unexpected way they could not but assume
friendliness Jacob not on the whole intolerant was willing enough to take the
lad on his present merits Reuben had the guise and manners of a gentleman and
perhaps was grown out of his reprobate habits Mr Bradshaw and his wife could
not but notice Cecilys agitation at the meeting they exchanged wondering
glances and presently found an opportunity for a few words apart What was
going on How had these two young folks become so intimate Well it was no
business of theirs Lucky that Mrs Baske was one of the company
And why should Cecily disguise that now only was her enjoyment of the day
begun that only now had the sunshine its familiar brightness the ancient
walls and ways their true enchantment She did not at once become more
talkative but the shadow had passed utterly from her face and there was no
more listlessness in her movements
»I have stopped here on my way to join Mallard« was all Reuben said in
explanation of his presence
All kept together Mr Bradshaw resumed his interest in antiquities but did
not speak so freely about them as before
»Your brother knows a good deal more about these things than I do Mrs
Baske« he remarked »He shall give us the benefit of his Latin«
Miriam resolutely kept her eyes alike from Reuben and from Cecily Hitherto
her attention to the ruins had been intermittent but occasionally she had
forgotten herself so far as to look and ponder now she saw nothing Her mind
was gravely troubled she wished only that the day were over
As for Elgar he seemed to the Bradshaws singularly quiet modest
inoffensive If he ventured a suggestion or a remark it was in a subdued voice
and with the most pleasant manner possible He walked for a time with Mrs
Bradshaw and accommodated himself with much tact to her way of regarding
foreign things whether ancient or modern In a short time all went smoothly
again
Not since they shook hands had Elgar and Cecily encountered each others
glance They looked at each other often very often but only when the look
could not be returned they exchanged not a syllable Yet both knew that at some
approaching moment for them the supreme moment of this day their eyes must
meet Not yet not casually and whilst others regarded them The old ruins
would be kind
It was in the house of Meleager They had walked among the coloured columns
and had visited the inner chamber where upon the wall is painted the Judgment
of Paris Mr Bradshaw passed out through the narrow doorway and his voice was
dulled Miriam passed with him and close after her Mrs Bradshaw Reuben
seemed to draw aside for Cecily but she saw his hand extended towards her it
held a spray of maidenhair that he had just gathered She took it or would have
taken it but her hand was closed in his
»I have stayed only to see you again« came panting from his lips »I could
not go till I had seen you again«
And before the winged syllables had ceased their eyes met nor their eyes
alone for upon both was the constraint of passion that leaps like flame to its
desire mouth to mouth and heart to heart for one instant that concentrated all
the joy of being
What hand centuries ago crumbled into indistinguishable dust painted that
parable of the youth making his award to Love What eyes gazed upon it when
this was a home of man and woman warm with life listening all day long to the
music of uttered thoughts Darkburied whilst so many ages of history went by
thrown open for the sunshine to rest upon its pallid antiquity again had this
chamber won a place in human hearts witnessed the birth of joy and hope
blended itself with the destiny of mortals He who pictured Paris dreamt not of
these passionate lips and their unborn language knew not that he wrought for a
world hidden so far in time Though his whitelimbed goddess fade ghostlike the
symbol is as valid as ever Did not her wan beauty smile youthful again in the
eyes of these her latest worshippers
And they went forth among the painted pillars once more shunning each
others look It was some minutes before Cecily knew that her fingers still
crushed the spray of maidenhair then she touched it gently and secreted it
within her glove It must be dead when she reached home but that mattered
nothing would it not remain the sign of something deathless
She believed so In her vision the dead city had a new and wonderful life
it lay glorious in the light of heaven its strait ways fit for the treading of
divinities its barren temples reconsecrate with song and sacrifice She
believed there was that within her soul which should survive all change and
hazard survive it might be even this warm flesh that it was hard not to
think immortal
She sought Miriams side took her hand held it playfully as they walked on
together
»Why do you look at me so sadly Miriam«
»I did not mean to«
»Yet you do Let me see you smile once today«
But Miriams smile was sadder than her grave look
Chapter X
The Declaration
It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to
accompany that party of four to Pompeii For one thing he was beginning to have
a difficulty in passing his days if the present state of things prolonged
itself his position might soon resemble that of Mr Musselwhite But chiefly
would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of
Miss Doran and under circumstances which would enable him to shine Clifford
had begun to nurse a daring ambition Allowing his vanity to caress him into the
halfbelief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of
fate he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him
above all what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran There could be no
doubt that she knew at all events the main items of his story was it not
certain that they must make some appeal to her sympathies His air of graceful
sadness could not but lead her to muse as often as she observed it he had
contemplated himself in the mirror and each time with reassurance on this
point Why should the attractions which had been potent with Madeline fail to
engage the interest of this younger and more emotional girl Miss Doran was far
beyond Madeline in beauty and there was every reason to believe had the
substantial gifts of fortune which Madeline altogether lacked It was a bold
thing to turn his eye to her with such a thought circumstances considered but
the boldness was characteristic of Marsh with whom at all times selfesteem had
the force of an irresistible argument
He was incapable of passion Just as he had made a pretence of pursuing art
because of a superficial cleverness and a liking for ease and the various
satisfactions of his vanity in such a career so did he now permit his mind to
be occupied with Cecily Doran not because her qualities blinded him to all
other considerations but in pleasant yielding to a temptation of his fancy
which made a lively picture of many desirable things and flattered him into
thinking that they were not beyond his reach For the present he could do
nothing but wait supporting his pose of placid martyrdom Wait and watch every
opportunity there would arrive a moment when seeming recklessness might advance
him far on the way to triumph
And yet he never for a moment regarded himself as a schemer endeavouring to
compass vulgar ends by machination He had the remarkable faculty of viewing
himself in an ideal light even whilst conscious that so many of his claims were
mere pretence Men such as Clifford Marsh do not say to themselves »What a
humbug I am« When driven to face their conscience it speaks to them rather in
this way »You are a fellow of fine qualities altogether out of the common way
of men A pity that conditions do not allow you to be perfectly honest but
people in general are so foolish that you would get no credit for your
superiority if you did not wear a little tinsel practise a few harmless
affectations Some day your difficulties will be at an end and then you can
afford to show yourself in a simpler guise« When he looked in the glass
Clifford admired himself without reserve when he talked freely he applauded
his own cleverness and thought it the most natural thing that other people
should do so When he meditated abandoning Madeline his sincere view of the
matter was that she had proved herself unworthy however sensible her attitude
a girl had no right to put such questions to her lover as she had done to
injure his selflove When he plotted with himself to engage Cecilys interest
he said that it was the course any lover would have pursued And in the end he
really persuaded himself that he was in love with her
Yet none the less he thought of Madeline with affection He was piqued that
she made no effort to bring him back to her feet To be sure her mothers
behaviour probably implied Madelines desire of reconciliation but he wished
her to make personal overtures he would have liked to see her approach him with
humble eyes not troubling himself to debate how he should act in that event
With Mrs Denyer he was once more on terms of apparent friendliness though he
held no private dialogue with her he was willing that she should suppose him
gradually coming over to her views Barbara and Zillah showed constraint when he
spoke with them but this he affected not to perceive Only with Madeline he did
not converse Her air of unconcernedness at length proved too much for his
patience and so it came about that Madeline received by post a letter addressed
in Cliffords hand She took it to her bedroom and broke the envelope with
agitation
»Your behaviour is heartless Just when I am in deep distress and need all
possible encouragement in the grave struggle upon which I have entered for I
need not tell you that I am resolved to remain an artist you desert me and do
your best to show that you are glad at being relieved of all concern on my
account It is well for me that I see the result of this test but I venture to
think not every woman would have chosen your course I shall very shortly leave
Naples It will no doubt complete your satisfaction to think of me toiling
friendless in London Remember this as my farewell CM«
The next morning Clifford received what he expected a reply also sent by
post It was written in the clearest and steadiest hand on superfine paper
»I am sorry you should have repeated your insult in a written form I
venture to think that not every man would have followed this course For myself
it is well indeed that I see the result of the test to which you have been
exposed But I shall say and think no more of it As you leave soon I would
suggest that we should be on the terms of ordinary acquaintances for the
remaining time the present state of things is both disagreeable and foolish It
will always seem to me a very singular thing that you should have continued to
live in this house but that of course was in your own discretion MD«
This was on the morning when Cecily and her companions went to Pompeii
Towards luncheontime Clifford entered the drawingroom and there found Mrs
Lessingham in conversation with Madeline The former looked towards him in a way
which seemed to invite his approach
»Another idle morning Mr Marsh« was her greeting
»I had a letter at breakfast that disturbed me« he replied seating himself
away from Madeline
»Im sorry to hear that«
»Mr Marsh is very easily disturbed« said Madeline in a light tone of many
possible meanings
»Yes« admitted Clifford leaning back and letting his head droop a little
»I can seldom do anything when I am not quite at ease in mind Rather a
misfortune but not an uncommon one with artists«
The conversation turned on this subject for a few minutes Madeline taking
part in it in a way that showed her resolve to act as she had recommended in her
note Then Mrs Lessingham rose and left the two together Madeline seemed also
about to move she followed the departing lady with her eyes and at length as
though adding a final remark said to Clifford
»There are several things you have been so kind as to lend me that I must
return before you go Mr Marsh I will make a parcel of them and a servant
shall take them to your room«
»Thank you«
Since the quarrel Madeline had not worn her ring of betrothal but this was
the first time she had spoken of returning presents
»I am sorry you have had news that disturbed you« she continued as if in
calm friendliness »But I dare say it is something you will soon forget In
future you probably wont think so much of little annoyances«
»Probably not«
She smiled and walked away stopping to glance at a picture before she left
the room Clifford was left with knitted brows and uneasy mind he had not
believed her capable of this sedateness For some reason Madeline had been
dressing herself with unusual care of late the result in fact of frequent
observation of Cecily and just now as he entered it had struck him that she
was after all very pretty that no one could impugn his taste in having formerly
chosen her His reference to her letter was a concession made on the moments
impulse Her rejecting it so unmistakably looked serious Had she even ceased to
be jealous
In the course of the afternoon one of Mrs Glucks servants deposited a
parcel in his chamber When he found it he bit his lips Indeed things looked
serious at last He passed the hours till dinner in rather comfortless solitude
But at dinner he was opposite Cecily and he thought he had never seen her
so brilliant Perhaps the day in the open air there was a fresh breeze had
warmed the exquisite colour of her cheeks and given her eyes an even purer
radiance than of wont The dress she wore was not new to him but its perfection
made stronger appeal to his senses than previously How divine were the wreaths
and shadowings of her hair With what gracile loveliness did her neck bend as
she spoke to Mrs Lessingham What hand ever shone with more delicate beauty
than hers in the offices of the meal It pained him to look at Madeline and make
comparison
Moreover Cecily met his glance and smiled smiled with adorable
frankness From that moment he rejoiced at what had taken place today It had
left him his complete freedom Good he had given Madeline a final chance and
she had neglected it In every sense he was at liberty to turn his thoughts
elsewhither and now he felt that he had even received encouragement
»We had an unexpected meeting with Mr Elgar« were Cecilys words when she
spoke to her aunt of the days excursion
Mrs Lessingham showed surprise and noticed that Cecily kept glancing over
the columns of a newspaper she had carelessly taken up
»At Pompeii«
»Yes in the Street of Tombs For some reason he had delayed on his
journey«
»Im not surprised«
»Why«
»Delay is one of his characteristics isnt it« returned the elder lady
with unaccustomed tartness »A minor branch of the root of inefficiency«
»I am afraid so«
Cecily laughed and began to read aloud an amusing passage from the paper
Her aunt put no further question but after dinner sought Mrs Bradshaw and had
a little talk on the subject Mrs Bradshaw allowed herself no conjectures in
her plain way she merely confirmed what Cecily had said adding that Elgar had
taken leave of them at the railwaystation
»Possibly Mrs Baske knew that her brother would be there« surmised Mrs
Lessingham as though the point were of no moment
»Oh no not a bit She was astonished«
»Or seemed so« was Mrs Lessinghams inward comment as she smiled
acquiescence »He has impressed me agreeably« she continued »but theres a
danger that he will never do justice to himself«
»I dont put much faith in him myself« said Mrs Bradshaw meaning nothing
more by the phrase than that she considered Reuben a neerdowell The same
words would have expressed her lack of confidence in a servant subjected to some
suspicion
Mrs Lessingham was closely observant of her niece this evening and grew
confirmed in distrust in solicitude Cecily was more than ever unlike herself
whimsical abstracted nervous she flushed at an unexpected sound could not
keep the same place for more than a few minutes Much before the accustomed
hour she announced her retirement for the night
»Let me feel your pulse« said Mrs Lessingham as if in jest when the girl
approached her
Cecily permitted it half averting her face
»My child you are feverish«
»A little I believe aunt It will pass by the morning«
»Let us hope so But I dont like that kind of thing at Naples I trust you
havent had a chill«
»Oh dear no I never was better in my life«
»Yet with fever Go to bed Very likely I shall look into your room in the
night Cecily«
It stopped her at her door She turned and took a step back Mrs
Lessingham moved towards her
»You havent forgotten anything that you wished to say to me«
»Forgotten No dear aunt«
»It just come back to my mind that you were on the point of saying something
a little while ago and I interrupted you«
»No Good night«
Mrs Lessingham did enter the girls room something after midnight carrying
a dim taper Cecily was asleep but lay as though fatigue had overcome her after
much restless moving upon the pillow Her face was flushed one of her hands
that on the coverlet kept closing itself with a slight spasm The visitor drew
apart and looked about the chamber Her eyes rested on a little writingdesk
where lay a directed envelope She looked at it and found it was addressed to a
French servant of theirs in Paris an excellent woman who loved Cecily and to
whom the girl had promised to write from Italy The envelope was closed but it
could contain nothing of importance was merely an indication of Cecilys
abiding kindness By this lay a small book from the pages of which protruded a
piece of white paper Mrs Lessingham took up the volume it was Shelley and
found that the paper within it was folded about a spray of maidenhair and bore
the inscription »House of Meleager Pompeii Monday December 8 1878« Over
this the inquisitive lady mused until a motion of Cecily caused her to restore
things rapidly to their former condition
A movement and a deep sigh but Cecily did not awake Mrs Lessingham again
drew softly near to her and without letting the light fall directly upon her
face looked at her for a long time She whispered feelingly »Poor girl poor
child« then with a sigh almost as deep as that of the slumberer withdrew
In the morning Cecily was already dressed when a servant brought letters to the
sittingroom There were three and one of them addressed to herself had only
the Naples postmark She went back to her bedroom with it
After breakfast Mrs Lessingham spoke for a while of news contained in her
correspondence then of a sudden asked
»You hadnt any letters«
»Yes aunt one«
»My child you are far from well this morning The fever hasnt gone Your
face burns«
»Yes«
»May I ask from whom the letter was«
»I have it here to show you« A choking of her voice broke the sentence
She held out the letter Mrs Lessingham found the following lines
»Dear Cecily
I have of course returned to Naples and I earnestly hope I may
see you between ten and eleven tomorrow morning I must see you alone
You cannot reply I will come and send my name in the ordinary way
Yours ever
R ELGAR«
Mrs Lessingham looked up Cecily who was standing before her now met her gaze
steadily
»The meaning of this is plain enough« said her aunt with careful
repression of feeling »But I am at a loss to understand how it has come about«
»I cannot tell you aunt I cannot tell myself«
Cecilys true accents once more It was as though she had recovered all her
natural selfcommand now that the revelation was made The flush still possessed
her cheeks but she had no look of embarrassment she spoke in a soft murmur
but distinctly firmly
»I am afraid that is only too likely dear Come and sit down little girl
and tell me at all events something about it«
»Little girl« repeated Cecily with a sweet affectionate smile »No that
has gone by aunt«
»I thought so myself the other day but I suppose you have met Mr Elgar
several times at his sisters and have said nothing to me about it«
»That would not have been my usual behaviour I hope When did I deceive
you aunt«
»Never that I know Where have you met then«
»Only at the times and places of which you know«
»Where did you give Mr Elgar the right to address you in this manner«
»Only yesterday I think you mustnt ask me more than that aunt«
»Im afraid your companions were rather lacking in discretion« said the
other in a tone of annoyance
»No not in the sense you attach to the words But aunt you are speaking
as if I were a little girl to be carefully watched at every step«
Mrs Lessingham mused looking absently at the letter She paid no heed to
her nieces last words but at length said with decision
»Cecily this meeting cannot take place«
The girl replied with a look of uttermost astonishment
»It is impossible dear Mr Elgar should not have written to you like this
He should have addressed himself to other people«
»Other people But you dont understand aunt I cannot explain to you I
expected this letter and we must see each other«
Her voice trembled failed
»Shall you not treat my wish with respect Cecily«
»Will you explain to me all that you do wish aunt«
»Certainly It is true that you are not a French girl and I have no desire
to regard you as though we were a French aunt and niece talking of this subject
in the conventional way But you are very young dear and most decidedly it
behoved Mr Elgar to bear in mind both his and your position You have no
parents unhappily but you know that Mr Mallard is legally appointed the
guardian of your interests and I trust you know also that I am deeply concerned
in all that affects you Let us say nothing one way or another of what has
happened Since it has happened it was Mr Elgars duty to address himself to
me or to Mr Mallard before making private appointments with you«
»Aunt you can see that this letter is written so as to allow of my showing
it to you«
»I have noticed that of course It makes Mr Elgars way of proceeding
seem still more strange to me He is good enough to ask you to relieve him of
what he thinks «
»You misunderstand him aunt entirely I cannot explain it to you Only
trust me I beg to do what I know to be right It is necessary that I should
speak with Mr Elgar do not pain me by compelling me to say more Afterwards
he will wish to see you I know«
»Please to remember dear it astonishes me that you forget it that I
have a responsibility to Mr Mallard I have no legal charge of you With every
reason Mr Mallard may reproach me if I countenance what it is impossible for
him to approve«
Cecily searched the speakers face
»Do you mean« she asked gravely »that Mr Mallard will disapprove what I
have done«
»I can say nothing on that point But I am very sure that he would not
approve of this meeting if he could know what was happening I must communicate
with him at once Until he comes or writes it is your duty my dear to
decline this interview Believe me it is your duty«
Mrs Lessingham spoke more earnestly than she ever had done to her niece
Indeed earnest speech was not frequent upon her lips when she talked with
Cecily In spite of the girls nature there had never existed between them
warmer relations than those of fondness and interest on one side and gentleness
with respect on the other Cecily was well aware of this something lacking in
their common life she had wished not seldom these last two years to supply
the want but found herself unable and grew conscious that her aunt gave all it
was in her power to bestow For this very reason she found it impossible to
utter herself in the present juncture as she could have done to a mother as
she could have done to Miriam impossible likewise to insist on her hearts
urgent desire though she knew not how she should forbear it To refuse
compliance would have been something more than failure in dutifulness she would
have felt it as harshness and perhaps injustice to one with whom she
involuntarily stood on terms of ceremony
»May I write a reply to this letter« she asked after a silence
»I had rather you allowed me to speak for you to Mr Elgar To write and to
see him are the same thing Surely you can forget yourself for a moment and
regard this from my point of view«
»I dont know how far you may be led by your sense of responsibility
Remember that you have insisted to me on your prejudice against Mr Elgar«
»Vainly enough« returned the other with a smile »If you prefer it I will
myself write a line to be given to Mr Elgar when he calls Of course you shall
see what I write«
Cecily turned away and stood in struggle with herself She had not foreseen
a conflict of this kind Surprise and probably vexation she was prepared for
irony argument she was quite ready to face but it had not entered her mind
that Mrs Lessingham would invoke authority to oppose her Such a step was alien
to all the habits of their intercourse to the spirit of her education She had
deemed herself a woman and free what else could result from Mrs Lessinghams
method of training and developing her This disillusion gave a shock to her
selfrespect she suffered from a sense of shame with difficulty she subdued
resentment and impulses yet more rebellious It was ignoble to debate in this
way concerning that of which she could not yet speak formally with her own mind
to contend like an insubordinate schoolgirl when the point at issue was the
dearest interest of her womanhood
»I think aunt« she said in a changed voice speaking as though her
opinion had been consulted in the ordinary way »it will be better for you to
see Mr Elgar if you are willing to do so«
»Quite«
»But I must ask you to let him know exactly why I have not granted his
request You will tell him if you please just what has passed between us If
that does not seem consistent with your duty or dignity then I had rather you
wrote«
»Neither my duty nor my dignity is likely to suffer Cecily« replied her
aunt with an ironical smile »Mr Elgar shall know the simple state of the
case And I will forthwith write to Mr Mallard«
»Thank you«
There was no further talk between them Mrs Lessingham sat down to write
With the notepaper before her and the pen in hand she was a long time before
she began she propped her forehead and seemed lost in reflection Cecily who
stood by the window glanced towards her several times and in the end went to
her own room
Mrs Lessinghams letter was not yet finished when a servant announced
Elgars arrival He was at once admitted On seeing who was to receive him he
made an instants pause before coming forward there was merely a bow on both
sides
Elgar knew well enough in what mood this lady was about to converse with
him He did not like her and partly no doubt because he had discerned her
estimate of his character his faculties That she alone was in the room gave
him no surprise though it irritated him and inflamed his impatience He would
have had her speak immediately and to the point that he might understand his
position Mrs Lessingham quite aware of his perfervid state of mind had
pleasure in delaying Her real feeling towards him was anything but unfriendly
had it been possible she would have liked to see much of him to enjoy his
talk Young men of this stamp amused her and made strong appeal to certain of
her sympathies But those very sympathies enabled her to judge him with singular
accuracy aided as she was by an outline knowledge of his past Her genuine
affection for Cecily made her now that the peril had declared itself his
strenuous adversary For Cecily to marry Reuben Elgar would be a catastrophe
nothing less She was profoundly convinced of this and the best elements of her
nature came out in the resistance she was determined to make
A less worthy ground of vexation against Elgar might probably be attributed
to her Skilful in judging men she had not the same insight where her own sex
was concerned and in the case of Cecily she was misled or rather misled
herself with curious persistence Possibly some slight vague fear had already
touched her when she favoured Mrs Spence with the description of her system
not impossibly she felt the need of reassuring herself by making clear her
attitude to one likely to appreciate it But at that time she had not dreamt of
such a sudden downfall of her theoretic edifice she believed in its strength
and did not doubt of her supreme influence with Cecily It was not to be
wondered at that she felt annoyed with the man who at a touch made the
elaborate structure collapse like a bubble She imagined Mrs Spences remarks
when she came to hear of what had happened her fine smile to her husband The
occurrence was mortifying
»Miss Doran has put into my hands a letter she received from you this
morning Mr Elgar«
Reuben waited Mrs Lessingham had not invited him to sit down she also
stood
»You probably wished me to learn its contents«
»Yes I am glad you have read it«
»It didnt occur to you that Miss Doran might find the task you imposed upon
her somewhat trying«
Elgar was startled Just as little as Cecily had he pondered the details of
the situation mere frenzy possessed him and he acted as desire bade Had
Cecily been embarrassed Was she annoyed at his not proceeding with formality
He had never thought of her in the light of conventional obligations and even
now could not bring himself to do so
»Did Miss Doran wish me to be told that« he asked bluntly in unconsidered
phrase
»Miss Dorans wish is that no further step shall be taken by either of you
until her guardian Mr Mallard has been communicated with«
»She will not see me«
»She thinks it better neither to see you nor to write I am bound to tell
you that this is the result of my advice Her own intention was to do as you
request in this letter«
»What harm would there have been in that Mrs Lessingham Why maynt I see
her«
»I really think Miss Doran must be allowed to act as seems best to her It
is quite enough that I tell you what she has decided«
»But that is not her decision« broke out Elgar moving impetuously »That
is simply the result of your persuasion of your authority Why may I not see
her«
»For reasons which would be plain enough to any but a very thoughtless young
gentleman I can say no more«
Her caustic tone was not agreeable Elgar winced under it and had much ado
to restrain himself from useless vehemence
»Do you intend to write to Mr Mallard today« he asked
»I will write today«
Expostulation and entreaty seemed of no avail Elgar recognized the
situation and with a grinding of his teeth kept down the horrible pain he
suffered His only comfort was that Mallard would assuredly come posthaste he
would arrive by tomorrow evening But two days of this misery Mrs Lessingham
was gratified with his look as he departed she had supplied him with abundant
matter for speculation yet had fulfilled her promise to Cecily
She finished her letter then went to Cecilys room The girl sat
unoccupied and listened without replying That day she took her meals in
private scarcely pretending to eat Her face kept its flush and her hands
remained feverishly hot Till late at night she sat in the same chair now and
then opening a book but unable to read she spoke only a word or two when it
was necessary
The same on the day that followed Seldom moving seldomer speaking she
suffered and waited
Chapter XI
The Appeal to Authority
»Hic intus homo verus certus optumus recumbo Publius Octavius Rufus decurio«
Mallard stood reading this inscription graven on an ancient sarcophagus
preserved in the cathedral of Amalfi A fool probably that excellent Rufus
he said to himself but what a happy fool Unborn as yet or to him unknown
the faith that would have bidden him write himself a miserable sinner what he
deemed himself in life what perchance his friends and neighbours deemed him
why not declare it upon the marble when he rested from all his virtues
»Here lie I Ross Mallard who can say no good of myself yet have as little
right to say ill who had no faith whereby to direct my steps yet often felt
that some such was needful who spent all my strength on a task which I knew to
be vain who suffered much and joyed rarely whose happiest day was his last«
Somehow like that would it run if he were to write his own epitaph at
present
The quiet of the dim sanctuary was helpful to such selfcommuning He
relished being alone again and after an hours brooding had recovered at all
events a decent balance of thought a respite from madness in melancholy
But he could not employ himself could not even seek the relief of bodily
exertion his mind grew sluggish and threw a lassitude upon his limbs The
greater part of the day he spent in his room at the hotel merely idle This
time he had no energy to attack himself with adjurations and sarcasms body and
soul were oppressed with uttermost fatigue and for a time must lie torpid
Fortunately he was sure of sleep tonight the bell of the cathedral might clang
its worst and still not rob him of the just oblivion
The next day he strayed into the hills and there in solitude faced the
enemy in his heart bidding misery do its worst In imagination he followed
Reuben Elgar to Naples saw him speed to Villa Sannazaro where as likely as not
he would meet Cecily Mallard had no tangible evidence of its being Reubens
desire to see Cecily but he was none the less convinced that for no other
reason had his companion set forth And jealousy tormented him sorely It was
his first experience of this cruellest passion what hitherto had been only a
name to him and of ignoble sound became a disease clutching at his vitals It
taught him fierceness injustice base suspicion brutal conjecture it taught
him that of which all these are constituents hatred
But it did not constrain him to any unworthy action The temptation that
passed through his mind when he looked from the balcony on the carriage that was
to convey Elgar did not return or only as a bitter desire impossible of
realization Distant from Naples he must remain awaiting whatsoever might
happen
Ah bright gentle sweetfaced Cecily Inconceivable to her this suffering
that lay upon her friend How it would pain her if she knew of it With what
sad wondering tenderness her eyes would regard him How kindly would she lay
her soft hand in his and entreat him to be comforted
If he asked her would she not give him that hand to be his always
Perhaps perhaps in her gentleness she would submit to this change and do her
best to love him And in return he would give her gruff affection removal from
the life to which she was accustomed loneliness his uncertain humours his
dubious reputation How often must he picture these results and convince
himself of the impossibility of anything of the kind
He knew her better than did Mrs Lessingham oh far better He had detected
in her deep eyes the sleeping passion some day to awake with suddenness and
make the whole world new to her He knew how far from impossible it was that
Reuben Elgar should be the prince to break her charmed slumber There was the
likeness and the unlikeness common to both that temperament of enthusiasm On
the one hand Cecily with her unsullied maidenhood and on the other Elgar with
his reckless experiences contrasts which so commonly have a mutual attraction
There was the singularity of their meeting after years and seeing each other in
such a new light the interest the curiosity inevitably resulting What
likelihood that any distrust would mingle with Cecilys warmth of feeling were
that feeling once excited He knew her too well
How Mrs Lessingham regarded Elgar he did not know He had no confidence in
that ladys discretion he thought it not improbable that she would speak of
Reuben to Cecily in the very way she should not making him an impressive
figure Then again what part was Mrs Baske likely to have in such a situation
Could she be relied upon to represent her brother unfavourably with the right
colour of unfavourableness Or was it not rather to be feared that the thought
of Cecilys influence might tempt her to encourage what otherwise she must have
condemned He retraced in memory that curious dialogue he had held with Miriam
on the drive back from Baiæ could he gather from it any hints of her probable
behaviour
By a sudden revulsion of mind Mallard became aware that in the long fit of
brooding just gone by he had not been occupied with Cecily at all Busying his
thoughts with Mrs Baske he had slipped into a train of meditation already
begun on the evening in question after the drive with her What was Mrs
Baskes true history How had she come to marry the man of whom Elgars phrases
had produced such a hateful image What was the state in very deed of her mind
at present What awaited her in the future
It was curious that Mrs Baskes face was much more recoverable by his
minds eye than Cecilys In fact to see Miriam cost him no effort at all
equally at will he heard the sound of her voice There were times when Cecily
her look and utterance visited him very clearly but this was when he did not
wish to be reminded of her If he endeavoured to make her present as a rule the
picturing faculty was irresponsive
Welcome reverie If only he could continue to busy himself with idle
speculation concerning the strange young Puritan and so find relief from the
anguish that beset him Suppose now he set himself to imagine Miriam in
unlikely situations What if she somehow fell into poverty was made absolutely
dependent on her own efforts Suppose she suffered cruelly what so many women
have to suffer toil oppression solitude what would she become Not he
suspected a meek martyr anything but that Miriam Baske And how magnificent
to see her flash out into revolt against circumstances Then indeed she would be
interesting
Nay suppose she fell in love desperately with grim fate against her For
somehow this came more easily to the fancy than the thought of her loving
without obstacle Presumably she had never loved her husband was out of the
question Would she pass her life without that experience One thing could be
affirmed with certainty if she lost her heart to a man it would not be to a
Puritan He could conceive her being attracted by a strong and somewhat rude
fellow a despiser of conventionalities without religion a man of brains and
blood one whose look could overwhelm her with tumultuous scorn and whose hand
if need be could crush her life out at a blow Why not however a highly
polished gentleman critical keen of speech deeply read brilliant in
conversation at once man of the world and scholar Might not that type have
power over her In a degree but not so decidedly as the intellectual brute
Pshaw what brainsickness was this What was he fallen to Yet it did what
nothing else would amused him for a few minutes in his pain He recurred to it
several times and always successfully
Sunday came This evening would see Elgar back again
No doubt of his return had yet entered his mind Whether Reuben would in
reality settle to some kind of work was a different question but of course he
would come back if it were only to say that he had kept his promise but found
he must set off again to some place or other Mallard dreaded his coming News
of some kind he would bring and Mallards need was of silence If he indeed
remained here the old irritation would revive and go on from day to day
Impossible that they should live together long
It was pretty certain by what train he would journey from Naples to Salerno
easy therefore to calculate the probable hour of his arrival at Amalfi When
that hour drew near Mallard set out to walk a short distance along the road to
meet him Unlike the Sorrento side of the promontory the mountains here rise
suddenly and boldly out of the sea towering to craggy eminences moulded and
cleft into infinite variety of slope and precipice bastion and gorge Cut upon
the declivity often at vast sheer height above the beach the road follows the
curving of the hills Now and then it makes a deep loop inland on the sides of
an impassable chasm and set in each of these recesses is a little town
whitegleaming amid its orchard verdure with quaint and manycoloured
campanile with the semblance of a remote time Far up on the heights are other
gleaming specks villages which seem utterly beyond the traffic of man solitary
for ever in sun or mountain mist
Mallard paid little heed to the things about him he walked on and on
watching for a vehicle listening for the tread of horses Sometimes he could
see the white roadtrack miles away and he strained his eyes in observing it
Twice or thrice he was deceived a carriage came towards him and with agitation
he waited to see its occupants only to be disappointed by strange faces
There are few things more pathetic than persistency in hope due to ignorance
of something that has befallen beyond our ken It is one of those instances of
the irony inherent in human fate which move at once to tears and bitter
laughter the waste of emotion the involuntary folly the cruel deception
caused by limit of faculties how they concentrate into an hour or a day the
essence of life itself
He walked on and on as well do this as go back and loiter fretfully at the
hotel He got as far as the Capo d Orso the headland halfway between Amalfi
and Salerno and there sat down by the wayside to rest From this point Salerno
was first visible in the far distance between the sea and the purple
Apennines
Either Elgar was not coming or he had lingered long between the two
portions of his journey
Mallard turned back if the carriage came it would overtake him He plodded
slowly the evening falling around him in still loveliness fragrance from the
groves of orange and lemon spread on every motion of the air
And if he did not come That must have some strange meaning In any case he
must surely write And ten to one his letter would be a lie What was to be
expected of him but a lie
Monday Tuesday and now Wednesday morning Hitherto not even a letter
When it was clear that Elgar had disregarded his promise and for whatever
reason did not even seek to justify or excuse himself there came upon Mallard
a strong mood of scorn which for some hours enabled him to act as though all
his anxiety were at an end He set himself a piece of work a flash of the
familiar energy traversed his mind He believed that at length his degradation
was over and that come what might he could now face it sturdily Mere
selfdeception of course The sun veiled itself and hope was as far as ever
Never before had he utterly lost the power of working In every struggle he
had speedily overcome and found in work the one unfailing resource If he were
robbed of this what stay had life for him henceforth He could not try to
persuade himself that his suffering would pass sooner or later and time grant
him convalescence the blackness ahead was too profound He fell again into
torpor and let the days go as they would he cared not
But this morning brought him a letter At the first glance he was surprised
by a handwriting which was not Elgars recollecting himself he knew it for
that of Mrs Lessingham
»Dear Mr Mallard
It grieves me to be obliged to send you disquieting news so soon
after your departure from Naples but I think you will agree with me
that I have no choice but to write of something that has this morning
come to my knowledge You have no taste for roundabout phrases so I
will say at once in plain words that Cecily and Mr Elgar have somehow
contrived to fall in love with each other or to imagine that they have
done so which as regards results unfortunately amounts to the same
thing I cannot learn by what process it came about but I am assured by
Cecily in words of becoming vagueness that they plighted troth or
something of the kind yesterday at Pompeii There was a party of four
Mr and Mrs Bradshaw Cecily and Mrs Baske At Pompeii they were
unexpectedly so I am told joined by Mr Elgar notwithstanding that
he had taken leave of us on Saturday with the information that he was
about to return to you at Amalfi and there devote himself to literary
work of some indefinite kind Perhaps you have in the meantime heard
from him This morning Cecily received a letter in which he made
peremptory request for an interview she showed this to me My duty was
plain I declared the interview impossible and Cecily gave way on
condition that I saw Mr Elgar told him why she herself did not appear
and forthwith wrote to you Our young gentleman was disconcerted when he
found that his visit was to be wasted on my uninteresting self I sent
him about his business only that unhappily he has none bidding him
wait till we had heard from you
I fancy this will be as disagreeable to you as it is to me The poor
child is in a sad state much disposed I fear to regard me as her
ruthless enemy and like to fall ill if she be kept long in idle
suspense Do you think it worth while to come to Naples It is very
annoying that your time should be wasted by foolish children I had
given Cecily credit for more sense For my own part I cannot think with
patience of her marrying Mr Elgar or rather I cannot think of it
without dread We must save her from becoming wise through bitter
sorrow if it can in any way be managed I hope and trust that nothing
may happen to prevent your receiving this letter tomorrow for I am
very uneasy and not likely to become less so as time goes on
Believe me dear Mr Mallard
Sincerely yours
EDITH LESSINGHAM«
At seven oclock in the evening Mallard was in Naples He did not go to Casa
Rolandi but took a room in one of the musty hotels which overlook the port
When he felt sure that Mrs Glucks guests must have dined he presented himself
at the house and sent his name to Mrs Lessingham
She took his hand with warm welcome
»Thank you for coming so promptly I have been getting into such a state of
nervousness Cecily keeps her room and looks ill I have several times been on
the point of sending for the doctor though it seemed absurd«
Mallard seated himself without invitation indeed he had a difficulty in
standing
»Hasnt she been out today« he asked in a voice which might have
signified selfish indifference
»Nor yesterday Mrs Spence was here this morning but Cecily would not see
her I made excuses and of course said nothing of what was going on I asked
the child if she would like to see Mrs Baske but she refused«
Mallard sat as if he had nothing to say looking vaguely about the room
»Have you heard from Mr Elgar« Mrs Lessingham inquired
»No I know nothing about him I havent been to Casa Rolandi lest I should
meet him It was better to see you first«
»You were not prepared for this news«
»His failure to return made me speculate of course I suppose they have met
several times at Mrs Baskes«
»That at once occurred to me but Cecily assures me that is not so There is
a mystery I have no idea how they saw each other privately at Pompeii on
Monday But between ourselves Mr Mallard I cant help suspecting that he had
learnt from his sister the particulars of the excursion«
»You think it not impossible that Mrs Baske connived at their meeting in
that way«
»One doesnt like to use words of that kind but «
»I suppose one must use the word that expresses ones meaning« said
Mallard bluntly »But I didnt think Mrs Baske was likely to aid her brother
for such a purpose Have you any reason to think the contrary«
»None that would carry any weight«
Mallard paused then with a restless movement on his chair exclaimed
»But what has this to do with the matter What has happened has happened
and theres an end of it The question is what ought to be done now I dont
see that we can treat Miss Doran like a child«
Mrs Lessingham looked at him She was resting one arm on a table by which
she sat and supporting her forehead with her hand
»You propose that things should take their natural course«
»They will whether I propose it or not«
»And if our next information is that they desire to be married as soon as
conveniently may be«
»That is another matter They will have no consent of mine to anything of
the kind«
»You relieve me«
Mallard looked at her frowningly
»Miss Doran« he continued »will not marry Elgar with my consent until she
be oneandtwenty Then of course she may do as she likes«
»You will see Mr Elgar and make this clear to him«
»Very clear indeed« was the grim reply »As for anything else why what
can we do If they insist upon it I suppose they must see each other of
course under reasonable restrictions You cannot make yourself a duenna of
melodrama Mrs Lessingham«
»Scarcely But I think our stay at Naples may reasonably be shortened
unless of course Mr Elgar leaves«
»You take it for granted I see that Miss Doran will be guided by our
judgment« said Mallard after musing on the last remark
»I have no fear of that« replied Mrs Lessingham with confidence »if it is
made to appear only a question of postponement This will be a trifle compared
with my task of yesterday morning You can scarcely imagine how astonished she
was at the first hint of opposition«
»I can imagine it very well« said the other in his throat »What else
could be expected after « He checked himself on the point of saying something
that would have revealed his opinion of Mrs Lessinghams system his opinion
accentuated by unreasoning bitterness »From all we know of her« were the words
he substituted
»She is more like her father than I had supposed« said Mrs Lessingham
meditatively
Mallard stood up
»You will let her know that I have been here«
»Certainly«
»She has expressed no wish to see me«
»None I had better report to her simply that you have no objection to Mr
Elgars visits«
»That is all I would say at present I shall see Elgar tonight He is still
at Casa Rolandi I take it«
»That was the address on his letter«
»Then goodnight Bythebye I had better give you my address« He wrote
it on a leaf in his pocketbook »I will see you again in a day or two when
things have begun to clear up«
»Its too bad that you should have this trouble Mr Mallard«
»I dont pretend to like it but theres no help«
And he left Mrs Lessingham to make her comment on his candour
Yes Signor Elgar was in his chamber he had entered but a quarter of an hour
since The signor seemed not quite well unhappily said Olimpia the domestic
in her chopped Neapolitan Mallard vouchsafed no reply He knocked sharply at
the big solid door There was a cry of Avanti and he entered
Elgar advanced a few steps He did not affect to smile but looked directly
at his visitor who as if all the pain of the interview were on him rather
than the other cast down his eyes
»I was expecting you« said Reuben without offering his hand
»So was I you three days ago«
»Sit down and let us talk Im ashamed of myself Mallard I ought at all
events to have written«
»One would have thought so«
»Have you seen Mrs Lessingham«
»Yes«
»Then you understand everything I repeat that I am ashamed of my behaviour
to you For days since last Saturday I have been little better than a
madman On Saturday I went to say goodbye to Mrs Lessingham and her niece it
was bonâ fide Mallard«
»In your sense of the phrase Go on«
»I tell you I then meant to leave Naples« pursued Elgar who had repeated
this so often to himself by way of palliation that he had come to think it
true »It was not my fault that I couldnt when that visit was over It happened
that I saw Miss Doran alone sat talking with her till her aunt returned«
Mrs Lessingham had made no mention of this little matter Hearing of it
Mallard ejaculated mentally »Idiot«
»It was all over with me I broke faith with you as I should have done
with any man as I should have done if the lives of a hundred people had
depended on my coming I didnt write because I preferred not to write lies
and if I had told the truth I knew you would come at once To be sure silence
might have had the same result but I had to risk something and I risked that«
»I marvel at your disinclination to lie«
»What do you mean by saying that« broke out Elgar with natural warmth
»I mean simply what I say Go on«
»After all Mallard I dont quite know why you should take this tone with
me If a man falls in love he thinks of nothing but how to gain his end I
should think even you can take that for granted My broken promise is a trifle
in view of what caused it«
»Again in your view In mine it is by no means a trifle It distinguishes
you from honourable men thats all a point of some moment I should think
when your character is expressly under discussion«
»You mean of course that I am not worthy of Cecily I cant grant any such
conclusion«
»Let us leave that aside for the present« said Mallard »Will you tell me
how it came to pass that you met Miss Doran and her companions at Pompeii«
Elgar hesitated whereupon the other added quickly
»If it was with Miss Dorans anticipation I want no details«
»No it wasnt«
Their looks met
»By chance then of course« said Mallard sourly
Elgar spoke on an impulse leaning forward
»Look I wont lie to you Miriam told me they were going I met her that
morning when I was slinking about and I compelled her to give me her help
sorely against her will Dont think ill of her for it Mallard I frightened
her by my violent manner I havent seen her since she cant know what the
result has been None of them at Pompeii suspected only a moment of privacy
theres no need to say any more about it«
Mallard mused over this revelation He felt inclined to scorn Elgar for
making it It affected him curiously and at once took a place among his
imaginings of Miriam
»You shall promise me that you wont betray your knowledge of this« added
Reuben »At all events not now Promise me that Your word is to be trusted I
know«
»Its very unlikely that I should think of touching on the matter to your
sister I shall make no promise«
»Have you seen Cecily herself« Elgar asked leaving the point aside in his
eagerness to come to what concerned him more deeply
»No«
»I have waited for your permission to visit her Do you mean to refuse it«
»No If you call tomorrow morning you will be admitted Mrs Lessingham is
willing that you should see her niece in private«
»Hearty thanks for that Mallard We havent shaken hands yet you remember
Forgive me for treating you so ill«
He held out his hand cordially and Mallard could not refuse it though he
would rather have thrust his fingers among red coals than feel that hot
pressure
»I believe I can be grateful« pursued Elgar in a voice that quivered with
transport »I will do my best to prove it«
»Let us speak of things more to the point What result do you foresee of
this meeting tomorrow«
The other hesitated
»I shall ask Cecily when she will marry me«
»You may do so of course but the answer cannot depend upon herself alone«
»What delay do you think necessary«
»Until she is of age and her own mistress« replied Mallard with quiet
decision
»Impossible What need is there to wait all that time«
»Why there is this need Elgar« returned the other more vigorously than
he had yet spoken »There is need that you should prove to those who desire Miss
Dorans welfare that you are something more than a young fellow fresh from a
life of waste and idleness and everything that demonstrates or tends to
untrustworthiness It seems to me that a couple of years or so is not an
overlong time for this all things considered«
Elgar kept silent
»You would have seen nothing objectionable in immediate marriage« said
Mallard
»It is useless to pretend that I should«
»Not even from the point of view of Mrs Lessingham and myself«
»You yourself have never spoken plainly about such things in my hearing but
I find you in most things a man of your time And it doesnt seem to me that
Mrs Lessingham is exactly conventional in her views«
»You imagine yourself worthy of such a wife at present«
»Plainly I do It would be the merest hypocrisy if I said anything else If
Cecily loves me my love for her is at least as strong If we are equal in that
what else matters I am not going to cry Peccavi about the past I have lived
and you know what that means in my language In what am I inferior as a man to
Cecily as a woman Would you have me snivel and talk about my impurity and her
angelic qualities You know that you would despise me if I did or any other
man who used the same empty old phrases«
»I grant you that« replied Mallard deliberately »I believe I am no more
superstitious with regard to these questions than you are and I want to hear no
cant Let us take it on more open ground Were Cecily Doran my daughter I would
resist her marrying you to the utmost of my power not simply because you have
lived laxly but because of my conviction that the part of your life is to be a
pattern of the whole I have no faith in you no faith in your sense of honour
in your stability not even in your mercy Your wife will be sooner or later
one of the unhappiest of women Thinking of you in this way and being in the
place of a parent to Cecily am I doing my duty or not in insisting that she
shall not marry you hastily that even in her own despite she shall have time to
study you and herself that she shall only take the irrevocable step when she
clearly knows that it is done on her own responsibility You may urge what you
like I am not so foolish as to suppose you capable of consideration for others
in your present state of mind I however shall defend myself from the girls
reproaches in afteryears There will be no marriage until she is twentyone«
A silence of some duration followed Elgar sat with bent head twisting his
moustaches At length
»I believe you are right Mallard Not in your judgment of me but in your
practical resolve«
Mallard examined him from under his eyebrows
»You are prepared to wait« he asked in an uncertain voice
»Prepared no But I grant the force of your arguments I will try to bring
myself to patience«
Mallard sat unmoving His legs were crossed and he held his soft felt hat
crushed together in both his hands Elgar glanced at him once or twice
expecting him to speak but the other was mute
»Your judgment of me« Elgar resumed »is harsh and unfounded I dont know
how you have formed it You know nothing of what it means to me to love such a
girl as Cecily Here I have found my rest It supplies me with no new qualities
but it strengthens those I have You picture me being unfaithful to Cecily
deserting her becoming brutal to her There must be a strange prejudice in your
mind to excite such images« He examined Mallards face »Some day I will remind
you of your prophecies«
Mallard regarded him and spoke at length in a strangely jarring
discordant voice
»I said that hastily I make no prophecies I wished to say that those
seemed to me the probabilities«
»Thank you for the small mercy at all events« said Elgar with a laugh
»What do you intend to do« Mallard proceeded to ask changing his position
»I can make no plans yet I have pretended to only too often You have no
objection to my remaining here«
»You must take your own course with the understanding to which we have
come«
»I wish I could make you look more cheerful Mallard I owe it to you for
you have given me more gladness than I can utter«
»You can do it«
»How«
»See her tomorrow morning and then go back to England and make yourself
some kind of reputable existence«
»Not yet That is asking too much Not so soon«
»As you please We understand each other on the main point«
»Yes Are you going back to Amalfi«
»I dont know«
They talked for a few minutes more in short sentences of this kind but did
not advance beyond the stage of mutual forbearance Mallard lingered as though
not sure that he had fulfilled his mission In the end he went away abruptly
Chapter XII
On the Heights
In vain at each meal did Clifford Marsh await Cecilys appearance A trifling
indisposition kept her to her room was Mrs Lessinghams reply to sympathetic
inquiries Mr and Mrs Bradshaw who were seriously making their preparations
for journeying northward held private talk concerning the young lady and felt
they would like to stay a week longer just to see if their suspicions would be
confirmed Mrs Denyer found it difficult to assume the becoming air when she
put civil questions to Mrs Lessingham for she was now assured that to Miss
Doran was attributable the alarming state of things between Clifford and
Madeline Marsh would never have been so intractable but for this new element in
the situation Madeline herself on the other hand was a model of magnanimity
in Cliffords very hearing she spoke of Cecily with tender concern and then
walked past her recreant admirer with her fair head in a pose of conscious
grace
Even Mr Musselwhite at the close of the second day grew aware that the
table lacked one of its ornaments It was his habit now a new habit came as a
blessing of Providence to Mr Musselwhite on passing into the drawingroom
after dinner to glance towards a certain corner and after slow undecided
tackings to settle in that direction There sat Barbara Denyer Her study at
present was one of the lessknown works of Silvio Pellico and as Mr
Musselwhite approached she looked up with an air of absorption He was wont to
begin conversation with the remark flatteringly toned »Reading Italian as
usual Miss Denyer« but this evening a new subject had been suggested to him
»I hope Miss Doran is not seriously unwell Miss Denyer«
»Oh I think not«
Mr Musselwhite reflected stroking his whiskers in a gentlemanly way
»One misses her« was his next remark
»Yes so much She is so charming dont you think Mr Musselwhite«
»Very« He now plucked at the whiskers uneasily »Oh yes very«
Barbara smiled and turned her attention to the book as though she could
spare no more time Mr Musselwhite dimly feeling that this topic demanded no
further treatment racked his brains for something else to say He was far
towards Lincolnshire when a rustle of the pages under Barbaras finger gave him
a happy inspiration
»I dont know whether you would care to see English papers now and then
Miss Denyer I always have quite a number The Field for instance and «
»You are very kind I dont read much English but I shall be glad to see
anything you like to bring me«
Mrs Denyer was not wholly without consolation in her troubles about
Clifford Marsh
On the following morning as she and her daughters were going out they came
face to face with a gentleman who was announcing to the servant his wish to see
Miss Doran Naturally they all glanced at him Would he be admitted With much
presence of mind Madeline exclaimed
»Oh dear mamma I have forgotten that letter Please wait for me I wont
be a minute«
And she disappeared the others moving out on to the staircase When
Madeline rejoined them it was with the intelligence that the visitor had been
admitted
»Who can he be«
»Rather a strangelooking person«
»Miss Doran cannot be ill She has no brother What an odd thing«
They walked on close serried murmuring to each other discreetly
For several minutes there had been perfect stillness in the room a hush after
the music of low impassioned voices It was broken yet scarcely broken by the
sound of lips touching lips touching to part sweetly touching again to part
more slowly more sweetly still
»They will not influence you against me«
»Never never«
»They will try Cecily You will hear endless things to my disadvantage
things that I cannot contradict if you ask me«
»I care for nothing Reuben I am yours for ever and ever hear what I may
happen what may«
»Dont call me by my hateful name dearest We will find some other if I
must have a name for you«
»Why that is like Romeo«
»So it is I wish I had no worse than Romeos reason I had rather have had
the vulgarest AngloSaxon name than this Jewish one Happily I need have no
fear in telling you that you are no Puritan«
»As little as a girl could be« She laughed in her happiness »Have you the
same dislike for your sisters name«
»Just the same I believe it partly explains her life«
»She will not be against us though«
»Neither for nor against I am afraid Yet I have to thank her for the
meeting with you at Pompeii Why havent you asked me how I came there«
»I never thought to ask It seemed so natural I longed for you and you
stood before me I could almost believe that my longing had power to bring you
so strong it was But tell me«
He did so and again they lost themselves in rapturous dreamland
»Do you think Mr Mallard will wish to see me« she asked timidly
»I cant be sure I half think not«
»Yet I half wish he would I should find it strange and a little difficult
but he couldnt be harsh with me I think it might do good if he came to see me
in a day or two«
»On what terms have you always been with him How does he behave to you«
»Oh you know him He still looks upon me rather too much as a child and he
seems to have a pleasure in saying odd halfrude things but we are excellent
friends or have been Such a delightful day as we had at Baiæ I have always
liked him«
»At Baiæ You didnt go alone with him«
»No Miriam was there and Mr Spence We found him dreaming at Pozzuoli and
carried him off in the boat with us«
»He never thought much of me and now he hates me«
»No that is impossible«
»If you had heard him speaking to me last night you would think
differently He makes it a crime that I should love you«
»I dont understand it«
»Whats more he has feared this ever since I came I feel sure of it When
I was coming back from Pompeii he took me with him to Amalfi all but by force
He dreaded my returning and seeing you«
»But why should he think of such a thing«
»Why«
Elgar led her a few paces until they stood before a mirror
»Dont look at me The other face which is a little paler than it should
be«
She hid it against him
»But you dont love me for my face only You will see others who have more
beauty«
»Perhaps so Mallard hopes so in the long time we shall have to wait«
She fixed startled eyes on him
»He cannot wish me so ill he cannot That would be unlike him«
»He wishes you no ill be sure of it«
»Oh you havent spoken to him as you should You havent made him
understand you Let me speak to him for you«
»Cecily«
»Dearest«
»Suppose he doesnt wish to understand me Have you never thought when he
has pretended to treat you as a child that there might be some reason for it
Did it never occur to you that if he spoke too roughly it might be because he
was afraid of being too gentle«
»Never That thought has never approached my mind You dont speak in
earnest«
Why could he not command his tongue Why have suggested this to her
imagination He did not wholly mean to say it even to the last moment but
unwisdom as so often overcame him It was a way of defending himself he
wished to imply that Mallard had a powerful reason for assailing his character
He had been convinced since last night that Mallard was embittered by jealousy
and he half credited the fear lest jealousy might urge to the use of any weapons
against him he was tempted by the satisfaction of putting Cecily on her guard
against interested motives But he should not have troubled her soul with such
suspicions He read on her face how she was pained and her next words proved
his folly
»If you are right I can never speak to him as I might have done It alters
everything it makes everything harder You are mistaken«
»I may be Let us hope I am«
»How I wish I had never seen that possibility I cannot believe it yet it
will prevent me from looking honestly in his face as I always have done«
»Forget it Let us speak only of ourselves«
But she was troubled and Elgar angry with himself spoke impatiently
»In pity for him you would love me less I see that«
»You are not yet satisfied You find new ways of forcing me to say that I
love you Seem to distrust me that I may say it over and over make me believe
you really doubt if I can be constant just that I may hear what my heart says
in its distress and repeat it all to you Be a little unkind to me that I may
show how your unkindness would wound me and may entreat you back into your own
true self You can do nothing say nothing but I will make it afford new proofs
of how I love you«
»I had rather you made yourself less dear to me The time will be so long
How can I live through it«
»Will it not help you a little to help me To know that you are unhappy
would make it so much longer to me my love«
»It will be hell to live away from you I cannot make myself another man If
you knew what I have suffered only in these two days«
»There was uncertainty«
»Uncertainty Then what certainty could I ever have Every hour spent at a
distance from you will be full of hideous misgivings Remember that every one
will be doing the utmost to part us«
»Let them do the utmost twice over You must have faith in me Look into my
eyes Is there no assurance no strength for you Do they look too happy That
is because you are still here time enough for sadness when you are gone Oh
you think too humbly of yourself Having loved you and known your love what
else can the world offer me to live for«
»Wherever you are I must come often«
»Indeed you must or for me too the burden will be heavier than I can bear«
As the Denyers were coming home it surprised them to pass at a little distance
from the house Clifford Marsh in conversation with the gentleman who had called
upon Miss Doran Madeline exercising her new privilege of perfect sangfroid
took an opportunity not long after to speak to Clifford in the drawingroom
»Who was the gentleman we saw you with«
»I met him at Pompeii but didnt know his name till today Hes asked me
to dine with him«
»He is a friend of Miss Dorans I believe«
»I believe so«
»You accepted his invitation«
»Yes I am always willing to make a new acquaintance«
»A liberal frame of mind Did he give you news of Miss Dorans health«
»No«
He smiled mysteriously only to appear at his ease and Madeline smiling
also turned away
Cecily reappeared this evening at the dinnertable She was changed Mrs Gluck
and her guests were not again to behold the vision to which their eyes had
become accustomed that supremacy of simple charm which some of them had
recognized as English girlhood at its best had given place to something less
intelligible less instant in its attractiveness Perhaps the climate of Naples
was proving not well suited to her
After dinner she and Mrs Lessingham at once went to their private room
Cecily sat down to write a letter When she moved as if the letter were
finished her aunt looked up from a newspaper
»Ive been thinking Cecily Suppose we go over to Capri for a change«
»I am quite willing aunt«
»I think Mr Elgar has not been there yet He might accompany us«
Unprepared for this Cecily murmured an assent
»Do you know how much longer he thinks of staying in Italy«
»We havent spoken of it«
»Has he given up his literary projects«
»Im afraid we didnt speak of that either«
»Shall you be satisfied if he continues to live quite without occupation«
»I dont for a moment think he purposes that«
»And yet it will certainly be the case as long as he remains here or
wherever else we happen to be living«
Mrs Lessingham allowed her to ponder this for a few minutes Then she
resumed the train of thought
»Have you had leisure yet to ask yourself my dear what use you will make
of the great influence you have acquired over Mr Elgars mind«
»That is not quite the form my thoughts would naturally take aunt« Cecily
replied with gentleness
»Yet may it not be the form they should You are accustomed to think for
yourself to a greater extent than girls whose education has been more ordinary
you cannot take it ill if I remind you now of certain remarks I have made on Mr
Elgar lately and remind you also that I am not alone in my view of him Dont
fear that I shall say anything unkind but if you feel equal to a womans
responsibilities you must surely exercise a womans good sense Let us say
nothing more than that Mr Elgar has fallen into habits of excessive indolence
doesnt it seem to you that you might help him out of hem«
»I think he may not need help as you understand it now«
»My dear he needs it perhaps five hundred times more than he did before If
you decline to believe me I shall be only too much justified by your experience
hereafter«
»What would you have me do«
»What must very soon occur to your own excellent wits Cecily for I wont
give up all my pride in you Mr Elgar should of course go back to England
and do something that becomes him he must decide what Let him have a few days
with us in Capri then go and so far recommend himself in our eyes No one can
make him see that this is what his dignity if nothing else demands except
yourself Think of it dear«
Cecily did think of it long and anxiously Thanks to Elgar her meditations
had a dark background such as her own fancy would never have supplied
He knew not how sadly the image of him had been blurred in Cecilys mind
the man who lay that night in his room overlooking the port Whether such
ignorance were for his aid or his disadvantage who shall venture to say
To a certain point we may follow with philosophic curiosity step by step
the progress of mental anguish but when that point is passed analysis loses
its interest the vocabulary of pain has exhausted itself the phenomena already
noted do but repeat themselves with more rapidity with more intensity detail
is lost in the mere sense of throes Perchance the mind is capable of suffering
worse than the fiercest pangs of hopeless love combined with jealousy one would
not pretend to put a limit to the possibilities of human woe but for Mallard
at all events this night did the black flood of misery reach highwater mark
What joy in the world that does not represent a counterbalance of sorrow
What blessedness poured upon one head but some other must therefore lie down
under malediction We know that with the uttermost of happiness there is wont to
come a sudden blending of troublous humour May it not be that the soul has
conceived a subtle sympathy with that hapless one but for whose sacrifice its
own elation were impossible
Chapter XIII
Echo and Prelude
At Villa Sannazaro the posture of affairs was already understood When Eleanor
Spence casually calling at the pension found that Cecily was unable to receive
visitors she at the same time learnt from Mrs Lessingham to what this
seclusion was due The ladies had a singular little conversation for Eleanor
was inwardly so amused at this speedy practical comment on Mrs Lessinghams
utterances of the other day that with difficulty she kept her countenance
while Mrs Lessingham herself impelled to make the admission without delay
that she might exhibit a philosophic acceptance of fact had much ado to hide
her chagrin beneath the show of halfcynical frankness that became a woman of
the world Eleanor passably roguish within the limits of becoming mirth
acted the scene to her husband who laughed shamelessly Then came explanations
between Eleanor and Miriam
The following day passed without news but on the morning after Miriam had
a letter from Cecily not a long letter nor very effusive but telling all that
was to be told And it ended with a promise that Cecily would come to the villa
that afternoon This was communicated to Eleanor
»Wheres Mallard I wonder« said Spence when his wife came to talk to him
»Not I suspect at the old quarters It would be like him to go off somewhere
without a word Confound that fellow Elgar«
»Im half disposed to think that it serves Mr Mallard right« was Eleanors
remark
»Well for heartlessness commend me to a comfortable woman«
»And for folly commend me to a strongminded man«
»Pooh Hell growl and mutter a little and then get on with his painting«
»If I thought so my liking for him would diminish I hope he is tearing his
hair«
»I shall go seek him«
»Do and give my best love to him poor fellow«
Cecily came alone She was closeted with Miriam for a long time then saw
Eleanor Spence purposely kept away from home
Dante lay unread as well as the other books which Eleanor placed insidiously in
her cousins room Letters lay unanswered among them several relating to the
proposed new chapel at Bartles How did Miriam employ herself during the hours
that she spent alone
Not seldom in looking back upon her childhood and maidenhood
Imagine a very ugly cubical brick house of two stories in a suburb of
Manchester It stands a few yards back from the road On one side it is parted
by a row of poplars from several mean cottages on the other by a narrow field
from a house somewhat larger and possibly a little uglier than itself Its
outlook over the highway is on to a tract of country just being broken up by
builders beyond which a conglomerate of factories with chimneys ever belching
heavy fumes closes the view its rear windows regard a scrubby meadow grazed
generally by brokendown horses with again a limitary prospect of vast mills
Imagine a Sunday in this house Half an hour later than on profane days
Mrs Elgar descends the stairs She is a lady of middle age slight not
ungraceful handsome the look of pain about her forehead is partly habitual
but the consciousness of Sunday intensifies it She moves without a sound
Entering the breakfastroom she finds there two children a girl and a boy
both attired in newseeming garments which are obviously stiff and
uncomfortable The little girl sits on an uneasy chair her whitestockinged
legs dangling on her lap a large copy of »Pilgrims Progress« the boy is half
reclined on a shiny sofa his hands in his pockets on his face an expression of
discontent The table is very white very cold very uninviting
Ten minutes later appears the master of the house shaven also in garments
that appear new and uncomfortable glancing hither and thither with preoccupied
eyes There is some talk in a low voice between the little girl and her mother
then the family seat themselves at table silently Mr Elgar turns a displeased
look on the boy and says something in a harsh voice which causes the youngster
to straighten himself curl his lip precociously and thereafter preserve a
countenance of rebellion subdued by fear His father eats very little speaks
scarcely at all but thinks thinks and most assuredly not of sacred subjects
Breakfast over there follows an hour of indescribable dreariness until the
neighbourhood begins to sound with the clanging of religious bells Mr Elgar
has withdrawn to a little room of his own where perhaps he gives himself up to
meditation on the duties of a Christian parent though his incredulous son has
ere now had a glimpse at the door and observed him in the attitude of
letterwriting Mrs Elgar moves about silently the pain on her brow deepening
as chapeltime approaches At length the boy and girl go upstairs to be got
ready which means that they indue other garments yet more uncomfortable than
those they already wear This process over they descend again to the
breakfastroom and again sit there waiting for the dread moment of departure
The boy is more rebellious than usual he presently drums with his feet and
even begins to whistle very low a popular air His sister looks at him first
with astonished reproach then in dread
Satis superque Again and again Miriam revived these images of the past And
the more she thought of herself as a child the less was she pleased with what
her memory presented How many instances came back to her of hypocrisy before
her father or mother hypocrisy which strangely enough she at the time
believed a merit though perfectly aware of her own insincerity How many a time
had she suffered from the restraints imposed upon her and then secretly allowed
herself indulgences and then again persuaded herself that by severe attention
to formalities she blotted out her sin
But the worst was when Cecily Doran came to live in the house Cecily was
careless in religion had been subjected to no proper severity had not been
taught to probe her conscience At once Miriam assumed an attitude of spiritual
pride the beginning of an evil which was to strengthen its hold upon her
through years She would be an example to the poor little heathen she talked
with her unctuously she excited herself began to find a pleasure in
asceticism and drew the susceptible girl into the same way They would
privately appoint periods of fasting and at several successive meals irritate
their hunger by taking only one or two morsels when faintness came upon them
they gloried in the misery
And from that stage of youth survived memories far more painful than those
of childhood Miriam shut her mind against them
Her marriage came about in the simplest way nothing easier to understand
granted these circumstances The friends of the family were few and all people
of the same religious sect of the same commercial sphere Miriam had never
spoken with a young man whom she did not in her heart despise the one or two
who might possibly have been tempted to think of her as a desirable wife were
repelled by her austerity She had now a character to support she had made
herself known for severe devotion to the things of the spirit In her poor
little world she could not submit to be less than preeminent and only by the
way of religion was preeminence to be assured When the wealthy and pious
manufacturer sought her hand she doubted for a while but was in the end
induced to consent by the reflection that not only would she be freer but at
the same time enjoy a greatly extended credit and influence Her pride silenced
every other voice
Religious hypocrisy is in our day a very rare thing so little is to be
gained by it To be sure the vast majority of English people are constantly
guilty of hypocritical practices but that as a rule is mere testimony to the
rootedness of their orthodox faith Mr Elgar shutting himself up between
breakfast and chapel to write business letters which he pre or postdated
was ignoble enough but not therefore a hypocrite Had a fatal accident happened
to one of his family whilst he was thus employed he would not have succeeded in
persuading his conscience that the sin and the calamity were unconnected His
wife had never admitted a doubt of its being required by the immutable law of
God that she should be sad and severe on Sunday that Reuben should be sternly
punished for whistling on that day that little Miriam should be rewarded when
she went through the long services with unnatural stillness and demureness Nor
was Miriam herself a hypocrite when mistress of Redbeck House she began to
establish her reputation and authority throughout dissenting Bartles
Her instruction had been rigidly sectarian Whatever she studied was
represented to her from the point of view of its relation to Christianity as her
teachers understood it The Christian faith was alone of absolute significance
all else that the mind of man could contain was of more or less importance as
more or less connected with that single interest To the time of her marriage
her outlook upon the world was incredibly restricted She had never read a book
that would not pass her mothers censorship she had never seen a work of art
she had never heard any but sacred music she had never perused a journal she
had never been to an entertainment unless the name could be given to a
magiclantern exhibition of views in Palestine or the like Those with whom she
associated had gone through a similar training and knew as little of life
She had heard of infidelity yes Live as long as she might she would never
forget one dreadful day when in a quarrel with his mother Reuben uttered words
which signified hatred and rejection of all he had been taught to hold divine
Mrs Elgars pallid speechless horror the severe chastisement inflicted on the
lad by his father she could never look back on it all without sickness of
heart Thenceforth her brother and his wild ways embodied for her that awful
thing infidelity At the age which Cecily Doran had now attained Miriam
believed that there were only a few men living so unspeakably wicked as to
repudiate Christianity one or two of these she had learnt from the pulpit
were men of science a term which to this day fell on her ears with sinister
sound
Thus prepared for the duties of wife mother and leader in society she
shone forth upon Bartles Her husband essentially a coarse man did his utmost
though unconsciously to stimulate her pride and supply her with incentives to
unworthy ambition He was rich and boasted of it vulgarly he was ignorant and
vaunted the fact thanking Heaven that for him the purity of religious
conviction had never been endangered by the learning that leads astray he was
proud of possessing a young and handsome wife and for the first time evoked in
her a personal vanity Day by day was it most needlessly impressed upon
Miriam that she must regard herself as the chief lady in Bartles and omit no
duty appertaining to such a position She had an example to set she was chosen
as a support of religion
Most happily the man died Had he remained her consort for ten years the
story of Miriams life would have been one of those that will scarcely bear
dwelling upon too repulsive too heartbreaking a few words of bitterness of
ruth and there were an end of it His death was like the removal of a foul
burden that polluted her and gradually dragged her down Nor was it long before
she herself understood it in this way though dimly and uncertainly She found
herself looking on things with eyes which somehow had a changed power of vision
With remarkable abruptness certain of her habits fell from her and she
remembered them only with distaste even with disgust And one day she said to
herself passionately that never would she wed again never never She was
experiencing for the first time in her life a form of liberty
Not that her faith had received any shock To her undeveloped mind every
tenet in which she had been instructed was still valid This is the point to
note Her creed was a habit of the intellect she held it as she did the
knowledge of the motions of the earth She had never reflected upon it for in
everything she heard or read this intellectual basis was presupposed With
doctrinal differences her reasoning faculty was familiar and with her to think
of religion was to think of the points at issue between one church and another
always moreover with prejudgment in favour of her own
But the external results of her liberty began to be of importance She came
into frequent connection with her cousin Eleanor she saw more than hitherto of
the Bradshaws family life she had business transactions she read newspapers
she progressed slowly towards some practical acquaintance with the world
Miriam knew the very moment when the thought of making great sacrifices to
build a new chapel for Bartles had first entered her mind One of her girl
friends had just married and was come to live in the neighbourhood The
husband Welland by name was wealthier and of more social importance than Mr
Baske had been it soon became evident that Mrs Welland who also aspired to
prominence in religious life would be a formidable rival to the lady of Redbeck
House On the occasion of some local meeting Miriam felt this danger keenly
she went home in dark mood and the outcome of her brooding was the resolve in
question
She had not inherited all her husbands possessions indeed there fell to
her something less than half his personal estate For a time this had not
concerned her now she was beginning to think of it occasionally with
discontent followed by reproach of conscience Like reproach did she suffer for
the jealousy and envy excited in her by Mrs Wellands arrival A general
uneasiness of mind was gradually induced and the chapelbuilding project with
singular confusion of motives represented to her at once a worldly ambition and
a discipline for the soul It was a long time before she spoke of it and in the
interval she suffered more and more from a vague mental unrest
Letters were coming to her from Cecily Less by what they contained than by
what they omitted she knew that Cecily was undergoing a great change Miriam
put at length certain definite questions and the answers she received were
unsatisfactory alarming The correspondence became a distinct source of
trouble Not merely on Cecilys account she was led by it to think of the world
beyond her horizon and to conceive dissatisfactions such as had never taken
form to her
Her physical health began to fall off she had seasons of depression during
which there settled upon her superstitious fears Ascetic impulses returned and
by yielding to them she established a new cause of bodily weakness And the more
she suffered the more intolerable to her grew the thought of resigning her
local importance Her pride whenever irritated showed itself in ways which
exposed her to the ridicule of envious acquaintances At length Bartles was
surprised with an announcement of what had so long been in her mind a newspaper
paragraph made known as if with authority the great and noble work Mrs Baske
was about to undertake For a day or two Miriam enjoyed the excitement this
produced the inquiries the felicitations the reports of gossip She held her
head more firmly than ever she seemed of a sudden to be quite reestablished in
health
Another day or two and she was lying seriously ill so ill that her doctor
summoned aid from Manchester
What a distance between those memories even the latest of them and this
room in Villa Sannazaro Its foreign aspect its brightness its comfort the
view from the windows had from the first worked upon her with subtle influences
of which she was unconscious By reason of her inexperience of life it was
impossible for Miriam to analyze her own being and note intelligently the
modifications it underwent Introspection meant to her nothing but debates held
with conscience a technical conscience made of religious precepts Original
reflection independent of these precepts was to her very simply a form of sin
a species of temptation for which she had been taught to prepare herself With
anxiety she found herself slipping away from that firm ground whence she was
wont to judge all within and about her more and more difficult was it to keep
in view that sole criterion in estimating the novel impressions she received To
review the criterion itself was still beyond her power She suffered from the
conviction that trials foreseen were proving too strong for her Whenever her
youth yielded to the allurement of natural joys there followed misery of
penitence Not that Miriam did in truth deem it a sin to enjoy the sunshine and
the breath of the sea and the beauty of mountains though such delights might
become excessive like any other and so veil temptation but she felt that for
one in her position of peril there could not be too strict a watch kept upon the
pleasures that were admitted Hence she could never forget herself in pleasure
her attitude must always be that of one on guard
The name of Italy signified perilous enticement and she was beginning to
feel it The people amid whom she lived were all but avowed scorners of her
belief and yet she was beginning to like their society Every letter she wrote
to Bartles seemed to her despatched on a longer journey than the one before her
paramount interests were fading fading she could not exert herself to think of
a thousand matters which used to have the power to keep her active all day long
The chapelplans were hidden away she durst not go to the place where they
would have met her eye
She suffered in her pride On landing at Naples she had imagined that her
position among the Spences and their friends would not be greatly different from
that she had held at Bartles They were not religious people all the more must
they respect her feeling rebuked in her presence The chapel project would
enhance her importance How far otherwise had it proved They pitied her
compassionated her lack of knowledge of opportunities With the perception of
this there came upon her another disillusion In classing the Spences with
people who were not religious she had understood them as lax in the observance
of duties which at all events they recognized as such By degrees she learnt
that they were very far from holding the same views as herself concerning
religious obligation they were anything but consciencesmitten in the face of
her example Was it then possible that persons who lived in a seemly manner
could be sceptics perhaps infidels What of Cecily Doran She had not dared to
ask Cecily face to face how far her disbelief went the girl seemed to have no
creed but that of worldly delight How had she killed her conscience in so short
a time Obviously her views were those of Mrs Lessingham probably those of
Mr Mallard Were these people strange and dreadful exceptions or did they
represent a whole world of which she had not suspected the existence
Yes she was beginning to feel the allurement of Italy Instead of sitting
turned away from her windows when musing she often passed an hour with her eyes
on the picture they framed content to be idle satisfied with form and colour
not thinking at all Habits of personal idleness crept upon her she seldom
cared to walk but found pleasure in the motion of a carriage and lay back on
the cushions instead of sitting quite upright as at first She began to wish
for music the sound of Eleanors piano would tempt her to make an excuse for
going into the room and then she would remain listening The abundant fruits
of the season became a temptation to her palate she liked to see shops and
stalls overflowing with the vineyards delicious growth
She knew for the first time the seduction of books From what unutterable
weariness had she been saved when she assented to Eleanors proposal and began
to learn Italian First there was the fear lest she should prove slow at
acquiring suffer yet another fall from her dignity but this apprehension was
soon removed She had a brain and could use it Eleanors praise fell upon her
ears delightfully Then there was that little volume of English verse which
Eleanor left on the table its name »The Golden Treasury« made her imagine it
of a religious tone she was undeceived in glancing through it Poetry had
hitherto made no appeal to her she did not care much for the little book But
one day Cecily caught it up in delight and read to her for half an hour she
affected indifference but had in reality learnt something and thereafter read
for herself
The two large mirrors in her room had oddly enough no unimportant part
among the agencies working for her development It was almost inevitable that
in moving about she should frequently regard her own figure From being
something of an annoyance this necessity at length won attractiveness till she
gazed at herself far oftener than she need have done As for her face she
believed it passable perhaps rather more than that but the attire that had
possessed distinction at Bartles looked very plain to say the least in the
light of her new experience One day she saw herself standing side by side with
Cecily and her eyes quickly turned away
To what was she sinking
But Dante lay unopened together with the English books Miriam had spent a
day or two of alternate languor and irritableness unable to attend to anything
serious Just now she had in her hand Cecilys letter the letter which told of
what had happened There was no reason for referring to it again this afternoon
Cecily herself had been here But Miriam read over the pages and dwelt upon
them
At dinner no remark was made on the subject that occupied the minds of all
three Afterwards they sat together as usual and Eleanor played In one of the
silences Miriam turned to Spence and asked him if he had seen Mr Mallard
»Yes I found him after a good deal of going about« replied the other glad
to have done with artificial disregard of the subject
»Does he know that they are going to Capri«
»He evidently hadnt heard of it I suppose hell have a note from Mrs
Lessingham this evening or tomorrow«
Miriam waited a little then asked
»What is his own wish What does he think ought to be arranged«
»Just what Cecily told you« interposed Eleanor before her husband could
reply
»I thought he might have spoken more freely to Edward«
»Well« answered Spence »he is strongly of opinion that Reuben ought to go
to England very soon But I suppose Cecily told you that as well«
»She seemed to be willing But why doesnt Mr Mallard speak to her
himself«
»Mallard isnt exactly the man for this delicate business« said Spence
smiling
Miriam glanced from him to Eleanor She would have said no more had it been
in her power to keep silence but an involuntary persistence the same in kind
as that often manifested by questioning children an impulsive feeling that the
next query must elicit something which would satisfy a vague desire obliged her
to speak again
»Is it his intention not to see Cecily at all«
»I think very likely it is Miriam« answered Eleanor when her husband
showed that he left her to do so
»I understand«
To which remark Eleanor when Miriam was gone attached the interrogative
»I wonder whether she does« The Spences did not feel it incumbent upon them to
direct her in the matter it were just as well if she followed a mistaken clue
Two days later Mrs Lessingham and her niece accompanied by Reuben Elgar
departed for Capri The day after that Mr and Mrs Bradshaw in very deed said
goodbye to Naples and travelled northwards They purposed spending Christmas in
Rome and thence by quicker stages they would return to the land of
civilization Spence went to the station to see them off and at lunch after
speaking of this and other things he said to Miriam
»Mallard wishes to see you I told him I thought five oclock this afternoon
would be a convenient time«
Miriam assented but not without betraying surprise and uneasiness
Subsequently she just mentioned to Eleanor that she would receive the visitor in
her own sittingroom There as five oclock drew near she waited in painful
agitation What it was Mallards purpose to say to her she could not with any
degree of certainty conjecture Had Reuben told him of the part she had played
in connection with that eventful day at Pompeii What would be his tone Did he
come to ask for particulars concerning her brother Intend what he might she
dreaded the interview And yet fact of which she made no secret to herself
she had rather he came than not When it was a few minutes past five and no
foot had yet sounded in the corridor all other feeling was lost in the
misgiving that he might have changed his mind Perhaps he had decided to write
instead and her heart sank at the thought She felt an overpowering curiosity
as to the way in which this event had affected the strange man Reports were no
satisfaction to her she desired to see him and hear him speak
The footsteps at last She trembled went hot and cold had a parched
throat Mallard entered and she did not offer him her hand perhaps he might
reject it In consequence there was an absurdly formal bow on both sides
»Please sit down Mr Mallard«
She saw that he was looking at the »St Cecilia« but with what countenance
her eyes could not determine To her astonishment he spoke of the picture and
in an unembarrassed tone
»An odd thing that this should be in your room«
»Yes We spoke of it the first time Cecily came«
Her accents were not firm At once he fixed his gaze on her and did not
remove it until her temples throbbed and she cast down her eyes in helpless
abashment
»I have had a long letter from your brother Mrs Baske It seems he posted
it just before they left for Capri I can only reply to it in one way and it
gives me so much pain to do so that I am driven to ask your help He writes
begging me to take another view of this matter and permit them to be married
before very long The letter is powerfully written few men could plead their
cause with such eloquence and force But it cannot alter my determination I
must reply briefly and brutally What I wish to ask you is whether with
sincerity you can urge my arguments upon your brother and give me this
assistance in the most obvious duty«
»I have no influence with him Mr Mallard«
Again he looked at her persistently and said with deliberation
»I think you must have some And this is one of the cases in which a number
of voices may possibly prevail though one or two are ineffectual But if you
will forgive me my direct words your voice is of course useless if you
cannot speak in earnest«
She was able now to return his look for her pride was being aroused The
face she examined bore such plain marks of suffering that with difficulty she
removed her eyes from it Nor could she make reply to him so intensely were her
thoughts occupied with what she saw
»Perhaps« he said »you had rather not undertake anything at once« Then
his voice changing slightly »I have no wish to seem a suppliant Mrs Baske My
reasons for saying that this marriage shall not if I can prevent it take place
till Miss Doran is of age are surely simple and convincing enough I cant
suppose that it is necessary to insist upon them to you But I feel I had no
right to leave any means unused By speaking to you I might cause you to act
more earnestly than you otherwise would That was all«
»I am very willing to help you« she replied with carefully courteous
voice
»After all I had rather we didnt put it in that way« Mallard resumed
with a curious doggedness as if her tone were distasteful to him »My own part
in the business is accidental Please tell me is it or not your own belief
that a delay is desirable«
The reply was forced from her
»I certainly think it is«
»May I ask you if you have reasoned with your brother about it«
»I havent had any communication with him since since we knew of this«
She paused but before Mallard had shown an intention to speak added abruptly
»I should have thought that Miss Doran might have been trusted to understand and
respect your wishes«
»Miss Doran knows my wishes« he answered drily »but I havent insisted
upon them to her and am not disposed to do so«
»Would it not be very simple and natural if you did«
The look he gave her was stern all but to anger
»It wouldnt be a very pleasant task to me Mrs Baske to lay before her my
strongest arguments against her marrying Mr Elgar And if I dont do that it
seems to me that it is better to let her know my wishes through Mrs Lessingham
As you say it is to be hoped she will understand and respect them«
He rose from his chair For some reason Miriam could not utter the words
that one part of her prompted She wished to assure him that she would do her
best with Reuben but at the same time she resented his mode of addressing her
and the conflict made her tonguetied
»I wont occupy more of your time Mrs Baske«
She would have begged him to resume his seat The conversation had been so
short she wanted to hear him speak more freely But her request she knew
would be disregarded With an effort she succeeded in holding out her hand
Mallard held it lightly for an instant
»I will write to him« fell from her lips when already he had turned to the
door »If necessary I will go and see him«
»Thank you« he replied with civility and left her
Chapter XIV
On the Wings of the Morning
»I cannot answer your long letter to such correspondence there is no end Come
and spend a day here with us I promise to listen patiently and you shall hear
how things are beginning to shape themselves in my mind now I have had leisure
to reflect Cecily sends a line Do come Take the early boat on Monday Spence
will give you all particulars and see you off at Santa Lucia We really have
some very sober plans not unapproved by Mrs Lessingham Will meet you at the
Marina«
Miriam received this on Sunday morning and went to her own room to read it
The few lines of Cecilys writing which were enclosed she glanced over with
careless eye yet not with mere carelessness either but as if something of
aversion disinclined her to peruse them attentively That sheet she at once laid
aside Reubens note she still held in her hand and kept rereading it
She went to the window and looked over towards Capri A slight mist softened
its outlines this morning it seemed very far away on the dim borders of sea
and sky For a long time she had felt the luring charm of that island always
before her eyes yet never more than a blue mountainous shape Lately she had
been reading of it and her fancy new to such picturings was possessed by the
mysterious dread of its history in old time the grandeur of its cliffs the
loveliness of its green hollows and the wonder of its seacaves Her childhood
had known nothing of fairyland and now in this tardy awakening of the
imaginative part of her nature she thought sometimes of Capri much as a child
is wont to think of the enchanted countries nameless regionless in books of
fable
What thoughts for Sunday But Miriam was far on the way of those who
recognize themselves as overmastered by temptation and grow almost reckless in
the sins they cannot resist So long it was since she had been able to attend
the accustomed public worship and now its substitute in the privacy of her room
had become irksome She blushed to be practising hypocrisy the Spences were
careful to refrain from interfering with her today and here withdrawn from
their sight she passed the hours in wearisome idleness in worse than that
She could not look again at Cecilys letter More she could not let her
eyes turn to Raphaels picture But before the mirrors she paused often and
long losing herself in selfregard
Early on the morrow she drove down with Spence to Santa Lucia and went on
board the Capri boat There were few passengers a handful of Germans and an
English family father mother two daughters and two sons Sitting apart
Miriam cast many glances at her countrypeople and not without envy They were
comely folk in the best English health refined in bearing full of enjoyment
Now and then a few words of their talk fell upon her ears and it was merry
kindly intimate talk the fruit of a lifetime of domestic happiness It made
her think again of what her own homelife had been Such companionship of
parents and children was inconceivable in her experience The girls observed
her and she believed spoke of her Must she not look strange in their eyes
Probably they felt sorry for her as an invalid whose countenance was darkened
by recent pain
The boat made first of all for Sorrento where a few more persons came on
board Miriam was by this time enjoying the view of the coast From this point
she kept her gaze fixed on Capri One more delay on the voyage the steamer
stopped near the Blue Grotto that such of the passengers as wished might visit
it before landing Miriam kept her place and for the present was content to
watch the little boats as they rocked for a few moments at the foot of the huge
cliff and then suddenly disappeared through the entrance to the cavern When the
English family returned she listened to their eager wondering conversation A
few minutes more and she was landing at the Marina where Reuben awaited her
He had a carriage ready for the drive up the serpent road to the hotel where
Mrs Lessingham and her niece were staying His own quarters were elsewhere at
the Pagano dear to artists
»Well have you enjoyed the voyage What did you think of Sorrento We
watched the steamer across from there we were up on the road to Anacapri
yonder You dont look so well as when I saw you last nothing like«
He waited for no reply to his questions and talked with nervous brokenness
Seated in the carriage he could not keep still from one moment to the next His
eyes had the unquiet of longcontinued agitation the look that results from
intense excitement when it has become the habit of day after day
»Mallard has been talking to you« he said suddenly
»Why do you say that«
»I know he has from your letter Look at the views«
»What plans did you speak of«
»Oh well talk about it afterwards But Mallard has been talking you over«
Miriam had no resolve by which to guide herself She knew not distinctly why
she had come to Capri Her familiar selfreliance and cold disregard of anything
but a few plain rules in regulating her conduct were things of the past She
felt herself idly swayed by conflicting influences unable even to debate what
course she should take the one emotion of which she was clearly conscious was
of so strange and disturbing a kind that so far from impelling her to act it
seemed merely to destroy all her customary motives and leave her subject to the
will of others It was the return of weakness such as had possessed her mind
when she lay ill when she was ceaselessly troubled with a desire for she knew
not what and unable to utter it had no choice but to admit the suggestions
and biddings of those who cared for her She could not even resent this language
of Reubens to which formerly she would have opposed her unyielding pride his
proximity infected her with nervousness but at the same time made her flaccid
before his energy
»He came and spoke to me about you« she admitted »But he left me to do as
I saw fit«
»After putting the case against me as strongly as it could be put I know
you neednt tell me anything about the conversation Let us leave it till
afterwards You see how this road winds so that the incline may be gentle
enough for carriages There are stony little paths just like the beds of
mountain streams going straight down to the Marina I lost myself again and
again yesterday among the gardens and vineyards Look back over the bay to
Naples«
But in a minute or two the other subject was resumed again with a
suddenness that told of inability to keep from speaking his thoughts
»You understand I dare say why Mallard is making such a fuss«
»How could I help understanding«
»But do you understand«
»What do you mean« she asked irritably
»Does he speak like a man who is disinterested«
»It is not my business to discuss Mr Mallards motives«
»It certainly is mine and yours too if you care anything for me«
They reached the hotel without further debate of this subject It was not
much after one oclock all lunched together in private talking only of Capri
Later they walked to the villa of Tiberius Elgar kept up an appearance of
lighthearted enjoyment Cecily was less able to disguise her preoccupation
Mrs Lessingham seemed to have accepted the inevitable Her first annoyance
having passed she was submitting to that personal charm in Elgar which all
women sooner or later confessed her behaviour to him was indulgent and marked
only with a very gentle reserve when he talked too much paradox
Elgar went to his hotel for dinner and left the others to themselves
through the evening The next day was given to wandering about the island On
the return at sunset Miriam and Reuben had a long talk together in which it
was made manifest that the plans were just as vague as ever Reuben had revived
the mention of literary work that was all and proposed to make his
headquarters in Paris in order that he might not be too far from Cecily who
would it was presumed remain on the Continent This evening he dined with the
ladies Afterwards Cecily played When Miriam and Mrs Lessingham chanced to be
conversing together Elgar stepped up to the piano and murmured
»Will you come out into the garden for a few minutes Theres a full moon
its magnificent«
Cecily let her fingers idle upon the keys then rose and went to where her
aunt was sitting There was an exchange of words in a low tone and she left the
room Elgar at once approached Mrs Lessingham to take leave of her
»The Grotta Azzurra tomorrow« he said gaily »Perhaps you wont care to go
again My grave sister will make a very proper chaperon«
»Let us discuss that when tomorrow comes Please to limit your moongazing
to five minutes«
»At the utmost«
From the hotel garden opened a clear prospect towards Naples which lay as a
long trade of lights beyond the expanse of deep blue The coast was distinctly
outlined against the far sky glowed intermittently the fire of Vesuvius Above
the trees of the garden shone white crags unsubstantial unearthly in the
divine moonlight There was no sound yet to intense listening the air became
full of seamusic It was the night of Homer the islandcharm of the Odyssey
»Answer me quickly Cecily we have only a few minutes and I want to say a
great deal You have talked with Miriam«
»Yes«
»You know that she repeats what Mallard has instructed her to say Their one
object now is to get me at a distance from you You see how your aunt has
changed in appearance her policy is to make me think that she will be my
friend when I am away I can speak with certainty after observing her for so
long in reality she is as firm against me as ever Dont you notice too
something strange in Miriams behaviour«
»She is not like herself«
»As unlike as could be Mallard has influenced her strongly Who knows what
he told her«
»Of you«
»Perhaps of himself«
»Dear he could not speak to her in that way«
»A man in love and in love with Cecily Doran can do anything The
Spences are his close friends they too have been working on Miriam«
»But why why do you return to this We have spoken of the worst they can
do To fear anything from their persuasions is to distrust me«
»Cecily I dont distrust you but I cant live away from you I might have
gone straight from Naples but I cant go now every hour with you has helped to
make it impossible In talking to your aunt and to Miriam I have been
consciously false Come further this way into the shadow Who is over there«
»Some one we dont know«
Her voice had sunk to a whisper Elgar led her by the hand into a further
recess of the garden the hand was almost crushed between his own as he
continued
»You must come with me Cecily We will go away together and be married at
once«
She panted rather than breathed
»You must I cant leave you I had rather throw myself from these Capri
rocks than go away with more than two years of solitude before me«
Cecily made no answer
»If you think you will see this is best in every way It will be kindest to
poor Mallard putting an end at once to any hopes he may have«
»We cant be married without his consent« Cecily whispered
»Oh yes I can manage that I have already thought of everything Be up
early tomorrow morning and leave the hotel at halfpast seven as if you were
going for a walk Neither your aunt nor Miriam will be stirring by then Go down
the road as far as beyond the next turning and I will be there with a carriage
At the Marina I will have a boat ready to take us over to Sorrento we will
drive to Castellamare and there take train direct for Caserta and onwards so
missing Naples altogether You shall travel as my sister We will go to London
and be married there Of course you cant bring luggage but what does that
matter We can stop anywhere and buy what things you need I have quite enough
money for the present«
»But think of the shock to them all« she pleaded trembling through her
frame »How ill I should seem to repay their long kindness I cant do this my
dearest oh I cant do this I will see Mr Mallard as I wished «
»You shall not see him« he interrupted violently »I couldnt bear it How
do I know «
»How cruel to speak like that to me«
»Of your own cruelty you never think You have made me mad with love of you
and have no right to refuse to marry me when I show you the way If I didnt
love you so much I could bear well enough to let you speak with any one Your
love is very different from mine or you couldnt hesitate a moment«
»Let me think I cant answer you tonight«
»Tonight or never Oh yes I understand well enough all your reasons for
hesitating It would mean relinquishing the weddingdress and the carriages and
all the rest of the show that delights women You are afraid of Mrs Grundy
crying shame when it is known that you have travelled across Europe with me You
feel it will be difficult to resume your friendships afterwards I grant all
these things but I didnt think they would have meant so much to Cecily«
»You know well that none of these reasons have any weight with me It is
only in joking that you can speak of them But the unkindness to them all dear
Think of it«
»Why say to them all Wouldnt it be simpler to say the unkindness to
Mallard«
She looked up into his face
»Why does love make a man speak so bitterly and untruthfully Nothing could
make me do you such a wrong«
»Because you are so pure of heart and mind that nothing but truth can be
upon your lips If I were not very near madness I could never speak so to you
My own dear love think only of what I suffer day after day And what folly is
it that would keep us apart Suppose they had none but conscientious motives in
that case these people take upon themselves to say what is good for us what we
may be allowed and what not they treat us as children Of course it is all for
your protection I am not fit to be your husband my beautiful girl Tell me
who knows me better Mallard or yourself«
»No one knows you as I do dearest nor ever will«
»And do you think me too vile a creature to call you my wife«
»I need not answer that You are as much nobler than I am as your strength
is greater than mine«
»But they would remind you that you are an heiress I have not made so good
a use of my own money as I might have done and the likelihood is that I shall
squander yours bring you to beggary Do you believe that«
»I know it is not true«
»Then what else can they oppose to our wish Here are all the objections
and all seem to be worthless Yet there might be one more You are very young
how I rejoice in knowing it sweet flower perhaps your love of me is a mere
illusion It ought to be tested by time very likely it may die away and give
place to something truer«
»If so let me die myself sooner than survive such happiness«
»Why then what have they to say for themselves Their opposition is
mistake stubborn error And are we to sacrifice two whole years the best time
of our lives to such obstinacy Either of us may die Cecily Suppose it to be
my lot what would be your thoughts then«
His head bent to hers and their faces touched
»Dare you risk that my love«
»I dare not«
Her answer trembled upon his hearing as though it came upon the night air
from the sea
»You will come with me tomorrow«
»I will«
He sought her offered lips and for a few instants their whispering in the
shadow ceased Then he repeated rapidly the directions he had already given her
»Put on your warmest cloak it will be cold on the water Now I can say
goodnight Kiss me once more and once more promise«
She pressed her arms about him
»I am giving you my life If I had more I would give it Be faithful to
me«
»Then you do doubt me«
»Never But say it tonight to give me strength«
»I will be faithful to you whilst I have life«
She issued from shadows into broad moonlight looked once round once at the
gleaming crags and passed again into gloom
»I think it very unlikely« Mrs Lessingham was saying to Miriam in her
pleasantest voice of confidence »that Mr Mallard will insist on the whole
term«
»No doubt that will much depend on the next year« Miriam replied trying to
seem impartial
»No doubt whatever I am glad we came here They are both much quieter and
more sensible In a few days I think your brother will have made up his mind«
»I hope so«
»Cecily lost her head a little at first but I see that her influence is now
in the sober direction as one would have anticipated When Mr Elgar has left
us no doubt Mr Mallard will come over and we shall have quiet talk What an
odd man he is How distinctly I could have foreseen his action in these
circumstances And I know just how it will be as soon as things have got into a
regular course again Mr Mallard hates disturbance and agitation Of course he
has avoided seeing Cecily as yet imagine his exasperated face if he became
involved in a scene«
And Mrs Lessingham laughed urbanely
A short and troubled sleep at nights heaviest then long waiting for the
first glimmer of dawn How unreal the world seemed to her She tried to link
this present morning with the former days but her life had lost its continuity
the past was past in a sense she had never known and as for the future it was
like gazing into darkness that throbbed and flashed It meant nothing to her to
say that this was Capri that the blue waves and the wind of morning would
presently bear her to Sorrento the familiar had no longer a significance her
consciousness was but a point in space and eternity She had no regret of her
undertaking no fear of what lay before her but a profound sadness as though
the burden of all mortal sorrows were laid upon her soul
At seven oclock she was ready A very few things that could be easily
carried she would take with her her cloak would hide them Now she must wait
for the appointed moment It seemed to be very cold she shivered
A minute or two before the halfhour she left her room silently On the
stairs a servant passed her and looked surprised in giving the »Buon giorno«
She walked quickly through the garden and was on the firm road At the place
indicated stood Elgar beside the carriage and without exchanging a word they
took their seats
At the Marina they had but to step from the carriage to the boat Elgars
luggage was thrown on board and the men pushed off from the quay
Bitterly cold but what a glorious sunrise Against the flushed sky those
limestone heights of Capri caught the golden radiance and shone wondrously The
green water gently swelling but unbroken was like some rarer element too
limpid for this worlds shores With laughter and merry talk between themselves
the boatmen hoisted their sail
And the gods sent a fair breeze from the west and it smote upon the sail
and the prow cleft its track of foam and on they sped over the back of the
barren sea
Chapter XV
»Wolf«
It was a case of between two stools and Clifford Marsh did not like the bump
From that dinner with Elgar he came home hilariously dismayed when his hilarity
had evaporated with the wine that was its cause dismay possessed him wholly
Miss Doran was not for him and in the meantime he had offended Madeline beyond
forgiveness With what countenance could he now turn to her again Her mother
would welcome his surrender and it was drawing on towards the day when
submission even to his stepfather could no longer be postponed but he
suspected that Madelines resolve to have done with him was strengthened by
resentment of her mothers importunities To be sure it was some sort of
consolation to know that if indeed he went his way for good bitterness and
regrets would be the result to the Denyer family who had no great facility in
making alliances of this kind in a few years time Madeline would be wishing
that she had not let her pride interfere with a chance of marriage But on the
other hand there was the awkward certainty that he too would lament making a
fool of himself He by no means liked the thought of relinquishing Madeline he
had not done so even when heating his brain with contemplation of Cecily Doran
In what manner could he bring about between her and himself a drama which might
result in tears and mutual pardon
But whilst he pondered this fate was at work on his behalf On the day
which saw the departure of the Bradshaws there landed at Naples from
Alexandria a certain lean wiry man with shoulders that stooped slightly with
grizzled head and parchment visage a man who glanced about him in a keen
anxious way and had other nervous habits Having passed the customhouse he
hired a porter to take his luggage two leather bags and a heavy chest all
much the worse for wear to that same hotel at which Mallard was just now
staying There he refreshed himself and it being early in the afternoon went
forth again as if on business for decidedly he was no tourist When he had
occasion to speak his Italian was fluent and to the point he conducted himself
as one to whom travel and intercourse with every variety of men were lifelong
habits
His business conducted him to the Mergellina to the house of Mrs Gluck
where he inquired for Mrs Denyer He was led upstairs and into the room where
sat Mrs Denyer and her daughters The sight of him caused commotion Barbara
Madeline and Zillah pressed around him with cries of »Papa« Their mother rose
and looked at him with concern
When the greetings were over Mr Denyer seated himself and wiped his
forehead with a silk handkerchief He was ominously grave His eyes avoided the
faces before him as if in shame He looked at his boots which had just been
blacked but were shabby and then glanced at the elegant skirts of his wife and
daughters he looked at his shirtcuffs which were clean but frayed and then
gathered courage to lift his eyes as far as the dainty hands folded upon laps in
show of patience
»Madeline« he began in a voice which was naturally harsh but could
express much tenderness as now »what news of Clifford«
»Hes still here papa« was the answer in a very low voice
»I am glad of that Girls Ive got something to tell you I wish it was
something pleasant«
His parchment check showed a distinct flush The attempt to keep his eyes on
the girls was a failure he seemed to be about to confess a crime
»Ive brought you bad news the worst I ever brought you yet My dears I
can hold out no longer Im at the end of my means If I could have kept this
from you Heaven knows I would have done but it is better to tell you all
plainly«
Mrs Denyers brows were knitted her lips were compressed in angry
obstinacy she would not look up from the floor The girls glanced at her then
at one another Barbara tried to put on a sceptical expression but failed
Madeline was sunk in trouble Zillah showed signs of tearfulness
»I can only hope« Mr Denyer continued »that you dont owe very much here
I thought after my last letter« he seemed more abashed than ever »you might
have looked round for something a little « He glanced at the ornaments of the
room but at the same time chanced to catch his wifes eye and did not finish
the sentence »But never mind that time enough now that the necessity has come
You know me well enough Barbara and you Maddy and you Zillah my child to
be sure that I wouldnt deny you anything it was in my power to give But
fortunes gone against me this long time I shall have to make a new start new
efforts Im going out to Vera Cruz again«
He once more wiped his forehead and took the opportunity to look askance at
Mrs Denyer dubiously half reproachfully
»And what are we to do« asked his wife with resentful helplessness
»I am afraid you must go to England« Mr Denyer replied apologetically
turning his look to the girls again »After settling here and paying the
expenses of the journey I shall have a little left very little indeed But Im
going to Vera Cruz on a distinct engagement and I shall soon be able to send
you something Im afraid you had better go to Aunt Doras again Ive heard
from her lately and she has the usual spare rooms«
The girls exchanged looks of dismay The terrible silence was broken by
Zillah who spoke in quavering accents
»Papa dear I have made up my mind to get a plaice as a nursery governess I
shall very soon be able to do so«
»And I shall do the same papa or something of the kind« came abruptly
from Madeline
»You Maddy« exclaimed her father who had received the youngest girls
announcement with a look of sorrowful resignation but was shocked at the
others words
»I am no longer engaged to Mr Marsh« Madeline proceeded casting down her
eyes »Please dont say anything mamma I have made up my mind I shall look
for employment«
Her father shook his head in distress He had never enjoyed the control or
direction of his daughters and his long absences during late years had put him
almost on terms of ceremony with them In time gone by their mother had been to
him an object of veneration it was his privilege to toil that she might live in
luxury but his illusions regarding her had received painful shocks and it was
to the girls that he now sacrificed himself Their intellect their attainments
at once filled him with pride and made him humble in their presence But for his
reluctance to impose restraints upon their mode of life he might have avoided
this present catastrophe he had cried »Wolf« indeed in his mild way but took
no energetic measures when he found his cry disregarded all the worse for him
now that he could postpone the evil day no longer
»You are the best judge of your own affairs Madeline« he replied
despondently »Im very sorry my girl«
»All I can say is« exclaimed Mrs Denyer as if with dignified reticence
»that I think we should have had longer warning of this«
»My dear I have warned you repeatedly for nearly a year«
»I mean serious warning Who was to imagine that things would come to such a
pass as this«
»You never told us there was danger of absolute beggary papa« remarked
Barbara in a tone not unlike her mothers
»I ought to have spoken more plainly« was her fathers meek answer »You
are quite right Barbara I feel that I am to blame«
»I dont think you are at all« said Madeline with decision »Your letters
were plain enough if we had chosen to pay any attention to them«
Her father looked up apprehensively deprecating defence of himself at the
cost of family discord But he was powerless to prevent the gathering storm
Mrs Denyer gazed sternly at her recalcitrant daughter and at length discharged
upon the girls head all the wrath with which this situation inspired her
Barbara took her mothers side Zillah wept and sobbed words of reconciliation
The unhappy cause of the tumult took refuge at the window sunk in gloom
However there was no doubt about it this time trunks must be packed bills
must be paid indignities must be swallowed The Aunt Dora of whom Mr Denyer
had spoken was his own sister the wife of a hotelkeeper at Southampton Some
seven years ago in a crisis of the Denyers fate she had hospitably housed
them for several months and was now willing to do as much again
notwithstanding the arrogance with which Mrs Denyer had repaid her To the
girls it had formerly mattered little where they lived at their present age it
was far otherwise The hotel was of a very modest description society would
become out of the question in such a retreat Madeline and Zillah might choose
as the less of two evils the lot for which they declared themselves ready but
Barbara had no notion of turning governess She shortly went to her bedroom and
spent a very black hour indeed
They were to start tomorrow morning With rage Barbara saw the interdiction
of hopes which were just becoming serious Another month of those afterdinner
colloquies in the drawingroom and who could say what point of intimacy Mr
Musselwhite might have reached He was growing noticeably more articulate he
was less absentminded Oh for a month more
This evening she took her usual place and at length had the tormenting
gratification of seeing Mr Musselwhite approach in the usual way Though
sitting next to him at dinner she had said nothing of what would happen on the
morrow the present was a better opportunity
»You have no book this evening Miss Denyer«
»No«
»No headache I hope«
»Yes I have a little headache«
He looked at her with gentlemanly sympathy
»I have had to see to a lot of things in a hurry Unexpectedly we have to
leave Naples tomorrow we are going to England«
»Indeed You dont say so Really Im very sorry to hear that Miss
Denyer«
»I am sorry too to have to leave Italy for such a climate at this time of
the year« She shuddered »But my father has just arrived from Alexandria and
for family reasons wishes us to travel on with him«
Mr Musselwhite seemed to reflect anxiously He curled his moustaches he
plucked his whiskers he looked about the room with wide eyes
»How lonely it will be at the dinnertable« he said at length »So many
have gone of late But I hoped there was no danger of your going Miss Denyer«
»We had no idea of it ourselves till today«
A long silence during which Mr Musselwhites reflections grew intense
»You are going to London« he asked mechanically
»Not at first I hardly know I think we shall be for some time with friends
at Southampton«
»Indeed How odd I also have friends at Southampton A son of Sir Edward
Mull he married a niece of mine«
Barbara could have cried with mortification She muttered she knew not what
Then again came a blank in the dialogue
»I trust we may meet again« was Mr Musselwhites next sentence It cost
him an effort he reddened a little and moved his feet about
»There is no foreseeing I we I am sorry to say my father has brought us
rather unpleasant news«
She knew not whether it was a stroke of policy or grossly imprudent to
make this confession But it came to her lips and she uttered it half in
recklessness It affected Mr Musselwhite strangely His countenance fell and a
twinge seemed to catch one of his legs at the same time it made him fluent
»I grieve to hear that Miss Denyer I grieve indeed Your departure would
have been bad enough but I really grieve to think you should have cause of
distress«
»Thank you for your sympathy Mr Musselwhite«
»But perhaps we may meet again in England for all that Will you permit me
to give you my London address a a little club that I belong to and where my
friends often send letters I mean that I should be so very glad if it were ever
possible for me to serve you in any trifle As you know I dont keep any any
establishment in England at present but possibly as you say there is no
anticipating the future I should be very happy indeed if we chanced to meet
there or abroad«
»You are very kind Mr Musselwhite«
»If I might ask you for your own probable address«
»It is so uncertain But I am sure mamma would have pleasure in sending it
when we are settled«
»Thank you so very much« He looked up after long meditation »I really do
not know what I shall do when you are gone Miss Denyer«
And then without warning he said goodnight and walked away Barbara who
had thought that the conversation was just about to become interesting felt her
heart sink into unfathomable depths She went back to her bedroom and cried
wretchedly for a long time
In consequence of private talk with his wife when the family conclave had
broken up Mr Denyer went in search of Clifford Marsh They had met only once
hitherto six months ago when Mr Denyer paid a flying visit to London and had
just time to make the acquaintance of his prospective soninlaw This afternoon
they walked together for an hour about the Chiaia with the result that an
understanding of some kind seemed to be arrived at between them
Mr Denyer returned to the pension and when dinnertime approached
surprised Madeline with the proposal that she should come out and dine with him
at a restaurant
»The fact is« he whispered to her with a laugh »my appearance is not
quite up to the standard of your dinnertable Im rather too careless about
these things its doubtful whether I possess a decent suit Let us go and find
a quiet corner somewhere if a fashionable young lady will do me so much
honour«
Through Madelines mind there passed a suspicion but a restaurantdinner
hit her taste and she accepted the invitation readily Before long they drove
into the town Perhaps in recognition of her having taken his part against idle
reproaches her father began as soon as they were alone to talk in a grave
earnest way about his affairs and Madeline who liked above all things to be
respectfully treated entered into the subject with dutiful consideration He
showed her exactly how his misfortunes had accumulated how this and that
project had been a failure what unadvised steps he had taken in fear of
impending calamity Snugly seated at the little marble table they grew very
confidential indeed Mr Denyer avowed his hope the hope everretreating
though sometimes it had seemed within reach of being able some day to find
rest for the sole of his foot to settle down with his family and enjoy a quiet
close of life Possibly this undertaking at Vera Cruz would be his last exile
he explained it in detail and dwelt on its promising aspects Madeline felt
compassionate and remorseful
Of her own intimate concerns no word was said but it happened strangely
enough just as they had finished dinner that Clifford Marsh came strolling
into the restaurant He saw them and with expressions of surprise explained
that he had just turned in for a cup of coffee Mr Denyer invited him to sit
down with them and they had coffee together Clifford kept up a flow of
characteristic talk never directly addressing Madeline nor encountering her
look He referred casually to his meeting with Mr Denyer that afternoon
»I shall be going back myself very shortly It is probable that there will
be something of a change in my circumstances I may decide to give up a few
hours each day to commercial pursuits It all depends on on uncertain things«
»You wont come out with me to Vera Cruz« said Mr Denyer jocosely
»No I am a man of the old world I must live in the atmosphere of art or I
dont care to live at all«
Madelines slight suspicion was confirmed When they were about to leave the
restaurant Mr Denyer said that he must go to the railwaystation to make a
few inquiries There was no use in Madelines going such a distance would
Clifford be so good as to see her safely home Madeline made a few objections
she would really prefer to accompany her father she would not trouble Mr Marsh
but in the end she found herself seated by Clifford in a carriage passing
rapidly through the streets
Now was Cliffords opportunity he had prepared for it
»Madeline you must let me call you by that name again even if it is for
the last time I have heard what has happened«
»Happily it does not affect you Mr Marsh«
»Indeed it does It affects me so far that it alters the whole course of my
life In spite of everything that has seemed to come between us I have never
allowed myself to think of our engagement as at an end The parcel you sent me
the other day is unopened if you do not open it yourself no one ever shall
Whatever you may do I cannot break faith You ought to know me better than to
misinterpret a few foolish and hasty words and appearances that had a meaning
you should have understood The time has come now for putting an end to those
misconceptions«
»They no longer concern me Please to speak of something else«
»You must at all events understand my position before we part This
morning I was as firmly resolved as ever to risk everything to renounce the aid
of my relatives if it must be and face poverty for the sake of art Now all is
changed I shall accept my stepfathers offer and all its results becoming
if it cant be helped a mere man of business I do this because of my sacred
duties to you As an artist theres no telling how long it might be before I
could ask you again to be my wife as a man of business I may soon be in a
position to do so Dont interrupt me I entreat It is no matter to me if you
repulse me now in your anger I consider the engagement as still existing
between us and such being the case it is plainly my duty to take such steps
as will enable me to offer you a home By remaining an artist I should satisfy
one part of my conscience but at the expense of all my better feelings it
might even be supposed though I trust not by you that I made my
helplessness an excuse for forgetting you when most you needed kindness I shall
go back to England and devote myself with energy to the new task however
repulsive it may prove Whether you think of me or not I do it for your sake
you cannot rob me of that satisfaction Some day I shall again stand before you
and ask you for what you once promised If then you refuse well I must bear
the loss of all my hopes«
»You may direct your life as you choose« Madeline replied scornfully »but
you will please to understand that I give you no encouragement to hope anything
from me I almost believe you capable of saying some day that you took this
step because I urged you to it I have no interest whatever in your future our
paths are separate Let this be the end of it«
But it was very far from the end of it When the carriage stopped at Mrs
Glucks mutual reproaches were at their height
»You shall not leave me yet Madeline« said Clifford as he alighted »Come
to the other side of the road and let us walk along for a few minutes You
shall not go in if I have to hold you by force«
Madeline yielded and in the light of the moon they walked side by side
continuing their dialogue
»You are heartless You have played with me from the first«
»If so I only treated you as you thought to treat me«
»That you can attribute such baseness to me proves how incapable you are of
distinguishing between truth and falsehood How wretchedly I have been deceived
in you«
From upbraiding he fell to lamentation His life was wrecked he had lost
his ideals and all through her unworthiness Then as Madeline was still
unrelenting he began to humble himself He confessed his levity he had not
considered the risk he ran of losing her respect all he had done was in pique
at her treatment of him And in the end he implored her forgiveness besought
her to restore him to life by accepting his unqualified submission To part from
her on such terms as these meant despair the consequences would be tragic And
when he could go no further in amorous supplication when she felt that her
injured pride had exacted the uttermost from his penitence Madeline at length
relented
»Still« she said after his outburst of gratitude »dont think that I ask
you to become a man of business You shall never charge me with that It is your
nature to reproach other people when anything goes wrong with you I know you
only too well You must decide for yourself I will take no responsibility«
Yes he accepted that it was purely his own choice Rather than lose her
he would toil at any most ignoble pursuit amply repaid by the hope she granted
him
They had walked some distance and were out of sight of the Mergellina on
the ascending road of Posillipo all the moonlit glory of the bay before them
»It will be long before we see it again« said Madeline sadly
»We will spend our honeymoon here« was Cliffords hopeful reply
Chapter XVI
Letters
On the thirteenth day after the flight from Capri Edward Spence leaving the
villa for his afternoon walk encountered the postman and received from him
three letters One was addressed to Ross Mallard Esq care of Edward Spence
Esq another to Mrs Spence the third to Mrs Baske As he reascended the
stairs somewhat more quickly than his wont Spence gave narrow attention to the
handwriting on the envelopes He found Eleanor where he had left her a few
minutes before at the piano busy with a difficult passage of Brahms She
looked round in surprise and on seeing the letters started up eagerly
»Do you know Elgars hand« Spence asked »These two from London are his I
should imagine This for you is from Mrs Lessingham isnt it«
»Yes I think this is the news at last« said Eleanor inspecting Mrs
Baskes letter not without feminine emotion »Ill take it to her Shall you go
over with the other«
»Hell be here after dinner the likelihood is that I shouldnt find him«
»Occasionally very occasionally you lack tact my husband He would
hardly care to open this and read it in our presence«
»More than occasionally my dear girl you remind me of the woman whose
price is above rubies Ill go over and leave it for him at once Just to show
the male superiority however I shall be careful to make my walk a few minutes
longer than usual a thing of which you would be quite incapable whilst the
contents of Miriams letter were unknown to you«
Alone again Eleanor sent the letter to Miriams room by a servant and with
uncertain fingers broke the envelope of that addressed to herself Already she
had heard once from Mrs Lessingham who ten days ago left Naples to join
certain friends in Rome the first hurried glance over the present missive
showed that it contained no intelligence She had scarcely begun to read it
attentively when the door opened and Miriam came in
Her face was pale with agitation and her eyes had the strangest light in
them to one who knew nothing of the circumstances she would have appeared
exultant Eleanor could not but gaze at her intently
»From Reuben«
»Yes« Miriam suppressed her voice and held out the sheet of notepaper
which fluttered »Read it«
The body of the letter was as follows
»I hope we have caused you no anxiety from the first moment when our
departure was known you must have understood that we had resolved to put an end
to useless delay We travelled to London as brother and sister and today have
become man and wife The above will be our address for a short time we have not
yet decided where we shall ultimately live
By this same post I write to Mallard addressed to him at the villa I hope
he has had the good sense to wait quietly for news
Cecily sends her love to you though she half fears that you will reject
it I cannot see why you should We have done the only sensible thing and of
course in a month or two it will be just the same to everybody concerned as if
we had been married in the most foolish way that respectability can contrive
Let us hear from you very soon dear sister We talk much of you and hope to
have many a bright day with you yet more genuinely happy than that we spent in
tracking out old Tiberius«
Eleanor looked up and again was struck with the singular light in her
cousins eyes
»Well it only tells us what we anticipated Of course he made false
declarations If Mr Mallard were really as grim as he sometimes looks the
result to both of them might be unpleasant«
»But the marriage could not be undone« Miriam asked quickly
»Oh no Scarcely desirable that it should be«
Miriam took the letter and in a few minutes went back again to her room
At nine oclock in the evening the Spences who sat alone received the
foreseen visit from Mallard They welcomed him silently As he sat down he had
a smile on his face he drew a letter deliberately from his pocket and without
preface began to read it aloud still in a deliberate manner
»Let me first of all make a formal announcement We have this morning been
married by registrars licence We intend to live for a few weeks at this
present address where we have taken some furnished rooms until better
arrangements can be made I lose no time in writing to you for of course there
is business between us that you will desire to transact as soon as may be
In obtaining the licence I naturally gave false information regarding
Cecilys age this was an inevitable consequence of the step we had taken You
know my opinions on laws and customs for the multitude they are necessary and
an infraction of them by the average man is logically enough called a sin
against society for Cecily and myself in relation to such a matter as our
becoming man and wife the law is idle form Personally I could have wished to
dispense with the absurdity altogether but as things are this involves an
injustice to a woman I told my falsehoods placidly for they were meaningless
in my eyes I have the satisfaction of knowing that you cannot without
inconsistency find fault with me
And now I speak as one who would gladly be on terms of kindness with you
You know me Mallard you must be aware how impossible it was for me to wait two
years As for Cecily her one word again and again repeated on the journey
was How unkind I shall seem to them and I know that it was the seeming
disrespect to you which most of all distressed her For her sake I make it my
petition that you will let the past be past She cannot yet write to you but is
sad in the thought of having incurred your displeasure Whatever you say to me
let it be said privately do not hurt Cecily I mentioned business the word and
the thing are equally hateful to me I most sincerely wish Cecily had nothing
that the vile question of money might never arise Herein at all events you
will do me justice I am no fortunehunter
If you come to London send a line and appoint a place of meeting But could
not everything be done through lawyers You must judge but again I ask it do
not give Cecily more pain«
The listeners were smiling gravely After a silence the letter was
discussed especially its second paragraph Mallard was informed of the note
which Miriam had received
»I shall go tomorrow« he said »and transact my business On the whole it
might as well be done through lawyers but I had better be in London«
»And then« asked Eleanor
»I shall perhaps go and spend a week with the people at Sowerby Bridge But
you shall hear from me«
»Will you speak to Mrs Baske«
»I dont think it is necessary She has expressed no wish that I should«
»No but she might like to be assured that her brother wont be prosecuted
for perjury«
»Oh set her mind at ease«
»Show Mallard the letter from Mrs Lessingham« said Spence with a twinkle
of the eyes
»I will read it to him«
She did so And the letter ran thus
»Still no news I am uneasy though there can be no rational doubt as to
what form the news will take when it comes The material interests in question
are enough to relieve us from anxiety But I wish they would be quick and
communicate with us
One reconciles ones self to the inevitable and for my own part the
result of my own reflections is that I am something more than acquiescent After
all granted that these two must make choice of each other was it not in the
fitness of things that they should act as they have done For us comfortable
folk life is too humdrum ought we not to be grateful to those who supply us
with a strong emotion and who remind us that there is yet poetry in the world
I should apologize for addressing such thoughts to you dear Eleanor for you
have still the blessing of a young heart and certainly do not lack poetry I
speak for myself and after all I am much disposed to praise these young people
for their unconventional behaviour
What if our darkest anticipations were fulfilled Beyond all doubt they are
now sincerely devoted to each other and will remain so for at least twelve
months Those twelve months will be worth a lifetime of level satisfaction We
shall be poor creatures in comparison when we utter our Didnt I tell you so
Whilst in a confessing mood I will admit that I had formed rather a
different idea of Cecily I was disposed to think of her as the modern woman who
has put unreasoning passion under her feet and therefore this revelation was at
first a little annoying to me But I see now that my view of her failed by
incompleteness The modern woman need by no means be a mere embodied intellect
she will choose to enjoy as well as to understand and to enjoy greatly she will
sacrifice all sorts of things that women have regarded as supremely important
Indeed I cannot say that I am disappointed in Cecily rightly seen she has
justified the system on which I educated her My object was to teach her to
think for herself to be selfreliant The jeune fille according to societys
pattern is my abhorrence an ignorant deceitful vain immoral creature
Cecily is as unlike that as possible she has behaved independently and with
sincerity I really admire her very much and hope that her life may not fall
below its beginning
Let me hear as soon as a word reaches you I am with charming people and
yet I think longingly of the delightful evenings at Villa Sannazaro your music
and your talk You and your husband have a great place in my heart you are of
the salt of the earth Spare me a little affection for I am again a lonely
woman«
This letter also was discussed and its philosophy appreciated Mallard
spoke little he had clasped his hands behind his head and listened musingly
There was no effusion in the leavetaking though it might be for a long
time Warm clasping of hands but little said
»A goodbye for me to Mrs Baske« was Mallards last word
And his haggard but composed face turned from Villa Sannazaro
Part II
Chapter I
A Corner of Society
In a London drawingroom where the murmur of urbane colloquy rose and fell
broken occasionally by the voice of the nomenclator announcing new arrivals two
ladies seated in a recess were exchanging confidences One was a novelist of
more ability than repute the other was a weekly authority on musical
performances
»Her head is getting turned poor girl I feel sorry for her«
»Such ridiculous flattery And really it is difficult to understand She is
pretty and speaks French neither the one thing nor the other is uncommon I
believe Do you see anything remarkable in her«
»Well she is rather more than pretty and theres a certain cleverness in
her talk But at her age this kind of thing is ruinous I blame Mrs Lessingham
She should bid her stay at home and mind her baby«
»Bythebye what truth is there in that story The Naples affair you
know«
»Nen sais rien But I hear odd things about her husband Mr Bickerdike
knew him a few years ago He ran through a fortune and fell into most
disreputable ways of life Somebody was saying that he got his living as
busconductor or something of the kind«
»I could imagine that from the look of him«
It was Mrs Lessinghams Wednesday evening The house at Craven Hill opened
its doors at ten oclock and until midnight there was no lack of company
Singular people more or less distinguished from society proper by the fact
that all had a modicum of brains Some came from luxurious homes some from
garrets Visitors from Paris were frequent their presence made a characteristic
of the salon This evening for instance honour was paid by the hostess to M
Amédée Silvenoire whose experiment in unromantic drama had not long ago
gloriously failed at the Odéon and Madame Jacquelin the violinist was looked
for
Mrs Lessingham had not passed a season in London for several years When
at the end of April she took this house there came to live with her the widow
and daughter of a man of letters who had died in poverty She had known the
Delphs in Paris in the days when Cecily was with her and in the winter just
past she had come upon Irene Delph copying at the Louvre the girl showed a good
deal of talent but was hard beset by the difficulty of living whilst she
worked In the spirit of her generous brother Mrs Lessingham persuaded the two
to come and live with her through the season a room in the house was a studio
for Irene who took to portraits Mrs Delph a timid woman whose nerves had
failed under her misfortunes did not appear on formal occasions like the
present but Irene was becoming an ornament of the drawingroom To be sure but
for her good looks and her artistic aptitude she would not have been here no
reason perhaps for stinted praise of her friends generosity
An enjoyable thing to see Mrs Lessingham in conversation with one of her
French guests She threw off full fifteen years and looked thirty at most Her
handsome features had a vivid play of expression in harmony with the language
she was speaking her eyes were radiant as she phrased a thought which in
English would have required many words for the blunting of its point M
Silvenoire who with the slight disadvantage of knowing no tongue but his own
was making a study of English social life found himself at ease this evening
for the first time since he had been in London Encouraged to talk his best he
frankly and amusingly told Mrs Lessingham of the ideas he had formed regarding
conversation in the drawingrooms of English ladies
»Civilization is spreading among us« she replied with a laugh »Once or
twice it has been my privilege to introduce young Frenchmen who were studying
our language to English families abroad and in those cases I privately
recommended to them a careful study of Anthony Trollopes novels that they
might learn what is permissible in conversation and what is not But here and
there in London you will find it possible to discuss things that interest
reasonable beings«
At the door sounded the name of Mr Bickerdike and there advanced towards
the hostess a tall ugly young man known by repute to all the English people
present He was the author of a novel called »A Crown of Lilies« which was much
talked of just now and excited no less ridicule than admiration On the one
hand it was lauded for delicate purity and idealism on the other it was
scoffed at for artificiality and affected refinement Mrs Lessingham had met
him for the first time a week ago Her invitation was not due to approval of his
book but to personal interest which the author moved in her she was curious to
discover how far the idealism of »A Crown of Lilies« was a genuine fruit of the
mans nature Mr Bickerdikes countenance did not promise clarity of soul his
features were distinctly coarse and the glance he threw round the room on
entering made large demands
Irene Delph was talking with a young married lady named Mrs Travis they
both regarded Mr Bickerdike with close scrutiny
»Who could have imagined such an author for the book« murmured the girl in
wonder
»I could perfectly well« murmured back Mrs Travis with a smile which
revealed knowledge of humanity
»I pictured a very youthful man with a face of effeminate beauty probably
a hectic colour in his cheeks«
»Such men dont write the novel of the season This gentleman is very
shrewd he gauges the public Some day if he sees fit he will write a brutal
book and it will have merit«
Mr Bickerdike unfortunately did not speak French so M Silvenoire was
unable to exchange ideas with him The Parisian having learnt what this
gentlemans claims were regarded him through his pincenez with a subtle smile
But in a few moments he had something more interesting to observe
»Mrs Elgar« cried the voice at the door
Cecily was met halfway by her aunt
»You are alone«
»Reuben has a headache Perhaps he will come to fetch me but more likely
not«
All the eyes in the room had one direction Alike those who ingenuously
admired and those who wished to seem indifferent paid the homage of observation
to Mrs Elgar as she stood exchanging greetings with the friends who came
forward Yes there was something more than attractive features and a pleasant
facility of speech In Cecily were blended a fresh loveliness and a grace as of
maidenhood with the perfect charm of wedded youth The air about her was charged
with something finer than the delicate fragrance which caressed the senses One
had but to hear her speak were it only the most ordinary phrase of courtesy
and that wonderful voice more than justified profound interest Strangers took
her for a few years older than she was not judging so much by her face as the
finished ease of her manners when she conversed it was hard to think of her as
only oneandtwenty
»She is a little pale this evening« said Irene to Mrs Travis
The other assented then asked
»Why dont you paint her portrait«
»Heaven forbid I have quite enough discouragement in my attempts at
painting as it is«
M Silvenoire was bowing low as Mrs Lessingham presented him To his
delight he heard his own language fluently idiomatically spoken he remarked
too that Mrs Elgar had a distinct pleasure in speaking it She seated herself
and flattered him into ecstasies by the respect with which she received his
every word She had seen it mentioned in the Figaro that a new play of his was
in preparation when was it likely to be put on the stage The theatre in London
of course he understood that no one took it au sérieux
The Parisian could do nothing but gaze about the room following her
movements when their dialogue was at an end Mon Dieu And who then was Mr
Elgar Might not one hope for an invitation to madames assemblies A wonderful
people these English after all
Mr Bickerdike secured after much impatience the desired introduction For
reasons of his own he made no mention of his earlier acquaintance with Elgar
Did she know of it In any case she appeared not to but spoke of things which
did not interest Mr Bickerdike in the least At length he was driven to bring
forward the one subject on which he desired her views
»Have you by chance read my book Mrs Elgar«
M Silvenoire would have understood her smile the Englishman thought it
merely amiable and prepared for the accustomed compliment
»Yes I have read it Mr Bickerdike It seemed to me a charmingly written
romance«
The novelist seated upon too low a chair leaning forward so that his knees
and chin almost touched was not in himself a very graceful object the contrast
with his neighbour made him worse than grotesque His visage was disagreeably
animal as it smiled with condescension
»You mean something by that« he remarked with awkward attempt at light
fencing
There was barely a perceptible movement of Cecilys brows
»I try to mean something as often as I speak« she said in an amused tone
»In this case it is a censure You take the side of those who find fault
with my idealism«
»Not so I simply form my own judgment«
Mr Bickerdike was nervous at all times in the society of a refined woman
Mrs Elgars quiet rebuke brought the perspiration to his forehead and made him
rub his hands together Like many a better man he could not do justice to the
parts he really possessed save when sitting in solitude with a sheet of paper
before him Though he had a confused perception that Mrs Elgar was punishing
him for forcing her to speak of his book he was unable to change the topic and
so win her approval for his tact In the endeavour to seem at ease he became
blunt
»And what has your judgment to say on the subject«
»I think I have already told you Mr Bickerdike«
»You mean by a romance a work that is not soiled with the common realism of
today«
»I am willing to mean that«
»But you will admit Mrs Elgar that my mode of fiction has as much to say
for itself as that which you prefer«
»In asking for one admission you take for granted another That is a little
confusing«
It was made sufficiently so to Mr Bickerdike He thrust out his long legs
and exclaimed
»I should be grateful to you if you would tell me what your view of the
question really is I mean of the question at issue between the two schools of
fiction«
»But will you first make clear to me the characteristics of the school you
represent«
»It would take a long time to do that satisfactorily I proceed on the
assumption that fiction is poetry and that poetry deals only with the noble and
the pure«
»Yes« said Cecily as he paused for a moment »I see that it would take too
long You must deal with so many prejudices such for example as that which
supposes King Lear and Othello to be poems«
Mr Bickerdike began a reply but it was too late Mrs Lessingham had
approached with some one else who wished to be presented to Mrs Elgar and the
novelist could only bite his lips as he moved away to find a more reverent
listener
It was not often that Cecily trifled in this way As a rule her manner of
speech was direct and earnest She had a very uncommon habit of telling the
truth whenever it was possible rather than utter smooth falsehoods she would
keep silence and sometimes when to do so was to run much danger of giving
offence Beautiful women have very different ways of using the privilege their
charm assures them Cecily chose to make it a protection of her integrity She
was much criticized by acquaintances of her own sex Some held her presumptuous
conceited spoilt by adulation some accused her of bad taste and
bluestockingism some declared that she had no object but to win mens
admiration and outshine women Without a thought of such comments she behaved
as was natural to her Where she felt her superiority she made no pretence of
appearing femininely humble Yet persons like Mrs Delph who kept themselves in
shadow and spoke only with simple kindness knew well how unassuming Cecily was
and with what deference she spoke when good feeling dictated it Or again there
was her manner with the people who by the very respect with which they inspired
her gave her encouragement to speak without false restraint such as Mr Bird
the art critic a grizzleheaded man with whom she sat for a quarter of an hour
this evening looking her very brightest and talking in her happiest vein yet
showing all the time her gratitude for what she learnt from his conversation
It was nearly twelve oclock when Mrs Travis who had made one or two
careless efforts to draw near to Cecily succeeded in speaking a word aside with
her
»I hope you didnt go to see me yesterday I left home in the morning and
am staying with friends at Hampstead not far from you«
»For long«
»I dont know I should like to talk to you if I could Shall you be
driving back alone«
»Yes Will you come with me«
»Thank you Please let me know when you are going«
And Mrs Travis turned away In a few minutes Cecily went to take leave of
her aunt
»How is Clarence« asked Mrs Lessingham
»Still better I believe I left him tonight without uneasiness«
»Oh I had a letter this morning from Mrs Spence No talk of England yet
In the autumn they are going to Greece then for the winter to Sicily«
»Miriam with them«
»As though it were a matter of course«
They both smiled Then Cecily took leave of two or three other people and
quitted the room Mrs Travis followed her and in a few minutes they were
seated in the brougham
Mrs Travis had a face one could not regard without curiosity It was not
beautiful in any ordinary sense but strange and striking and rich in
suggestiveness In the chance flickering light that entered the carriage she
looked haggard and at all times her thinness and pallor give her the appearance
of suffering both in body and mind Her complexion was dark her hair of a rich
brown she had very large eyes which generally wandered in an absent restless
discontented way If she smiled it was with a touch of bitterness and her talk
was wont to be caustic Cecily had only known her for a few weeks and did not
feel much drawn to her but she compassionated her for sorrows known and
suspected Though only six and twenty Mrs Travis had been married seven years
and had had two children the first died at birth the second was carried off by
diphtheria Her husband Cecily had never seen but she heard disagreeable things
of him and Mrs Travis herself had dropped hints which signified domestic
unhappiness
After a minute or two of silence Cecily was beginning to speak on some
indifferent subject when her companion interrupted her
»Will you let me tell you something about myself«
»Whatever you wish Mrs Travis« Cecily answered with sympathy
»Ive left my husband Perhaps you thought of that«
»No«
The sudden disclosure gave her a shock She had the sensation of standing
for the first time face to face with one of the sterner miseries of life
»I did it once before« pursued the other »two years ago Then I was
foolish enough to be wheedled back again That shant happen this time«
»Have you really no choice but to do this« Cecily asked with much
earnestness
»Oh I could have stayed if I had chosen He doesnt beat me I have as much
of my own way as I could expect Perhaps youll think me unreasonable A Turkish
woman would«
Cecily sat mute She could not but resent the harsh tone in which she was
addressed in spite of her pity
»Its only that I suffer in my selfrespect a little« Mrs Travis
continued »Of course this is no reason for taking such a step except to those
who have suffered in the same way Perhaps you would like to stop the carriage
and let me leave you«
»Your suffering makes you unjust to me« replied Cecily much embarrassed by
this strange impulsiveness »Indeed I sympathize with you I think it quite
possible that you are behaving most rightly«
»You dont maintain then that it is a wifes duty to bear every indignity
from her husband«
»Surely not On the contrary I think there are some indignities which no
wife ought to bear«
»Im glad to hear that I had a feeling that you would think in this way
and thats why I wanted to talk to you Of course you have only the evidence of
my word for believing me«
»I can see that you are very unhappy and the cause you name is quite
sufficient«
»In one respect I am very lucky I have a little money of my own and that
enables me to go and live by myself Most women havent this resource many are
compelled to live in degradation only for want of it I should like to see how
many homes would be broken up if all women were suddenly made independent in
the same way that I am How I should enjoy that I hate the very word marriage«
Cecily averted her face and said nothing After a pause her companion
continued in a calm voice
»You cant sympathize with that I know And you are comparing my position
with your own«
No answer was possible for Mrs Travis had spoken the truth
»In the first year of my marriage I used to do the same whenever I heard of
any woman who was miserable with her husband«
»Is there no possibility of winning back your husband« Cecily asked in a
veiled voice
»Winning him back Oh he is affectionate enough But you mean winning him
back to faithfulness My husband happens to be the average man and the average
man isnt a pleasant person to talk about in this respect«
»Are you not too general in your condemnation Mrs Travis«
»I am content you should think so You are very young still and theres no
good in making the world ugly for you as long as it can seem rosy«
»Please dont use that word« said Cecily with emphasis It annoyed her to
be treated as immature in mind »I am the last person to take rosy views of
life But there is something between the distrust to which you are driven by
misery and the optimism of foolish people«
»We wont argue about it Every woman must take life as she finds it To me
it is a hateful weariness I hope I maynt have much of it still before me what
there is I will live in independence You know Mrs Calder«
»Yes«
»Her position is the same as mine has been but she has more philosophy she
lets things take their course just turning her eyes away«
»That is ignoble hateful« exclaimed Cecily
»So I think but women as a rule dont At all events they are content to
whine a little and do nothing Poor wretches what can they do as I said«
»They can go away and if need be starve«
»They have children«
Cecily became mute
»Will you let me come and see you now and then« Mrs Travis asked
presently
»Come whenever you feel you would like to« Cecily answered rousing herself
from reverie
The house in which Mrs Travis now lived was a quarter of an hours drive
beyond that of the Elgars she would have alighted and walked making nothing of
it but of course Cecily could not allow this The coachman was directed to make
the circuit When Cecily reached home it was after one oclock
Chapter II
The Proprieties Defended
The house was in Belsize Park Light shone through the blind of one of the upper
windows but the rest of the front was lifeless Cecilys ring at the bell
sounded distinctly it was answered at once by a maidservant who said that Mr
Elgar was still in the library Having spoken a few words ending with a kind
good night Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door
A readinglamp made a bright sphere on the table but no one sat within its
rays After a fruitless glance round the room Cecily called her husbands name
There was a sound of moving and she saw that Reuben was on a sofa which the
shadow veiled
»Have you been asleep« she asked merrily as she approached him
He stood up and stretched himself muttering
»Why didnt you go to bed poor boy Im dreadfully late I went out of my
way to take some one home«
»Who was that« Elgar inquired coming forward and seating himself on the
corner of the writingtable
»Mrs Travis She has come to stay with friends at Hampstead But to bed to
bed You look like Hamlet when he came and frightened Ophelia Have you had an
evil dream«
»Thats the truth I have«
»What about«
»Oh a stupid jumble« He moved the lampshade so that the light fell
suddenly full upon her »Why have you made such friends all at once with Mrs
Travis«
»How is your headache«
»I dont know much the same Did she ask you to take her home«
»Yes she did or suggested it at all events«
»Why has she come to Hampstead«
»How can I tell dear Put the lamp out and let us go«
He sat swinging his leg The snatch of uncomfortable sleep had left him pale
and swolleneyed and his hair was tumbled
»Who was there tonight«
»Several new people Amédée Silvenoire the dramatist you know an
interesting man He paid me the compliment of refraining from compliments on my
French Madame Jacquelin a stout and very plain woman who told us anecdotes of
George Sand remind me to repeat them tomorrow And Mr Bickerdike the pillar
of idealism«
»Bickerdike was there« Elgar exclaimed with an air of displeasure
»He didnt refer to his acquaintance with you I wonder why not«
»Did you talk to the fellow«
»Rather pertly Im afraid He was silly enough to ask me what I thought of
his book though I hadnt mentioned it I put on my superior air and snubbed
him it was like tapping a frog on the head each time it pokes up out of the
water He will go about and say what an insufferable person that Mrs Elgar is«
Reuben was silent for a while
»I dont like your associating with such people« he said suddenly »I wish
you didnt go there Its all very well for a woman like your aunt to gather
about her all the disreputable men and women who claim to be of some account
but they are not fit companions for you I dont like it at all«
She looked at him in astonishment with bewildered eyes that were on the
verge of laughter
»What are you talking about Reuben«
»Im quite serious« He rose and began to walk about the room »And it
surprised me that you didnt think of staying at home this evening I said
nothing because I wanted to see whether it would occur to you that you oughtnt
to go alone«
»How should such a thing occur to me Surely I am as much at home in aunts
house as in my own I can hardly believe that you mean what you say«
»You will understand it if you think for a moment A year ago you wouldnt
have dreamt of going out at night when I stayed at home But you find the
temptation of society irresistible People admire you and talk about you and
crowd round you and you enjoy it never mind who the people are Presently we
shall be seeing your portrait in the shopwindows I noticed what a satisfaction
it was to you when your name was mentioned among the other people in that
idiotic society journal«
Cecily laughed but not quite so naturally as she wished it to sound
»This is too absurd Your dream has unsettled your wits Reuben How could I
imagine that you had begun to think of me in such a light You used to give me
credit for at least average common sense I cant talk about it I am ashamed to
defend myself«
He had not spoken angrily but in a curiously dogged tone with awkward
emphasis as if struggling to say what did not come naturally to his lips Still
walking about and keeping his eyes on the floor he continued in the same
halfembarrassed way
»Theres no need for you to defend yourself I dont exactly mean to blame
you but to point out a danger«
»Forgetting that you degrade my character in doing so«
»Nothing of the kind Cecily But remember how young you are You know very
little of the world and often see things in an ideal light It is your tendency
to idealize You havent the experience necessary to a woman who goes about in
promiscuous society«
Cecily knitted her brows
»Instead of using that vague commonplace language which I never thought
to hear from you I wish you would tell me exactly what you mean What things
do I see in an ideal light That means I suppose that I am childishly ignorant
of common evils in the world You couldnt speak otherwise if I had just come
out of a convent And indeed you dont believe what you say Speak more
simply Reuben Say that you distrust my discretion«
»To a certain extent I do«
»Then there is no more to be said dear Please to tell me in future exactly
what you wish me to do and what to avoid I will go to school to your
prudence«
The clock ticked very loudly and before the silence was again broken
chimed halfpast one
»Let me give you an instance of what I mean« said Elgar again seating
himself on the table and fingering his watchchain nervously »You have been
making friends with Mrs Travis Now you are certainly quite ignorant of her
character You dont know that she left home not long ago«
Cecily asked in a low voice
»And why didnt you tell me this before«
»Because I dont choose to talk with you about such disagreeable things«
»Then I begin to see what the difficulty is between us It is not I who
idealize things but you Unless I am much mistaken this is the common error of
husbands of those who are at heart the best They wish their wives to remain
children as far as possible Everything disagreeable must be shunned and we
know what the result often is But I had supposed all this time that you and I
were on other terms I thought you regarded me as not quite the everyday woman
In some things it is certain you do why not in the most important of all
Knowing that I was likely to see Mrs Travis often it was your duty to tell me
what you knew of her«
Elgar kept silence
»Now let me give you another version of that story« Cecily continued
»Tonight she has been telling me about herself She says that she left home
because her husband was unfaithful to her I think the reason quite sufficient
and I told her so But there is something more She has again been driven away
She has come to live at Hampstead because her home is intolerable and she says
that nothing will ever induce her to return«
»And this has been the subject of your conversation as you drove back Then
I think such an acquaintance is very unsatisfactory and it must come to an
end«
»Please to tell me why you spoke just now as if Mrs Travis were to blame«
»I have heard that she was«
»Heard from whom«
»That doesnt matter Theres a doubt about it and shes no companion for
you«
»As you think it necessary to lay commands on me I shall of course obey
you But I believe Mrs Travis is wronged by the rumours you have heard I
believe she acted then and has done now just as it behoved her to«
»And you have been encouraging her«
»Yes on the assumption that she told me the truth She asked if she might
come and see me and I told her to do so whenever she wished I neednt say that
I shall write and withdraw this invitation«
Elgar hesitated before replying
»Im afraid you cant do that You have tact enough to end the acquaintance
gradually«
»Indeed I have not Reuben I either condemn her or pity her I cant
shuffle contemptibly between the two«
»Of course you prefer to pity her« he exclaimed impatiently »There comes
in the idealism of which I was speaking The vulgar womans instinct would be to
condemn her naturally enough you take the opposite course You like to think
nobly of people with the result that more often than not you will be wrong You
dont know the world«
»And I am very young pray finish the formula But why do you prefer to take
the side of the vulgar woman of whom you speak I see that you have no evidence
against Mrs Travis why lean towards condemnation«
»Well Ill put it in another way A woman who lives apart from her husband
is always amid temptations always in doubtful circumstances Friends who put
faith in her may of course keep up their intimacy but a slight acquaintance
and particularly one in your position will get harm by associating with her
This is simple and obvious enough«
»If you knew for certain that she was blameless you would speak in the same
way«
»If it regarded you I should Not if Mrs Lessingham were in question«
»That is a distinction which repeats your distrust We wont say any more
about it I will bear in mind my want of experience and in future never act
without consulting you«
She moved towards the door
»You are coming«
»Look here Ciss you are not so foolish as to misunderstand me When I said
that I distrusted your discretion I meant of course that you might innocently
do things which would make people talk about you There is no harm in reminding
you of the danger«
»Perhaps not though it would be more like yourself to scorn peoples talk«
»That is only possible if we chose to go back to our life of solitude Im
afraid it wouldnt suit you very well now«
»No I am far too eager to see my name in fashionable lists Has not all my
life pointed to that noble ambition«
She regarded him with a smile from her distance a smile that trembled a
little about her lips and in which her clear eyes had small part Elgar
without replying began to turn down the lamp
»This is what has made you so absent and uneasy for the last week or two«
Cecily added
The lamp was extinguished
»Yes it is« answered Elgars voice in the darkness »I dont like the
course things have been taking«
»Then you were quite right to speak plainly Be at rest you shall have no
more anxiety«
She opened the door and they went upstairs together In the bedroom Cecily
found her little boy sleeping quietly she bent above him for a few moments and
with soft fingers smoothed the coverlet
There was no further conversation between them except that Cecily just
mentioned the news her aunt had received from Mrs Spence
At breakfast they spoke of the usual subjects in the usual way Elgar had
his ride amused himself in the library till luncheon lolled about the
drawingroom whilst Cecily played went to his club came back to dinner all
in customary order Neither look nor word from him or Cecily made allusion to
last nights incident
The next morning when breakfast was over he came behind his wifes chair
and pointed to an envelope she had opened
»What strange writing Whose is it«
»From Mrs Travis«
He moved away and Cecily rose As she was passing him he said
»What has she to say to you«
»She acknowledges the letter I sent her yesterday morning thats all«
»You wrote in the way you proposed«
»Certainly«
He allowed her to pass without saying anything more
Chapter III
Gradation
During the first six months of her wedded life Cecily wrote from time to time
in a handsomelybound book which had a little silver lock to it She was then
living at the seaside in Cornwall and Reuben occasionally went out for some
hours with the fishers or took a long solitary ride inland just to have the
delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation in his
absence Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume On some of its fair
pages were verses written when verse came to her more easily than prose but
read not even to him who occasioned them A passage or two of the unrhymed
thoughts with long periods of interval will suggest the course of her mental
history
»I have no more doubts and take shame to myself for those I ever
entertained Presently I will confess to him how my mind was tossed and troubled
on that flight from Capri I now feel able to do so and to make of the
confession one more delight It was impossible for me not to be haunted by the
fear that I had yielded to impulse and acted unworthily of one who could
reflect I had not a doubt of my lover but the foolish pride which is in a
girls heart whispered to me that I had been too eager had allowed myself to
be won too readily that I should have been more precious to him if more
difficulty had been put in his way Would it not have been good to give him
proof of constancy through long months of waiting But the secret was that I
dreaded to lose him I reproached him for want of faith in my steadfastness but
just as well he might have reproached me It was horrible to think of his going
back into the world and living among people of whom I knew nothing I knew in
some degree what his life had been by force of passionate love I understood or
thought I understood him and I feared most ignobly
And I was putting myself in opposition to all those older and more
experienced people How could I help distrusting myself at times I saw them all
looking coldly and reproachfully at me Here again my pride had something to
say They would smile among themselves and tell each other that they had held a
mistakenly high opinion of me That was hard to bear I like to be thought much
of it is delicious to feel that people respect me that they apply other
judgments to me than to girls in general Mr Mallard hurt me more than he
thought in pretending I feel sure he only pretended to regard my words as
trivial How it rejoices me that there are some things I know better than my
husband does I have read of women liking to humble themselves and in a way I
can understand it I do like to say that he is far above me oh and I mean it
I believe it but the joy of joys is to see him look at me with admiration I
rejoice that I have beauty I rejoice that I have read much and can think for
myself now and then and sometimes say a thing that every one would not think
of Suppose I were an uneducated girl not particularly goodlooking and a man
loved me well in that case perhaps the one joy would be mere worship of him
and intense gratitude blind belief in his superiority to every other man that
lived But then Reuben would never have loved me he must have something to
admire to stand a little in awe of And for this very reason perhaps I feel
such constant selfesteem for that is the only word«
»All the doubts and fears are over I acted rightly and because I obeyed my
passion The poets are right and all the prudent people only grovel in their
worldly wisdom It may not be true for every one but for me to love and be
loved infinitely with the love that conquers everything is the sole end of
life It is enough come what will if love remain nothing else is missed In
the direst poverty we should be as much to each other as we are now If he
died I would live only to remember the days I passed with him What folly what
a crime it would have been to waste two years as though we were immortal
I never think of Capri but I see it in the light of a magnificent sunrise
Beloved sacred island where the morning of my life indeed began No spot in
all the earth has beauty like yours no name of any place sounds to me as yours
does«
»I know that our life cannot always be what it is now This is a long honeymoon
we do not walk on the paths that are trodden by ordinary mortals the sky above
us is not the same that others see as they go about their days business or
pleasure By what process shall we fall to the common existence We have all our
wants provided for there is no need for my husband to work that he may earn
money no need for me to take anxious thought about expenses so that we are
tempted to believe that life will always be the same That cannot be I am not
so idle as to hope it
He certainly has powers which should be put to use We have talked much of
things that he might possibly do and I am sure that before long his mind will
hit the right path I am so greedy of happiness that even what we enjoy does not
suffice me I want my husband to distinguish himself among men that I may glory
in his honour Yesterday he told me that my own abilities exceeded his and that
I was more likely to make use of them but in this case my ambition takes a
humble form Even if I were sure that I could say write a good book I would
infinitely prefer him to do it and receive the reward of it I like him to say
such things but in fact he must be more than I Do I need a justification of
the love I bear him Surely not that would be a contradiction of love But it
is true that I would gladly have him justify to others my belief in his
superiority
And yet why not be content with what is well If he could remain so but
will he We have a long life before us and I know that it cannot be all
honeymoon«
»I have been reading a French novel that has made me angry in spite of my
better sense Of course it is not the first book of the kind that I have read
but it comes home to me now What right has this author to say that no man was
ever absolutely faithful It is a commonplace but how can any one have evidence
enough to justify such a statement I shall not speak of it to Reuben for I
dont care to think long about it Does that mean I wonder that I am afraid to
think of it
Well I had rather have been taught to read and think about everything than
be foolishly ignorant as so many women are This French author would laugh at my
confidence but I could laugh back at his narrow cynicism He knows nothing of
love in its highest sense I am firm in my optimism which has a very different
base from that of ignorance
This does not concern me I wont occupy my mind with it I wont read any
more of the cynics My husband loves me and I believe his love incapable of
receiving a soil If ever I cease to believe that time enough then to be
miserable and to fight out the problem«
The end of the six months found them still undecided as to where they should
fix a permanent abode In no part of England had either of them relatives or
friends whose proximity would be of any value Cecily inclined towards London
feeling that there only would her husband find incentives to exertion but
Reuben was more disposed to settle somewhere on the Continent He talked of
going back to Italy living in Florence and writing something new about the
Renaissance Cecily shook her head Italy she loved and she had seen nothing of
it north of Naples but it was the land of lotuseaters They would go there
again but not until life had seriously shaped itself
Whilst they talked and dreamed decision came to them in the shape of Mrs
Lessingham Without warning she one day presented herself at their lodgings
having come direct from Paris Her spirits were delightful she could not have
behaved more graciously had this marriage been the one desire of her life The
result of her private talk with Cecily was that within a week all three
travelled down to London there they remained for a fortnight then went on to
Paris Mrs Lessinghams quarters were in Rue de Belle Chasse and the Elgars
found a suitable dwelling in the same street
Their child was born and for a few months all questions were postponed to
that of its health and Cecilys The infant gave a good deal of trouble was
anything but robust the mother did not regain her strength speedily The first
three months of the new year were spent at Bordighera then came three months of
Paris then the family returned to England without Mrs Lessingham and
established themselves in the house in Belsize Park
The immediate effect of paternity upon Elgar was amusing His
selfimportance visibly increased He spoke with more gravity whatever step he
took was seriously considered if he read a newspaper it was with an air of
sober reflection
»This is the turningpoint in his life« Cecily said to her aunt »He seems
to me several years older dont you notice it I am quite sure that as soon as
things are in order again he will begin to work«
And the prophecy seemed to find fulfilment Not many days after their taking
possession of the English home Reuben declared a project that his mind had been
forming It was not to be sure thoroughly fashioned its limits must
necessarily be indeterminate until fixed by long and serious study but what he
had in view was to write a history of the English mind in its relation to
Puritanism
»I have a notion Ciss that this is the one thing into which I can throw
all my energies The one need of my intellectual life is to deal a savage blow
at the influences which ruined all my early years You cant look at the matter
quite as I do you dont know the fierce hatred with which I am moved when I
look back If I am to do literary work at all it must be on some subject which
deeply concerns me me myself as an individual I feel sure that my bent isnt
to fiction I am not objective enough But I enjoy the study of history and I
have a good deal of acuteness If Im not mistaken I can make a brilliant book
a book that will excite hatred and make my name known«
They were sitting in the library late at night As usual when he was
stirred Reuben paced up and down the room and gesticulated
»Do you mean it to be a big book« Cecily asked after reflection
»Not very big I should have French models before me rather than English«
»It would take you a long time to prepare«
»Two or three years perhaps But what does that matter I shall work a good
deal at the British Museum It will oblige me to be away from you a good deal
but «
»You mustnt trouble about that I have my own work If your mornings are
regularly occupied I shall be able to make fixed plans of study there are so
many things I want to work at«
»Capital Its high time we came to that And then you know you might be
able to give me substantial help reading making notes and so on if you
cared to«
Cecily smiled
»Yes if I care to But hasnt the subject been dealt with already«
»Oh of course in all sorts of ways But not in my way No man ever wrote
about it with such energy of hatred as I shall bring to the task«
Cecily was musing
»It wont be a history in the ordinary sense« she said »You will make no
pretence of historic calm and impartiality«
»Not I indeed My book shall be cited as a splendid example of odium
antitheologicum There are passages of eloquence rolling in my mind And this is
just the time for such a work Throughout intellectual England Puritanism is
dead but we know how vigorously it survives among the halfeducated classes My
book shall declare the emancipation of all the better minds and be a help to
those who are struggling upwards It will be a demand also for a new
literature free from the absurd restraints that Puritanism has put upon us All
the younger writers will rally about me It shall be a movement The name of my
book shall be a watchword«
They talked about it till one in the morning
For several weeks Elgar was constantly at the Museum He read prodigiously he
brought home a great quantity of notes every night Cecily and he talked over
his acquisitions and excited themselves But the weather grew oppressively hot
and it was plain that they could not carry out the project of remaining in town
all through the autumn Already Reuben was languishing in his zeal when little
Clarence had a sudden and alarming illness As soon as possible all went off to
the seaside
Since his work had begun Reubens interest in the child had fallen off Its
ailments were soon little more than an annoyance to him Cecily perceived this
and seldom spoke on the subject The fact of the sudden illness affording an
opportunity for rest led him to express more solicitude than he really felt but
when the child got back into its normal state Reuben was more plainly
indifferent to it than ever He spoke impatiently if the mothers cares occupied
her when he wished for her society
»A baby isnt a rational creature« he said once »When he is old enough to
begin to be educated that will be a different thing At present he is only a
burden Perhaps you think me an unfatherly brute«
»No I can understand you quite well I should very often be impatient
myself if I had no servants to help me«
»What a horrible thought Suppose Ciss we all of a sudden lost everything
and we had to go and live in a garret and I had to get work as a clerk at
fiveandtwenty shillings a week How soon should we hate the sight of each
other and the sound of each others voices«
»It might come to that« replied Cecily with half a smile »Perhaps«
»Theres no doubt about it«
Cecily remembered something she had written in the book with the silver lock
a book which had not been opened for a long time
»I used to think nothing could bring that about And I am not sure yet«
»I should behave like a ruffian I know myself well enough«
»I think that would kill my love in time«
»Of course it would How can any one love what is not lovable«
»Yet we hear« suggested Cecily »of wretched women remaining devoted to
husbands who all but murder them now and then«
»You are not so foolish as to call that love That is mere unreasoning and
degraded habit the same kind of thing one may find in a dog«
»Has love anything to do with reason Reuben«
»As I understand it it has everything to do with reason Animal passion has
not of course but love is made of that with something added Can my reason
discover any argument why I should not love you I wont say that it might not
some day and then my love would by so much be diminished«
»You believe that reason is free to exercise itself where love is in
possession«
»I believe that love can only come when reason invites Of course we are
talking of love between men and women the word has so many senses In this
highest sense it is one of the rarest of things How many wives and husbands
love each other Not one pair in five thousand In the average pair that have
lived together as long as we have there is not only mutual criticism but
something even of mutual dislike That makes love impossible Habit takes its
place«
»Happily for the world«
»I dont know Perhaps so It is an ignoble necessity but then the world
largely consists of ignoble creatures«
Cecily reflected often on this conversation Was there any significance in
such reasonings It gave her keen pleasure to hear Reuben maintain such a view
but did it mean anything If in meditating about him she discovered
characteristics of his which she could have wished to change which in
themselves were certainly not lovable had she in that moment ceased to love
him in loves highest sense
But in that case love might be selfdeception In that case perfect love
was impossible save as a result of perfect knowledge
What part had reason in the impulses which possessed her from her first
meeting with Reuben in Italy unless that name were given to the working of
mysterious affinities afterwards to be justified by experience
Cecily had been long content to accept love as an ultimate fact of her
being But it was not Reubens arguments only that led her to ponder its nature
and find names for its qualities By this time she had become conscious that her
love as a wife was somehow altered modified since she had been a mother The
time of passionate reveries was gone by She no longer wrote verses The book
was locked up and kept hidden if ever she resumed her diary it must be in a
new volume for that other was sacred to an undivided love It would now have
been mere idle phrasing to say that Reuben was all in all to her And she could
not think of this without some sadness
To the average woman maternity is absorbing Naturally so for the average
woman is incapable of poetical passion and only too glad to find something that
occupies her thoughts from morning to night a relief from the weariness of her
unfruitful mind It was not to be expected that Cecily because she had given
birth to a child should of a sudden convert herself into a combination of wet
and dry nurse after the common model The mothers love was strong in her but
it could not destroy nor even keep in long abeyance those intellectual
energies which characterized her Had she been constrained to occupy herself
ceaselessly with the demands of babyhood something more than impatience would
shortly have been roused in her she would have rebelled against the conditions
of her sex the gentle melancholy with which she now looked back upon the early
days of marriage would have become a bitter protest against her slavery to
nature These possibilities in the modern woman correspond to that spirit in the
modern man which is in revolt against the law of labour Picture Reuben Elgar
reduced to the necessity of toiling for daily bread that is to say brought
down from his pleasant heights of civilization to the dull plain where nature
tells a man that if he would eat he must first sweat at the furrow one hears
his fierce objurgations his haughty railing against the gods Cecily did not
represent that extreme type of woman to whom the bearing of children has become
in itself repugnant but she was very far removed from that other type which the
world at large still makes its ideal of the feminine With what temper would she
have heard the lady in her aunts drawingroom who was of opinion that she
should stay at home and mind the baby Education had made her an individual she
was nurtured into the disease of thought This child of hers showed in the frail
tenure on which it held its breath how unfit the mother was for fulfilling her
natural functions Both parents seemed in admirable health yet their offspring
was a poor delicate nervous creature formed for exquisite sensibility to
every evil of life Cecily saw this and partly understood it her heart was
heavy through the long anxious nights passed in watching by the cradle
When they returned to London Reuben at first made a pretence of resuming
his work He went now and then to the readingroom and at home shut himself up
in the study but he no longer voluntarily talked of his task Cecily knew what
had happened the fatal lack of perseverance had once more declared itself For
some weeks she refrained from inviting his confidence but of necessity they
spoke together at last Reuben could no longer disguise the ennui under which he
was labouring Instead of sitting in the library he loitered about the
drawingroom he was often absent through the whole day and Cecily knew that he
had not been at the Museum
»Im at a standstill« he admitted when the opportunity came »I dont see
my way so clearly as at first I must take up some other subject for a time and
rest my mind«
They had no society worth speaking of Mrs Lessingham had supplied them
with a few introductions but these people were now out of town Earlier in the
year neither of them had cared to be assiduous in discharging social
obligations with the natural result that little notice was taken of them in
turn Reuben had resumed two or three of his old connections a bachelor
acquaintance now and then came to dine but this was not the kind of society
they needed Impossible for them to utter the truth and confess that each
others companionship was no longer allsufficient Had Reuben been veritably
engaged in serious work Cecily might have gone on for a long time with her own
studies before she wearied for lack of variety and friendly voices as it was
the situation became impossible
»Wouldnt you like to belong to a club« she one day asked
And Reuben caught at the suggestion Not long ago it would have caused him
to smile rather scornfully
Cecily had lost her faith in the great militant book on Puritanism Thinking
about it when it had been quite out of her mind for a few days she saw the
project in a light of such absurdity that in spite of herself she laughed It
was laughter that pained her like a sob No that was not the kind of work for
him What was
She would think rather of her child and its future If Clarence lived if
he lived she herself would take charge of his education for the first years
She must read the best books that had been written on the training of childrens
minds everything should be smoothed for him by skilful methods There could be
little doubt that he would prove a quick child and the delight of watching his
progress She imagined him a boy of ten bright trustful happy he would have
no nearer friend than his mother between him and her should exist limitless
confidence But a firm hand would be necessary he would exhibit traits
inherited from his father
Cecily remembered the day when she first knew that she did not wish him to
be altogether like his father Perhaps in no other way could she have come to so
clear an understanding of Reubens character at all events of those parts of
it which had as yet revealed themselves in their wedded life She thought of him
with an impartiality which had till of late been impossible And then it
occurred to her Had the same change come over his mind concerning her Did he
feel secret dissatisfactions If he had a daughter would he say to himself that
in this and that he would wish her not to resemble her mother
About once in three months they received a letter from Miriam addressed always
to Cecily She was living still with the Spences and still in Italy Her
letters offered no explanation of this singular fact indeed they threw as
little light as was possible on the state of her mind so brief were they and
so closely confined to statements of events Still it was clear that Miriam no
longer shrank from the study of profane things Of Bartles she never spoke
Mrs Spence also wrote to Cecily the kind of letter to be expected from
her delightful in the reading and pleasant in the memory But she said nothing
significant concerning Miriam
»Would they welcome us if we went to see them« Cecily asked one cheerless
day this winter it was Clarences birthday
»You cant take the child« answered Reuben with some discontent
»No I should not dare to And it is just as impossible to leave him with
any one In another year perhaps«
Mrs Lessingham occasionally mentioned Miriam in her letters and always
with a jest »I strongly suspect she is studying Greek Is she perchance the
author of that delightful paper on Modern Paganism in the current Fortnightly
Something strange awaits us be sure of that«
The winter dragged to its end and with the spring came Mrs Lessingham
herself Instantly the life of the Elgars underwent a complete change The
vivacious lady from Paris saw in the twinkling of an eye how matters stood she
considered the situation perilous and set to work most efficaciously to alter
it With what result you are aware The first incident of any importance in the
new life was that which has already been related yet something happened one day
at the Academy of which it is worth while speaking
Cecily had looked in her catalogue for the name of a certain artist and had
found it he exhibited one picture only Walking on through the rooms with her
husband she came at length to the number she had in mind and paused before it
»Whose is that« Reuben inquired looking at the same picture
»Mr Mallards« she answered with a smile meeting his eyes
»Old Mallards Really I was wondering whether he had anything this year«
He seemed to receive the information with genuine pleasure A little to
Cecilys surprise for the name was never mentioned between them and she had
felt uneasy in uttering it The picture was a piece of coastscenery in Norway
very grand cold desolate not at all likely to hold the gaze of Academy
visitors but significant enough for the few who see with the imagination
»Nobody looks at it you notice« said Elgar when they had stood on the
spot for five minutes
»Nobody«
Yet as soon as they had spoken an old and a young lady came in front of
them and they heard the young lady say as she pointed to Mallards canvas
»Where is that mamma«
»Oh Lands End or some such place« was the careless reply »Do just look
at that sweet little creature playing with the dog Look at its collar And that
ribbon«
Reuben turned away and muttered contemptuous epithets Cecily cast a haughty
and angry glance at the speaker They passed on and for the present spoke no
more of Mallard but Cecily thought of him and would have liked to return to
the picture before leaving There was a man who did something and something
worth the doing Reuben must have had a thought not unlike this for he said
later in the same day
»I am sorry I never took up painting I believe I could have made something
of it To a certain extent you see it is a handicraft that any man may learn
if one can handle the tools theres always the incentive to work and produce
Bythebye why do you never draw nowadays«
»I hold the opinion of Miss Denyer I wonder whats become of her poor
girl that its no use pottering Strange how a casual word can affect one
Ive never cared to draw since she spoke of my pottering«
This day was the last on which Reuben was quite his wonted self Cecily who
was not studying him closely just now did not for a while observe any change
but in the end it forced itself upon her attention She said nothing thinking
it not impossible that he was again dissatisfied with the fruitlessness of his
life and had been made to feel it more strongly by associating with so many new
people Any sign of that kind was still grateful to her
She knew now how amiss was her interpretation The truth she could not
accept as she would have done a year ago it would then have seemed more than
pardonable as proving that Reubens love of her could drive him into grotesque
inconsistencies But now she only felt it an injury and in sitting down to
write her painful letter to Mrs Travis she acted for the first time in
deliberate resentment of her husbands conduct
When the reply from Mrs Travis instructed him in what had been done Reuben
left the house and did not return till late at night Cecily stayed at home
idle Visitors called in the afternoon but she received no one After her
solitary dinner she spent weary hours now in one room now in another unable
to occupy herself in any way At eleven oclock she went down to the library
resolving to wait there for Reubens return
She heard him enter and heard the servant speaking with him He came into
the room closed the door and sauntered forwards his hands in his pockets
»Why didnt you tell me you would be away all day« Cecily asked without
stress of remonstrance
»I didnt know that I should be«
He took his favourite position on the corner of the table Examining him
Cecily saw that his face expressed ennui rather than active displeasure there
was a little sullenness about his lips but the knitting of his brows was not of
the kind that threatens tempest
»Where have you been dear«
»At the Museum the club and a musichall«
»A musichall« she repeated in surprise
»Why not I had to get through the time somehow I was in a surly temper if
Id come home sooner I should have raged at you Dont say anything to irritate
me Ciss Im not quite sure of myself yet«
»But I think the raging would have been preferable Ive had the dreariest
day I ever spent«
»I suppose some one or other called«
»Yes but I didnt see them You have made me very uncertain of how I ought
to behave I thought it better to keep to myself till we had come to a clearer
understanding«
»That is perversity you know And it was perversity that led you to write
in such a way to Mrs Travis«
»You are quite right But the provocation was great And after all I dont
see that there la much difference between writing to her that she mustnt come
and giving directions to a servant that she isnt to be admitted«
»You said in the letter that I had forbidden it«
»Yes I did«
»And so made me ridiculous« he exclaimed petulantly
»My dear you were ridiculous Its better that you should see it plainly«
»The letter will be shown to all sorts of people Your aunt will see it of
course You are ingenious in revenging yourself«
Cecily bent her head and could not trust herself to speak All day she had
been thinking of this and had repented of her foolish haste Yet confession of
error was impossible in her present mood
»As you make such a parade of obedience« he continued with increasing
anger »I should think it would be better to obey honestly I never said that I
wished you to break with her in this fashion«
»Anything else would be contemptible I cant subdue myself to that«
»Very well then to be logical you must give up society altogether It
demands no end of contemptible things«
»Will you explain to me why you think that letter will make you ridiculous«
Reuben hesitated
»Is it ridiculous« she added »for a man to forbid his wife to associate
with a woman of doubtful character«
»I told you distinctly that I had no definite charge to bring against her
Caution would have been reasonable enough but to act as you have represented me
is sheer Philistinism«
»Precisely And it was Philistinism in you to take the matter as you did Be
frank with me Why should you wish to have a name for liberal thinking among
your acquaintances and yet behave in private like the most narrow of men«
»That is your misrepresentation Of course if you refuse to understand me
«
He broke off and went to another part of the room
»Shall I tell you what all this means Reuben« said Cecily turning towards
him »We have lived so long in solitude that the common circumstances of
society are strange and disturbing to us Solitary people are theoretical
people You would never have thought of forbidding me to read such and such a
book on the ground that it took me into doubtful company the suggestion of
such intolerance would have made you laugh scornfully You have become an
idealist of a curious kind you like to think of me as an emancipated woman and
yet when I have the opportunity of making my independence practical you show
yourself alarmed I am not sure that I understand you entirely I should be very
sorry to explain your words of the other night in the sense they would bear on
the lips of an ordinary man Cant you help me out of this difficulty«
Reuben was reflecting and had no reply ready
»If there is to be all this difference between theory and practice« Cecily
continued »it must either mean that you think otherwise than you speak or else
that I have shown myself in some way very untrustworthy You say you have been
angry with me I have felt both angry and deeply hurt Suppose you had known
certainly that Mrs Travis was not an honourable woman even then it was wrong
to speak to me as you did Even then it would have been inconsistent to forbid
me to see her You put yourself and me on different levels You make me your
inferior morally your inferior What should you say if I began to warn you
against one or other of the men you know if I put on a stern face and told
you that your morals were in danger«
»Pooh what harm can a man take«
»And pray what harm can a woman take if her name happens to be Cecily
Elgar«
She drew herself up and stood regarding him with superb selfconfidence
»Without meaning it you insult me Reuben You treat me as a vulgar husband
treats a vulgar wife What harm to me do you imagine Dont let us deal in silly
evasions and roundabout phrases Do you distrust my honour Do you think I can
be degraded by association What woman living has power to make me untrue to
myself«
»You are getting rhetorical Cecily Then at this rate I should never be
justified in interfering«
»In interfering with mere command never«
»Not if I saw you going to destruction«
She smiled haughtily
»When it comes to that well discuss the question anew But I see that you
think it possible Evidently I have given proof of some dangerous weakness Tell
me what it is and I shall understand you better«
»Im afraid all this talk leads to nothing You claim an independence which
will make it very difficult for us to live on the old terms«
»I claim nothing more than your own theories have always granted«
»Then practice shows that the theories are untenable as in many another
case«
»You refuse me the right to think for myself«
»In some things yes Because as I said before you havent experience
enough to go upon«
Cecily cast down her eyes She forced herself to keep silence until that
rush of indignant rebellion had gone by Reuben looked at her askance
»If you still loved me as you once did« he said in a lower voice »this
would be no hardship Indeed I should never have had to utter such words«
»I still do love you« she answered very quietly »If I did not I should
revolt against your claim But it is too certain that we no longer live on the
old terms«
They avoided each others eyes and after a long silence left the room
without again speaking
Chapter IV
The Denyers in England
»There« said Mrs Denyer laying money on the table »There are your wages up
to the end of Aprilnotwithstanding your impertinence to me this morning you
see Once more I forgive you And now get on with your work and let us have no
more unpleasantness«
It was in the back parlour of a small house at Hampstead a room scantily
furnished and not remarkably clean Mrs Denyer sat at the table some loose
papers before her She was in mourning but still fresh of complexion and a
trifle stouter than when she lived at Naples two years and a half ago Her
words were addressed to a domestic most plainly of all work who without
ceremony gathered the coins up in both her hands counted them and then said
with decision
»Now Im goin mum«
»Going Indeed you are not my girl You dont leave this house without the
due notice«
»Notice or no notice Im agoin« said the other firmly »I never thought
to a got even this much an now Ive got it Im agoin Its wore me out
has this ouse what with «
The conflict lasted for a good quarter of an hour but the domestic was to
be shaken neither with threats nor prayers Resolutely did she ascend to her
bedroom promptly did she pack her box Almost before Mrs Denyer could realize
the disaster that had befallen her house was servantless
She again sat in the back parlour gazing blankly at the table when there
came the sound of the housedoor opening followed by a light tread in the
passage
»Barbara« called Mrs Denyer
Barbara presented herself She also wore mourning genteel but inexpensive
Her prettiness endured but she was pale and had a chronic look of discontent
»Well now what do you think has happened Shut the door I paid Charlotte
the wages and the very first thing she did was to pack and go«
»And you mean to say you let her Why you must be crazy«
»Dont speak to me in that way« cried her mother hotly »How could I
prevent her when she was determined I did my utmost but nothing could induce
her to stay Was ever anything so distracting The very day after letting our
rooms How are we to manage«
»I shall have nothing to do with it The girl wouldnt have gone if Id been
here You must manage how you can«
»Its no use talking like that Barbara Youre bound to wait upon Mrs
Travis until we get another girl«
»I« exclaimed her daughter »Wait on her yourself I certainly shall do
nothing of the kind«
»Youre a bad cruel undutiful girl« cried Mrs Denyer her face on fire
»Neither of your sisters ever treated me as you do Youre the only one of the
family that has never given the least help and youre the only one that day by
day insults me and behaves with heartless selfishness Im to wait on the lodger
myself am I Very well I will do so and see if anything in the world will
shame you She shall know why I wait on her be sure of that«
Barbara swept out of the room and ascended the stairs to the second floor
Here again she heard her name called in a soft voice and interrogatively in
reply she entered a small bedroom saying impatiently
»What is it Mad«
It was seen at the first glance that this had long been a sickchamber The
arrangement of the furniture the medicinebottles the appliances for the use
of one who cannot rise from bed all told their story The air had a peculiar
scent an unnatural stillness seemed to pervade it Against the raised white
pillow showed a face hardly less white
»Isnt it provoking Barbara« said the invalid without moving in the
least »Whatever shall you do«
»As best we can I suppose Ive to turn cook and housemaid and
parlourmaid now Scullerymaid too I suppose I shall clean the steps
tomorrow morning«
»Oh but you must go to the registryoffice the very first thing Dont
upset yourself about it If you can just manage to get that ladys dinner«
»Its all very well for you to talk How would you like to wait on people
like a girl in a restaurant«
»Ah if only I could« replied Madeline with a little laugh that was
heartbreaking »If only I could«
In a month it would be two years since Madeline stood and walked like other
people live as long as she might she would never rise from her bed It came
about in this way Whilst the Denyers were living in the secondclass hotel at
Southampton and when Mr Denyer had been gone to Vera Cruz some five months a
little ramble was taken one day in a part of the New Forest Madeline was in
particularly good spirits she had succeeded in getting an engagement to teach
some children and her work was to begin the next day In a frolic she set
herself to jump over a fallen tree her feet slipped on the dry grass beyond
and she fell with her back upon the trunk
This was pleasant news to send to her father With him things were going as
well as he had anticipated and before long he was able to make substantial
remittances but his letters were profoundly sad In a years time the family
quitted Southampton and took the house at Hampstead with much expense and
difficulty Madeline was removed Mrs Denyer and Barbara were weary of
provincial life and considered nothing in their resolve to be within reach of
London amusements Zillah was living as governess with a family in Yorkshire
They had been settled at Hampstead three weeks when information reached
them that Mr Denyer was dead of yellow fever
On the day when this news came the house received no less important a
visitor than Mr Musselwhite Long ago Mrs Denyer had written to him from
Southampton addressing her letter to the club in London of which he had spoken
she had received a prompt reply dated from rooms in London and thenceforth the
correspondence was established But Mr Musselwhite never spoke of coming to
Southampton his letters ended with Sincere regards to Miss Denyer and the other
young ladies but they contained nothing that was more to the point He wrote
about the weather chiefly Arrived in London Mrs Denyer at once sent an
invitation and to her annoyance this remained unanswered Today the
explanation was forthcoming Mr Musselwhite had been on a journey and by some
mistake the letter had only come into his hands when he returned He was most
gentlemanly in his expressions of condolement with the family in their distress
he sat with them moreover much longer than was permissible under the
circumstances by the code of society And on going he begged to be allowed to
see them frequently that was all
Barbara could not control herself for irritation Mrs Denyer was indignant
Yet after all was it to be expected that the visitor should say or do more on
such an occasion as this In any case he knew what their position was all had
been put before him as though he were a member of the family If they succeeded
in obtaining whatever Mr Denyer had died possessed of it would certainly be
nothing more than a provision for the present When they spoke of taking a
lodger for their first floor Mr Musselwhite agreed that this was a good
thought whilst shaking his gentlemanly head over the necessity
He came again and again always sadly sympathetic He would sit in the
drawingroom for an hour pulling his whiskers and moustaches nervously often
glancing at Barbara making the kindest inquiries concerning Madeline for whom
he actually brought flowers On one of these occasions he told them that his
brother the baronet was very ill down at the place in Lincolnshire And after
mentioning this he fell into abstraction
As for Madeline she still received letters from Clifford Marsh On first
hearing of the accident Clifford at once came to Southampton his distress was
extreme But it was useless for him to remain and business demanded his return
to Leeds Neither he nor Madeline was yet aware of the gravity of what had
happened they talked of recovery Before long Madeline knew how her situation
was generally regarded but she could not abandon hope she was able to write
and not a word in her letters betrayed a doubt of the possibility that she might
yet be well again Clifford wrote very frequently for the first year with a
great deal of genuine tenderness with compassion and encouragement Never mind
how long her illness lasted let her be assured of his fidelity no one but
Madeline should ever be his wife A considerable part of his letters was always
occupied with lamentation over the cursed fate that bound him to the
Philistines though he took care to repeat that this was the result of his own
choice and that he blamed no one unless it were his grossminded stepfather
who had driven him to such an alternative These bewailings grew less vehement
as his letters became shorter and arrived at longer intervals there began to be
a sameness in the tone even in the words When his yearly holiday came round
he promised to visit Southampton but after all never did so What was the use
he wrote It only meant keener misery to both Instead of coming south he had
gone into Scotland
And Madeline no longer expressed a wish to see him Her own letters grew
shorter and calmer containing at length very little about herself but for the
most part news of family affairs Every now and then Clifford seemed to rouse
himself to the effort of repeating his protestations of affirming his deathless
faith but as a rule he wrote about trifles sometimes even of newspaper
matters So did the second year of Madelines martyrdom come to its close
Quarrelling incessantly Mrs Denyer and Barbara prepared the lodgers dinner
between them This Mrs Travis was not exacting she had stipulated only for a
cutlet or something of the kind with two vegetables and a milk pudding
Whatever was proposed seemed to suit her The Denyers knew nothing about her
except that she was able to refer them to a lady who had a house in Mayfair her
husband she said was abroad She had brought a great deal of luggage
including books to the number of fifty or so
When the moment for decision came Barbara snatched up the folded white
tablecloth threw it with knives forks and plates upon a tray and ascended
to the lodgers sittingroom Her cheeks were hot her eyes flashed She had
donned the most elegant attire in her possession had made her hair magnificent
Her knock at the door was meant to be a declaration of independence it sounded
peremptory
Mrs Travis was in an easychair reading She looked up absently then
smiled
»Good evening Miss Denyer How close it has been again«
»Very I must ask you to excuse me Mrs Travis if I do these things rather
awkwardly At a moments notice we have lost the servant whose duty it was«
»Oh I am only sorry that you should have the trouble Let us lay the table
together Ive done it often enough for myself No thats the wrong side of the
cloth Ill put these things in order whilst you go for the rest«
Barbara looked at Mrs Travis with secret disdain The girls nature was
plebeian a little arrogance would have constrained her to respect however she
might have seemed to resent it This goodnatured indifference made her feel
that her preparations were thrown away She would have preferred to see herself
as a martyr
When dinner was over and the table being cleared Mrs Travis spoke of
Madeline
»Does she sleep well at night«
»Never till very late« replied Barbara
»Does she like to be read to«
»Oh yes reading of certain kinds I often read Italian poetry to her«
Mrs Travis had not now to learn for the first time of the familys superior
attainments it had been Mrs Denyers care to impress upon her that they were
no ordinary letters of lodgings Indeed said Mrs Denyer they were rather
dépaysées here in England they had so long been accustomed to the larger
intellectual atmosphere of Continental centres »The poor girls pine for Italy
they have always adored Italy My eldest daughter is far more Italian than
English«
»Well I dont read Italian« said Mrs Travis to Barbara »but if English
would do I should really like to sit with her for an hour sometimes I never
sleep myself if I go to bed before midnight Do you think she would care for my
company«
»I am sure she would be grateful to you« answered Barbara who felt that
she might now exhibit a little politeness
»Then please ask her if I may come tonight«
This request was readily granted and at about halfpast nine Mrs Travis
went into the sickchamber taking in her hand a volume of Browning Madeline
had not yet seen the lodger she returned her greeting in a murmur and examined
her with the steady eyes of one whom great suffering has delivered from all
petty embarrassments Her face was not so calm as when Barbara came to speak to
her in the afternoon lines of pain showed themselves on her forehead and her
thin lips were compressed
»Its very good of you to come« she said when Mrs Travis had taken a seat
by the bed »But please dont read anything tonight I dont feel that I could
take any interest It is so sometimes«
»Naturally enough But do you feel able to talk«
»Yes I had rather talk Can you tell me something quite new and different
from what Im accustomed to hear Do you know any country where I havent been«
»I havent travelled much Last autumn I was in Iceland for a few weeks
would you care to hear of that«
»Very much Just talk as if you were going over it in your memory Dont
mind if I close my eyes I shant be asleep it helps me to imagine thats
all«
Mrs Travis did as she was asked Now and then Madeline put a question When
at length there came a pause she said abruptly
»I suppose it seems dreadful to you to see me lying here like this«
»It makes me wish I had it in my power to relieve you«
»But does it seem dreadful Could you bear to imagine yourself in the same
case I want you to tell me truthfully Im not an uneducated girl you know I
can think about life and death as people do nowadays«
Mrs Travis looked at her curiously
»I can imagine positions far worse« she answered
»That means of course that you could not bear to picture yourself in this
But its strange how one can get used to it The first year I suffered horribly
in mind I mean But then I still had hope I have none now and that keeps my
mind calmer A paradox isnt it Its always possible you know that I may
feel such a life unendurable at last and then I should hope to find a means of
bringing it to an end For instance if we become so poor that I am too great a
burden Of course I wouldnt live in a hospital I dont mean I should be too
proud but the atmosphere would be intolerable And one really neednt live
after one has decided that its no use«
»I dont know what to say about that« murmured Mrs Travis
»No you havent had the opportunity of thinking it over as I have I can
imagine myself reaching the point when I should not care to have health again
even if it were offered me I havent come to that yet oh no Tonight I am
feeling dreadfully what I have lost not like I used to but still dreadfully
Will you tell me something about yourself What kind of books do you like«
»Pretty much the same as you do I should fancy I like to know what new
things people are discovering and how the world looks to clever men But I
cant study I have no perseverance I read the reviews a good deal«
»Youd never guess the last book I have read It lies on the chest of
drawers there a treatise on all the various kinds of paralysis The word
paralysis used to have the most awful sound to me now Im so familiar with it
that it has ceased to be shocking and become interesting What I am suffering
from is called paraplegia thats when the lower half of the body is affected
it comes from injury or disease of the spinal cord The paralysis begins at the
point in the vertebral column where the injury was received But it tends to
spread upward If it gets as far as certain nerves upon which the movements of
the diaphragm depend then you die I wonder whether that will be my case«
Mrs Travis kept her eyes on the girl during this singular little lecture
she felt the fascination which is exercised by strange mental phenomena
»Do you know Italy« Madeline asked with sudden transition
»I have travelled through it like other tourists«
»You went to Naples«
»Yes«
»If I close my eyes how well I can see Naples Now I am walking through the
Villa Nazionale I come out into the Largo Vittoria where the palmtrees are
do you remember Now I might go into the Chiatamone between the high houses
but instead of that Ill turn down into Via Caracciolo and go along by the sea
till Im opposite the Castel dell Ovo Now Im turning the corner and coming on
to Santa Lucia where there are stalls with shells and ices and fish I can
smell the Santa Lucia And to think that I shall never see it again never
again Dont stay any longer now Mrs Travis I cant talk any more Thank
you for being so kind«
In a weeks time it had become a regular thing for Mrs Travis to spend an
hour or two daily with Madeline Their conversation was suitable enough to a
sickchamber yet strangely unlike what is wont to pass in such places On
Madelines side it was thoroughly morbid on that of her visitor a curious
mixture of unhealthy speculation and pure feeling Mrs Travis was at first
surprised that the suffering girl never seemed to think of ordinary religion as
a solace She herself had no fixity of faith her mind played constantly with
creeds of negation but she felt it as an unnatural thing for one of Madelines
age to profess herself wholly without guidance on so dark a journey And
presently she began to doubt whether the profession were genuine The
characteristic of the family was pretence and posing Mrs Denyer and Barbara
illustrated that every time they spoke Not impossibly Madeline did but declare
the same tendency in her rambling and quasiphilosophic talk She was fond of
warning Mrs Travis against attributing to her the common prejudices of women
And yet were it affectation then the habit must be so inextricably blended
with her nature as to have become in practice a genuine motive in the minds
working Madeline would speculate on the difference between one of her culture
in the circumstances and the woman who is a slave of tradition and a moment
after she would say something so profoundly pathetic that it brought tears to
her companions eyes
Mrs Travis never spoke of her personal affairs Madeline could supply no
food for the curiosity of her mother and sister when they questioned her about
the long private conversations The lodger received no visitors and seldom a
letter In the morning she went out for an hour generally towards the heath
occasionally she was from home until late at night About the quality of the
attendance given her she was wholly indifferent in spite of frequent
inconveniences she made her weekly payments without a word of dissatisfaction
She had a few eccentricities of behaviour which the Denyers found it difficult
to reconcile with the refinement of her ordinary conduct Once or twice when
the servant went into her sittingroom the first thing in the morning she was
surprised to find Mrs Travis lying asleep on the couch evidently just as she
had come home the previous night except that her bonnet was removed It had
happened too that when some one came and knocked at her door during the day
she vouchsafed no answer and yet made the sound of moving about as if to show
that she did not choose to be disturbed for whatever reason
The household went its regular way Mrs Denyer sat in her wonted idle dignity
or scolded the harddriven maidofallwork or quarrelled fiercely with
Barbara Barbara was sullen insolent rebellious against fate by turns Up in
the still room lay poor Madeline seldom visited by either of the two save when
it was necessary All knew that the position of things had no security before
long there must come a crisis worse than any the family had yet experienced
Unless indeed that one hope which remained to them could be realized
One afternoon at the end of July mother and daughter were sitting over
their tea lamenting the necessity which kept them in London when the eternal
fitness of things demanded that they should be preparing for travel They heard
a vehicle draw up before the house and Barbara making cautious espial from the
windows exclaimed that it was Mr Musselwhite
»He has a lot of flowers as usual« she added scornfully watching him as
he paid the cabman »Go into the back room mamma Lets say youre not at home
today Send for the teapot and get some more tea made«
There came a highbred knock at the front door and Mrs Denyer disappeared
Mr Musselwhite entered with a look and bearing much graver than usual He
made the proper remarks and gave Barbara the flowers for her sister then
seated himself and stroked his moustache
»Miss Denyer« he began when Barbara waited wearily for the familiar topic
»my brother Sir Grant died a week ago«
»I am very grieved to hear it« she replied mechanically at once absorbed
in speculation as to whether this would make any change that concerned her
»It was a long and painful illness and recovery was known to be impossible
Yet I too cannot help grieving As you know we had not seen much of each other
for some years but I had the very highest opinion of Sir Grant and it always
gave me pleasure to think of him as the head of our family He was a man of
great abilities and a kind man«
»I am sure he was from what you have told me of him«
»My nephew succeeds to the title and the estate he is now Sir Roland
Musselwhite I have mentioned him in our conversations He is about thirtyfour
a very able man and very kind very generous«
There was a distinct tremor in his voice he pulled his moustache
vigorously Barbara listened with painful eagerness
»If you will forgive me for speaking of my private circumstances Miss
Denyer I should like to tell you that for some years I have enjoyed only a very
restricted income a bachelors allowance really it amounted to nothing more
than that In consequence of that my life has been rather unsettled I scarcely
knew what to do with myself in fact now and then time has been rather heavy on
my hands You may have noticed that for I know you are observant«
He waited for her to say whether she had or had not observed this
peculiarity in him
»I have sometimes been afraid that was the case« said Barbara
»I quite thought so« He smiled with gratification »But now if I may
speak a little longer of these personal matters all that is altered and by
the very great kindness the generosity of my nephew Sir Roland Sir Roland has
seen fit to put me in possession of an income just three times what I have
hitherto commanded This does not Miss Denyer make me a wealthy man far from
it But it puts certain things within my reach that I could not think of
formerly For instance I shall be able to take a modest house either in the
country or here in one of the suburbs Its my wish to do so My one great wish
is to settle down and have something to to occupy my time«
Barbara breathed a faint approval
»You may wonder Miss Denyer why I trouble you with these details Perhaps
I might be pardoned for doing so if I spoke with with a desire for your
friendly sympathy But there is more than that in my mind The day is come Miss
Denyer when I am able to say what I would gladly have said before our parting
at Naples if it had been justifiable in me That is rather a long time ago but
the feeling I then had has only increased in the meanwhile Miss Denyer I
desire humbly to ask if you will share with me my new prosperity such as it
is«
The interview lasted an hour and a quarter Mrs Denyer panted with impatience
in the back parlour Such an extended visit could not but have unusual
significance On hearing the door of the other room open she stood up and
listened But there was no word in the passage no audible murmur
The front door closed and in two ticks of the clock Barbara came headlong
into the parlour With broken breath with hysterical laughing and sobbing she
made known what had happened It was too much for her the relief of suspense
the absolute triumph were more than she could support with decency Mrs Denyer
shed tears and embraced her daughter as if they had always been on the fondest
terms
»Go up and tell Maddy«
But as not seldom befalls happiness inspired Barbara with a delicacy of
feeling to which as a rule she was a stranger
»I dont like to mamma It seems cruel«
»But you cant help it my dear and she must know tomorrow if not today«
So before long Barbara went upstairs She entered the room softly Madeline
had her eyes fixed on the ceiling and did not move them as her sister
approached the bed
»Maddy«
Then indeed she looked at the speaker and with surprise so unwonted was
this tone on Barbaras lips Surprise was quickly succeeded by a smile
»I know Barbara I understand«
»What How can you«
»I heard a cab drive up and I heard a knock at the door Thats Mr
Musselwhite I thought He has been here a long time and now I understand You
neednt tell me«
»But theres a good deal to tell that you cant have found out quick as you
are«
And she related the circumstances Madeline listened with her eyes on the
ceiling
»We shall be married very soon« Barbara added »as soon as a house can be
chosen Of course it must be in London or very near We shall go somewhere or
other and then very likely pay a formal visit to the place in Lincolnshire
Think of that Sir Roland seems a good sort of man he will welcome us Think of
visiting at the place in Lincolnshire Isnt it all like a dream«
»What will mamma do without you«
»Oh Zillah is to come home Well see about that«
»I suppose he forgot to bring me some flowers to
»No But I declare I forgot to bring them up Ill fetch them at once«
She did so running downstairs and up again like a child with a jump at the
landings The flowers were put in the usual place Madeline looked at them and
listened to her sisters chatter for five minutes Then she said absently
»Go away now please Ive heard enough for the present«
»You shall have all sorts of comforts Maddy«
»Go away Barbara«
The sister obeyed looking back with compassion from the door She closed it
softly and in the room there was the old perfect stillness Madeline had let
her eyelids fall and the white face against the white pillows was like that of
one dead But upon the eyelashes there presently shone a tear it swelled broke
away and left a track of moisture Poor white face with the dark hair softly
shadowing its temples Poor troubled brain wearying itself in idle questioning
of powers that heeded not
Chapter V
Multum in Parvo
Elgars marriage had been a great success For a year and a half for even more
than that he had lived the fullest and most consistent life of which he was
capable what proportion of the sons of men can look back on an equal span of
time in their own existence and say the same of it
Life with Cecily gave predominance to all the noblest energies in his
nature He loved with absolute sincerity his ideal of womanhood was for the
time realized and possessed the vagrant habit of his senses seemed permanently
subdued his mind was occupied with high admirations and creative fancies in
thought and speech he was ardent generous constant hopeful A happy marriage
can do no more for man than make unshadowed revelation of such aspiring faculty
as he is endowed withal It cannot supply him with a force greater than he is
born to even as the happiest concurrence of healthful circumstances cannot give
more strength to a physical constitution than its origin warrants At this
period of his life Reuben Elgar could not have been more than with Cecilys
help he showed himself Be the future advance or retrogression he had lived
the possible life
Whose the fault that it did not continue Cecilys if it were blameworthy
to demand too much Elgars if it be wrong to learn ones own limitations
His making definite choice of a subject whereon to employ his intellect was
at one and the same time a proof of how far his development had progressed and a
warning of what lay before him However chaotic the material in which he
proposed to work however inadequate his powers it was yet a truth that could
he execute anything at all it would be something of the kind thus vaguely
contemplated His intellect was combative and no subject excited it to such
activity as this of Hebraic constraint in the modern world Elgars book
supposing him to have been capable of writing it would have resembled no other
it would have been as he justly said unique in its antidogmatic passion It
was quite in the order of things that he should propose to write it equally so
that the attempt should mark the end of his happiness
For all that she seemed to welcome the proposal with enthusiasm Cecilys
mind secretly misgave her She had begun to understand Reuben and she foresaw
with a certainty which she in vain tried to combat how soon his energy would
fail upon so great a task Impossible to admonish him impossible to direct him
on a humbler path where he might attain some result With Reubens temperament
to deal with that would mean a fatal disturbance of their relations to each
other That the disturbance must come in any case now that he was about to
prove himself she anticipated in many a troubled moment but would not let the
forecast discourage her
Elgar knew how his failure in perseverance affected her he looked for the
signs of her disappointment and was at no loss to find them It was natural to
him to exaggerate the diminution of her esteem he attributed to her what in
her place he would himself have felt he soon imagined that she had as good as
ceased to love him He could not bear to be less in her eyes than formerly a
jealous shame stung him and at length made him almost bitter against her
In this way came about his extraordinary outbreak that night when Cecily had
been alone to her aunts Pentup irritation drove him into the extravagances
which to Cecily were at first incredible He could not utter what was really in
his mind and the charges he made against her were modes of relieving himself
Yet as soon as they had once taken shape these rebukes obtained a real
significance of their own Coincident with Cecilys disappointment in him had
been the sudden exhibition of her pleasure in society Under other
circumstances his wifes brilliancy among strangers might have been pleasurable
to Elgar His faith in her was perfect and jealousy of the ignobler kind came
not near him But he felt that she was taking refuge from the dulness of her
home he imagined people speaking of him as the husband of Mrs Elgar it
exasperated him to think of her talking with clever men who must necessarily
suggest comparisons to her
He himself was not the kind of man who shines in company He had never been
trained to social usages and he could not feel at ease in any drawingroom but
his own The Bohemianism of his early life had even given him a positive
distaste for social obligations and formalities Among men of his own way of
thinking he could talk vigorously and as a rule keep the lead in conversation
but where restraint in phrase was needful he easily became flaccid and the
feeling that he did not show to advantage filled him with disgust So there was
little chance of his ever winning that sort of reputation which would have
enabled him to accompany his wife into society without the galling sense of
playing an inferior rôle
In the matter of Mrs Travis he was conscious of his own arbitrariness
but having once committed himself to a point of view he could not withdraw
from it He had to find fault with his wife and her society and here was an
obvious resource Its very obviousness should of course have warned him away
but his reason for attacking Mrs Travis had an intimate connection with the
general causes of his discontent Disguise it how he might he was simply in the
position of a husband who fears that his authority over his wife is weakening
Mrs Travis as he knew was a rebel against her own husband no matter the
cause She would fill Cecilys mind with sympathetic indignation the effect
would be to make Cecily more resolute in independence Added to this there was
in truth something of that conflict between theoretical and practical morality
of which his wife spoke It developed in the course of argument he recognized
that whilst having all confidence in Cecily he could not reconcile himself to
her associating with a woman whose conduct was under discussion The more he
felt his inconsistency the more arbitrary he was compelled to be Motives
confused themselves and harassed him In his present mood the danger of such a
state of things was greater than he knew and of quite another kind than Cecily
was prepared for
»What is all this about Mrs Travis« inquired Mrs Lessingham with a smile
when she came to visit Cecily Reuben was out and the ladies sat alone in the
drawingroom
Cecily explained what had happened but in simple terms and without meaning
to show that any difference of opinion had arisen between her and Reuben
»You have heard of it from Mrs Travis herself« she asked in conclusion
»Yes She expressed no resentment however spoke as if she thought it a
little odd that was all But what has Reuben got into his head«
»It seems he has heard unpleasant rumours about her«
»Then why didnt he come and speak to me She is absolutely blameless I can
answer for it Her husband is the kind of man Did you ever read Fieldings
Amelia To be sure well you understand I much doubt whether she is wise in
leaving him ten to one shell go back again and that is more demoralizing
than putting up with the other indignity She has a very small income of her
own and what is her life to be Surely you are the last people who should
abandon her That is the kind of thing that makes such a woman desperate She
seems to have made a sort of appeal to you I am but moderately in her
confidence and I believe she hasnt one bosom friend Its most fortunate that
Reuben took such a whim Send him to me will you«
Cecily made known this request to her husband and there followed another
long dialogue between them the only result of which was to increase their
mutual coldness Cecily proposed that they should at once leave town instead of
waiting for the end of the season in this way all their difficulties would be
obviated Elgar declined the proposal he had no desire to spoil her social
pleasures
»That is already done past help« Cecily rejoined with the first note of
bitterness »I no longer care to visit nor to receive guests«
»I noticed the other day your ingenuity in revenging yourself«
»I say nothing but the simple truth Had you rather I went out and enjoyed
myself without any reference to your wishes«
»From the first you made up your mind to misunderstand me« said Reuben
with the common evasion of one who cannot defend his course
Cecily brought the dispute to an end by her silence The next morning Reuben
went to see Mrs Lessingham and heard what she had to say about Mrs Travis
»What is your evidence against her« she inquired after a little banter
»Some one who knows Travis very well assured me that the fault was not all
on his side«
»Of course It is more to the point to hear what those have to say who know
his wife Surely you acted with extraordinary haste«
With characteristic weakness Elgar defended himself by detailing the course
of events It was not he who had been precipitate but Cecily he was never more
annoyed than when he heard of that foolish letter
»Go home and persuade her to write another« said Mrs Lessingham »Let her
confess that there was a misunderstanding I am sure Mrs Travis will accept it
She has a curious character very sensitive and very impulsive but essentially
trustful and warmhearted You should have heard the pathetic surprise with
which she told me of Cecilys letter«
»I should rather have imagined her speaking contemptuously«
»It would have been excusable« replied the other with a laugh »And very
likely that would have been her tone had it concerned any one else But she has
a liking for Cecily Go home and get this foolish mistake remedied theres a
good boy«
Elgar left the house and walked eastward into Praed Street As he walked
he grew less and less inclined to go home at once He could not resolve how to
act It would be a satisfaction to have done with discord but he had no mind to
submit to Cecily and entreat her to a peace
He walked on across Edgware Road into Marylebone Road absorbed in his
thoughts Their complexion became darker He found a perverse satisfaction in
picturing Cecilys unhappiness Let her suffer a little she was causing him
uneasiness enough The probability was that she derided his recent behaviour it
had doubtless sunk him still more in her estimation The only way to recover his
lost ground was to be as open with her as formerly to confess all his
weaknesses and foolish motives but his will resisted He felt coldly towards
her she was no longer the woman he loved and worshipped but one who had
asserted a superiority of mind and character and belittled him to himself He
was tired of her society the simple formula which sufficiently explains so
many domestic troubles
He would have lunch somewhere in town then see whether he felt disposed to
go home or not
In the afternoon he loitered about the Strand looking at portraits in
shopwindows and at the theatredoors Home was more instead of less repugnant
to him He wanted to postpone decision but if he returned to Cecily it would
be necessary to say something and in his present mood he would be sure to make
matters worse for he felt quarrelsome How absurd it was for two people just
because they were married to live perpetually within sight of each other
Wasnt it Godwin who on marrying made an arrangement that he and his wife
should inhabit separate abodes and be together only when they wished The only
rational plan that Should he take train and go out of town for a few days If
only he had some one for company but it was wearisome to spend the time in
solitude
To aggravate his dulness the sky had clouded over and presently it began
to rain He had no umbrella Quite unable to determine whither he should go if
he took a cab he turned aside to the shelter of an archway Some one was
already standing there but in his abstraction he did not know whether it was
man or woman until a little cough twice or thrice repeated made him turn his
eyes Then he saw that his companion was a girl of about fiveandtwenty with a
pretty goodnatured face which wore an embarrassed smile He gazed at her with
a look of surprised recognition
»Well it really is you« she exclaimed laughing and looking down
»And it is really you«
They shook hands again examining each other
»I thought you didnt mean to know me«
»I hadnt once looked at you But you have changed a good deal«
»Not more than you have Im sure«
»And what are you doing You look much more cheerful than you used to«
»I cant say the same of you«
»Have you been in London all the time«
»Oh no Two years ago I went back to Liverpool and had a place there for
nearly six months But I got tired of it In a few days Im going to Brighton
Ive got a place in a restaurant Quite time too Ive had nothing for seven
weeks«
»Ive often thought about you« said Elgar after a pause
»But you never came to see how I was getting on«
»Oh I supposed you were married long since«
She laughed and shook her head
»You are though I suppose« she asked
»Not I«
They talked with increasing friendliness until the rain stopped then walked
away together in the direction of the City
About dinnertime Cecily received a telegram It was from her husband and
informed her that he had left town with a friend for a day or two
This was the first instance of such a proceeding on Reubens part For a
moment it astonished her Which of his friends could it be But when the
surprise had passed she reflected more on his reasons for absenting himself
and believed that she understood them He wished to punish her he thought she
would be anxious about him and so come to adopt a different demeanour when he
returned Ever so slight a suspicion of another kind occurred to her once or
twice but she had no difficulty in dismissing it No this was merely one of
his tactics in the conflict that had begun between them
And his absence was a relief She too wanted to think for a while
undisturbed When she had seen the child in bed and asleep she moved about the
house with a strange sense of freedom seeming to breathe more naturally than
for several days She went to the piano and played some favourite pieces among
them one which she had learnt long ago in Paris It gave her a curiously keen
pleasure like a revival of her girlhood she lingered over it and nursed the
impression Then she read a little not continuously but dipping into familiar
books It was holiday with her And when she lay down to rest the sense of
being alone was still grateful Sleep came very soon and she did not stir till
morning
On the third day Elgar returned at noon She heard the cab that brought
him He lingered in the hall opened the library door then came to the
drawingroom humming an air His look was as different as could be from that
she had last seen on his face he came towards her with his pleasantest smile
and first kissed her hand then embraced her in the old way
»You havent been anxious about me Ciss«
»Not at all« she replied quietly rather permitting his caresses than
encouraging them
»Some one I hadnt met for several years He was going down to Brighton and
persuaded me to accompany him I didnt write because well I thought it would
be better if we kept quite apart for a day or two Things were getting wrong
werent they«
»Im afraid so But how are they improved«
»Why I had a talk with your aunt about Mrs Travis I quite believe I was
misled by that fellow that talked scandal She seems very much to be pitied and
Im really sorry that I caused you to break with her«
Cecily watched him as he spoke and he avoided her eyes He was holding her
hands and fondling them now he bent and put them to his lips She said nothing
»Suppose you write to her Ciss and say that I made a fool of myself
Youre quite at liberty to do so Tell her exactly how it was and ask her to
forgive us«
She did not answer immediately
»Will you do that«
»I feel ashamed to I know very well how I should receive such a letter«
»Oh you But every one hasnt your superb arrogance« He laughed »And its
hard to imagine you in such a situation«
»I hope so«
»Aunt tells me that the poor woman has very few friends«
»Its very unlikely that she will ever make one of me I dont see how it is
possible after this«
»But write the letter just to make things simpler if you meet anywhere As
a piece of justice too«
Not that day but the following Cecily decided herself to write She could
only frame her excuse in the way Reuben had suggested necessarily the blame lay
on him The composition cost her a long time though it was only two pages of
notepaper and when it was despatched she could not think without hot cheeks
of its recipient reading it She did not greatly care for Mrs Traviss
intimacy but she did desire to remove from herself the imputation of
censoriousness
There came an answer in a day or two
»I was surprised that you or Mr Elgar should so readily believe ill of
me but I am accustomed to such judgments and no longer resent them A wife is
always in the wrong when a woman marries she should prepare herself for this
Or rather her friends should prepare her as she has always been kept in
celestial ignorance by their care Pray let us forget what has happened I wont
renew my request to be allowed to visit you if that is to be it will somehow
come to pass naturally in the course of time If we meet at Mrs Lessinghams
please let us speak not a word of this affair I hate scenes«
In a weeks time the Elgars life had resumed the course it held before that
interruption with the exception that Reuben as often as it was possible
avoided accompanying his wife when she went from home His own engagements
multiplied and twice before the end of July he spent Saturday and Sunday out of
town Cecily made no close inquiries concerning his employment of his time on
their meeting again he always gave her an account of what he had been doing
and she readily accepted it For she had now abandoned all hope of his doing
serious work she never spoke a word which hinted regret at his mode of life
They were on placid terms and she had no such faith in anything better as would
justify her in endangering the recovered calm
It became necessary at length to discuss what they should do with themselves
during the autumn Mrs Lessingham was going with friends to the Pyrenees The
Delphs would take a short holiday in Sussex Irene could not spare much time
from her work
»I dont care to be away long myself« Reuben said when Cecily mentioned
this »I feel as if I should be able to get on with my Puritanic pursuits again
when we return«
Cecily looked at him to see if he spoke in earnest In spite of his jesting
tone he seemed to be serious for he was pacing the floor his head bent as if
in meditation
»Make your own plans« was her reply »But we wont go into Cornwall I
think«
»No not this year«
They spent a month at Eastbourne Some agreeable people whom they were
accustomed to meet at Mrs Lessinghams had a house there and supplied them
with society Towards the end of the month Reuben grew restless and uncertain
of temper he wandered on the downs by himself and when at home kept silence
The child too was constantly ailing and its cry irritated him
»The fact of the matter is« he exclaimed one evening »I dont feel
altogether well I ought to have had more change than this If I go back and
settle to work I shall break down«
»What kind of change do you wish for« Cecily asked
»I should have liked to take a ramble in Germany or Norway some new part
But nothing of that is possible Clarence makes slaves of us«
Cecily reflected
»Theres no reason why he should hinder you from going«
»Oh I cant leave you alone« he returned impatiently
»I think you might for a few weeks if you feel it necessary I dont
think Clarence ought to leave the seaside till the middle of September The
Robinsons will be here still you know«
He muttered and grumbled but in the end proposed that he should go over by
one of the Harwich boats and take what course happened to attract him Cecily
assented and in a few hours he was ready to bid her goodbye She had said that
it wasnt worth while going with him to the station and when he gave her the
kiss at starting she kept perfectly tranquil
»Youre not sorry to get rid of me« he said with a forced laugh
»I dont wish you to stay at the expense of your health«
»I hope Clarence maynt damage yours These sleepless nights are telling on
you«
»Go Youll miss the train«
He looked back from the door but Cecily had turned away
He was absent for more than six weeks during which he wrote frequently from
various outoftheway places on the Rhine On returning he found Cecily in
London very anxious about the child and herself looking very ill He on the
other hand was robust and in excellent spirits in a day or two he began to go
regularly to the British Museum to say at all events that he went there And
so time passed to the years end
One night in January Reuben went to the theatre He left Cecily sitting in
the bedroom by the fireside with Clarence on her lap For several weeks the
child had been so ill that Cecily seldom quitted it
Three hours later she was sitting in the same position still bent forward
the child still on her lap But no movement no cry ever claimed her attention
Tears had stained her face but they no longer fell Holding a waxen little hand
that would never again caress her she gazed at the dying fire as though
striving to read her destiny
Chapter VI
At Pæstum
The English artist had finished his work and the dirty little inn at Pæstum
would today lose its solitary guest
This morning he rose much later than usual and strolled out idly into the
spring sunshine a rug thrown over his shoulder Often plucking a flower or a
leaf and seeming to examine it with close thoughtfulness he made a long
circuit by the old walls now and then he paused to take a view of the temples
always with eye of grave meditation At one elevated point he stood for several
minutes looking along the road to Salerno
March rains had brought the vegetation into luxurious life fern acanthus
brambles and all the densely intermingled growths that cover the ground about
the ruins spread forth their innumerable tints of green Between shore and
mountains the wide plain smiled in its desolation
At length he went up into the Temple of Neptune spread the rug on a spot
where he had been accustomed each day at noon to eat his salame and drink his
Calabrian wine and seated himself against a column Here he could enjoy a view
from both ends of the ruin In the one direction it was only a narrow strip of
sea with the barren coast below and the cloudless sky above it in the other
a purple valley rising far away on the flank of the Apennines both pictures
set between Doric pillars He lit a cigar and with a smile of contented thought
abandoned himself to the delicious warmth the restful silence Within reach of
his hand was a fern that had shot up between the massive stones he gently
caressed its fronds as though it were a sentient creature Or his eyes dwelt
upon the huge column just in front of him now scanning its superb proportions
now enjoying the hue of the sunnygolden travertine now observing the myriad
crevices of its timeeaten surface the petrified forms of vegetable growth the
little pink snails that housed within its chinks
It was not an artistic impulse only that had brought Mallard to Italy after
three years of work under northern skies He wished to convince himself that his
freedom was proof against memories revived on the very ground where he had
suffered so intensely He had put aside repeated invitations from the Spences
because of the doubt whether he could trust himself within sight of the
Mediterranean Liberty from oppressive thought he had long recovered the old
zeal for labour was so strong in him that he found it difficult to imagine the
mood in which he had bidden goodbye to his lifes purposes But there was
always the danger lest that witch of the south should again overcome his will
and lull him into impotence of vain regret For such a long time he had believed
that Italy was for ever closed against him that the old delights were
henceforth converted into a pain which memory must avoid At length he resolved
to answer his friends summons and meet them on their return from Sicily They
had wished to have him with them in Greece but always his departure was
postponed habits of solitude and characteristic diffidence kept him aloof as
long as possible
Evidently his health was sound enough He had loitered about the familiar
places in Naples he took the road by Pompeii to Sorrento and over the hills to
Amalfi and at each step he could smile with contemptuous pity for the self
which he had outlived More than that When he came hither three years ago it
was with the intention of doing certain definite work this purpose he now at
last fulfilled thus completing his revenge upon the bygone obstacles and
reinstating himself in his own good opinion as a man who did that which he set
himself to do At Amalfi he had made a number of studies which would be useful
at Pæstum he had worked towards a picture such a one as had from the first been
in his mind Yes he was a sound man once more
Tempestuous love is for boys who have still to know themselves and for
poets who can turn their suffering into song But to him it meant only
hindrance Because he had been a prey to frantic desires did he look upon
earths beauty with a clearer eye or was his hand endowed with subtler craft
He saw no reason to suppose it The misery of those first months of northern
exile his battling with fierce winds on sea and moorland and mountain his
grim vigils under stormy stars had it given him new strength Of body
perhaps otherwise he might have spent the time with decidedly more of
satisfaction and profit
Let it be accepted as one of the unavoidable ills of humanity something
that has to be gone through like measles But it had come disagreeably late No
doubt he had to thank the monastic habits of his life that it assailed him with
such violence That he had endured it therein lay the happy assurance that it
would not again trouble him
If it be true that love ever has it in its power to make or mar a man this
love that he had experienced was assuredly not of such quality From the first
his reason had opposed it and now that it was all over he tried to rejoice at
the circumstances which had made his desire vain Herein he went a little beyond
sincerity yet there were arguments which at all events fortified his wish to
see that everything was well It was not mere perversity that in the beginning
had warned him against thinking of Cecily as a possible wife for him Had she
betrayed the least inclination to love him such considerations would have gone
to the winds he would have called the gods to witness that the one perfect
woman on the earth was his But the fact of her passionate selfsurrender to
Reuben Elgar did it not prove that the possibilities of her nature were quite
other than those which could have assured his happiness To be sure so young a
girl is liable to wretched errors but of that he would take no account
against that he resolutely closed his mind From Edward Spence he heard that she
was delighting herself and others in a London season Precisely this justified
his forethought for this she was adapted But as his wife nothing of the kind
would have been within her scope He knew himself too well His notion of
married life was inconsistent with that kind of pleasure As his wife perhaps
she would have had no desire save to fit herself to him Possibly but that
again was a reflection not to be admitted He had only to deal with facts
Sufficient that he could think of her without a pang that he could even hope to
meet her again before long And best of lla no ungenerous feeling ever tempted
him to wish her anything but wholly happy
Stretched lazily in the Temple of Neptune he once or twice looked at his
watch as though the hour in some way concerned him How it did was at length
shown He heard voices approaching and had just time to rise to his feet before
there appeared figures rising between the columns of the entrance against the
background of hills He moved forward a bright smile on his face The arrivals
were Edward Spence with his wife and Mrs Baske
All undemonstrative people they shook hands much as if they bad parted only
a week ago
»Done your work« asked Spence laying his palm on one of the pillars with
affectionate greeting
»All I can do here«
»Can we see it« Eleanor inquired
»Ive packed it for travelling«
Mallard took the first opportunity of looking with scrutiny at Mrs Baske
Alone of the three she was changed noticeably Her health had so much improved
that if anything she looked younger certainly her face had more distinct
beauty Reserve and conscious dignity were still its characteristics these
were inseparable from the mould of feature but her eyes no longer had the
somewhat sullen gleam which had been wont to harm her aspect and when she
smiled it was without the hint of disdainful reticence Yet the smile was not
frequent her lips had an habitual melancholy and very often she knitted her
brows in an expression of troubled thought Whilst the others were talking with
Mallard she kept slightly in the rear and seemed to be occupied in examining
the different parts of the temple
In attire she was transformed No suggestion now of the lady from provincial
England She was very well because most fittingly dressed neither too
youthfully nor with undue disregard of the fact that she was still young a
travellingcostume apt to the season and the country
»They speak much of Signor Mallard at the osteria« said Spence »Your
departure afflicts them naturally no doubt Do you know whether any other
Englishman ever braved that accommodation«
A country lad appeared carrying a small hamper wherein the party had
brought their midday meal from Salerno
»Why did you trouble« said Mallard »We have cheese and salame in
abundance«
»So I supposed« Spence replied drily »I recall the quality of both Also
the vino di Calabria which is villanously sweet Show us what point of view you
chose«
For an hour they walked and talked Miriam alone was almost silent but she
paid constant attention to the ruins Mallard heard her say something to Eleanor
about the difference between the columns of the middle temple and those of the
socalled Basilica three years ago such a remark would have been impossible on
her lips and when he glanced at her with curiosity she seemed conscious of his
look
They at length opened the hamper and seated themselves near the spot where
Mallard had been reclining
»Theres a smack of profanity in this« said Spence »The least we can do is
to pour a libation to Poseidon before we begin the meal«
And he did so filling a tumbler with wine and solemnly emptying half of it
on to the floor of the cella Mallard watched the effect on Mrs Baske she met
his look for an instant and smiled then relapsed into thoughtfulness
The only other visitors today were a couple of Germans who looked like
artists and went about in enthusiastic talk one kept dealing the other severe
blows on the chest which occasionally made the recipient stagger all in pure
joy and friendship They measured some of the columns and in one place for a
special piece of observation the smaller man mounted on his companions
shoulders Miriam happened to see them whilst they were thus posed and the
spectacle struck her with such ludicrous effect that she turned away to disguise
sudden laughter In doing so she by chance faced Mallard and he too began to
laugh For the first time since they had been acquainted they looked into each
others eyes with frank hearty merriment Miriam speedily controlled herself
and there came a flush to her cheeks
»You may laugh« said Spence observing them »but when did you see two
Englishmen abroad who did themselves so much honour«
»True enough« replied Mallard »One supposes that Englishmen with brains
are occasionally to be found in Italy but I dont know where they hide
themselves«
»You will meet one in Rome in a few days« remarked Eleanor »if you go on
with us as I hope you intend to«
»Yes I shall go with you to Rome Who is the man«
»Mr Seaborne your most reverent admirer«
»Ah I should like to know the fellow«
Miriam looked at him and smiled
»You know Mr Seaborne« he inquired of her abruptly
»He was with us a fortnight in Athens«
As they were idling about after their lunch Mallard kept near to Miriam
but without speaking He saw her stoop to pick up a piece of stone presently
another She glanced at him
»Bits of Pæstum« he said smiling »perhaps of Poseidonia Look at the
field over there where the oxen are they have walled it in with fragments dug
up out of the earth the remnants of a city«
She just bent her head in sign of sympathy A minute or two after she held
out to him the two stones she had taken up
»How cold one is and how warm the other«
One was marble one travertine Mallard held them for a moment and smiled
assent then gave them back to her She threw them away
When it was time to think of departure they went to the inn Mallards
baggage was brought out and put into the carriage They drove across the silent
plain towards Salerno In a pause of his conversation with Spence Mallard drew
Miriams attention to the unfamiliar shape of Capri as seen from this side of
the Sorrento promontory She looked and murmured an affirmative
»You have been to Amalfi« he asked
»Yes we went last year«
»I hope you hadnt such a day as your brother and I spent there incessant
pouring rain«
»No we had perfect weather«
At Salerno they caught a train which enabled them to reach Naples late in
the evening Mallard accompanied his friends to their hotel and dined with
them As he and Spence were smoking together afterwards the latter communicated
some news which he had reserved for privacy
»Bythebye we hear that Cecily and her aunt are at Florence and are
coming to Rome next week«
»Elgar with them« Mallard asked with nothing more than friendly interest
»No They say he is so hard at work that he couldnt leave London«
»What work«
»The same I told you of last year«
Mallard regarded him with curious inquiry
»His wife travels for her health«
»She seems to be all right again but Mrs Lessingham judged that a change
was necessary Wont you use the opportunity of meeting her«
»As it comes naturally theres no reason why I shouldnt In fact I shall
be glad to see her But I should have preferred to meet them both together What
faith do you put in this same work of Elgars«
»That he is working I take it there can be no doubt and I await the
results with no little curiosity Mrs Lessingham writes vaguely which
bythebye is not her habit Whether she is a believer or not we cant
determine«
»Did the childs death affect him much«
»I know nothing about it«
They smoked in silence for a few minutes Then Mallard observed without
taking the cigar from his lips
»How much better Mrs Baske looks«
»Naturally the change is more noticeable to you than to us It has come very
slowly I dare say you see other changes as well«
Spences eye twinkled as he spoke
»I was prepared for them That she should stay abroad with you all this time
is in itself significant Where does she propose to live when you are back in
England«
»Why there hasnt been a word said on the subject Eleanor is waiting
doesnt like to ask questions We shall have our house in Chelsea again and she
is very welcome to share it with us if she likes I think it is certain she
wont go back to Lancashire and the notion of her living with the Elgars is
improbable«
»How far does the change go« inquired Mallard with hesitancy
»I cant tell you for we are neither of us in her confidence But she is no
longer a precisian She has read a great deal most of it reading of a very
substantial kind Not at all connected with religion it would be a mistake to
suppose that she has been going in for a course of modern criticism and that
kind of thing The Greek and Latin authors she knows very fairly in English or
French translations What would our friend Bradshaw say She has grappled with
whole libraries of solid historians She knows the Italian poets Really no
common case of a woman educating herself at that age«
»Would you mind telling me what her age is«
»Twentyseven last February Today she has been mute generally when we
are in interesting places she rather likes to show her knowledge of course we
encourage her to do so A blessed form of vanity compared with certain things
one remembers«
»She looks as if she had by no means conquered peace of mind« observed
Mallard after another silence
»I dont suppose she has I dont even know whether shes on the way to it«
»How about the chapel at Bartles«
Spence shook his head and laughed and the dialogue came to an end
The next morning all started for Rome
Chapter VII
Learning and Teaching
Easter was just gone by The Spences had timed their arrival in Rome so as to be
able to spend a few days with certain friends undisturbed by bellclanging and
the rush of trippers before at length returning to England Their hotel was in
the Babuino Mallard who was uncertain about his movements during the next
month or two went to quarters with which he was familiar in the Via Bocca di
Leone He brought his Pæstum picture to the hotel but declined to leave it
there Mallard was deficient in those properties of the showman which are so
necessary to an artist if he would make his work widely known and sell it for
substantial sums he hated anything like private exhibition and dreaded an
offer to purchase from any one who had come in contact with him by way of
friendly introduction
»Im not satisfied with it now I come to look at it again Its nothing but
a rough sketch«
»But Seaborne will be here this afternoon« urged Spence »He will be
grateful if you let him see it«
»If he cares to come to my room he shall«
Miriam made no remark on the picture but kept looking at it as long as it
was uncovered The temples stood in the light of early morning a wonderful
indescribable light perfectly true and rendered with great skill
»Is it likely to be soon sold« she asked when the artist had gone off with
his canvas
»As likely as not hell keep it by him for a year or two till he hates it
for a few faults that no one else can perceive or be taught to understand« was
Mr Spences reply »I wish I could somehow become possessed of it But if I
hinted such a wish he would insist on my taking it as a present An
impracticable fellow Mallard He suspects I want to sell it for him thats why
he wont leave it And if Seaborne goes to his room ten to one hell be
received with growls of surly independence«
This Mr Seaborne was a man of letters Spence had made his acquaintance in
Rome a year ago they conversed casually in Piales readingroom and Seaborne
happened to say that the one English landscapepainter who strongly interested
him was a littleknown man Ross Mallard His own work was mostly anonymous he
wrote for one of the quarterlies and one of the weekly reviews He was a little
younger than Mallard whom in certain respects he resembled he had much the
same way of speaking the same reticence with regard to his own doings even a
slight similarity of feature and his life seemed to be rather a lonely one
When the two met they behaved precisely as Spence predicted they would
with reserve almost with coldness For all that Seaborne paid a visit to the
artists room and in a couple of hours talk they arrived at a fair degree of
mutual understanding The next day they smoked together in an odd abode occupied
by the literary man near Porto di Ripetta and thenceforth were good friends
The morning after that Mallard went early to the Vatican He ascended the
Scala Regia and knocked at the little red door over which is written »Cappella
Sistina« On entering he observed only a gentleman and a young girl who stood
in the middle of the floor consulting their guidebook but when he had taken a
few steps forward he saw a lady come from the far end and seat herself to look
at the ceiling through an operaglass It was Mrs Baske and he approached
whilst she was still intent on the frescoes The pausing of his footstep close
to her caused her to put down the glass and regard him Mallard noticed the
sudden change from cold remoteness of countenance to pleased recognition The
brightening in her eyes was only for a moment then she smiled in her usual
halfabsent way and received him formally
»You are not alone« he said taking a place by her as she resumed her seat
»Yes I have come alone« And after a pause she added »We dont think it
necessary always to keep together That would become burdensome I often leave
them and go to places by myself«
Her look was still turned upwards Mallard followed its direction
»Which of the Sibyls is your favourite« he asked
At once she indicated the Delphic but without speaking
»Mine too«
Both fixed their eyes upon the figure and were silent
»You have been here very often« were Mallards next words
»Last year very often«
»From genuine love of it or a sense of duty« he asked examining her face
She considered before replying
»Not only from a sense of duty though of course I have felt that I dont
love anything of Michael Angelos but I am compelled to look and study I came
here this morning only to refresh my memory of one of those faces« she pointed
to the lower part of the Last Judgment »and yet the face is dreadful to me«
She found that he was smiling and abruptly she added the question
»Do you love that picture«
»Why no but I often delight in it I wouldnt have it always before me
for that matter no more would I have the things that I love A great work of
art may be painful at all times and sometimes unendurable«
»I have learnt to understand that« she said with something of humility
which came upon Mallard as new and agreeable »But it is not long since that
scene represented a reality to me I think I shall never see it as you do«
Mallard wished to look at her but did not
»I have sometimes been repelled by a feeling of the same kind« he answered
»Not that I myself ever thought of it as a reality but I have felt angry and
miserable in remembering that a great part of the world does You see the pretty
girl there with her father I noticed her awed face as I passed and heard a
word or two of the mans which told me that from them there was no question of
art Poor child I should have liked to pat her hand and tell her to be good
and have no fear«
»Did Michael Angelo believe it« Miriam asked diffidently when she had
glanced with anxious eyes at the pair of whom he spoke
»I suppose so And yet I am far from sure What about Dante Havent you
sometimes stumbled over his grave assurances that this and that did really
befall him Putting aside the feeble notion that he was a deluded visionary how
does one reconcile the artists management of his poem with the Christians
stern faith In any case he was more poet than Christian when he wrote Milton
makes no such claims he merely prays for the enlightenment of his imagination«
Miriam turned from the great fresco and again gazed at the Sibyls and
Prophets
»Do the Stanze interest you« was Mallards next question
»Very little I am sorry to say They soon weary me«
»And the Loggia«
»I never paid much attention to it«
»That surprises me Those little pictures are my favourites of all Raphaels
work For those and the Psyche I would give everything else«
Miriam looked at him inquiringly
»Are you again thinking of the subjects« he asked
»Yes I cant help it I have avoided them because I knew how impossible it
was for me to judge them only as art«
»Then you have the same difficulty with nearly all Italian pictures«
She hesitated but without turning her eyes to him said at length
»I cant easily explain to you the distinction there is for me between the
Old Testament and the New I was taught almost exclusively out of the Old at
least it seems so to me I have had to study the New for myself and it helps
rather than hinders my enjoyment of pictures taken from it The religion of my
childhood was one of bitterness and violence and arbitrary judgment and hatred«
»Ah but there is quite another side to the Old Testament those parts of
it at all events that are illustrated up in the Loggia Will you come up there
with me«
She rose without speaking They left the chapel and ascended the stairs
»You are not under the impression« he said with a smile as they walked
side by side »that the Old Testament is responsible for those horrors we have
just been speaking of«
»They are in that spirit My reading of the New omits everything of the
kind«
»So does mine But we have no justification«
»We can select what is useful to us and reject what does harm«
»Yes but then «
He did not finish the sentence and they went into the pictured Loggia
Here choosing out his favourites Mallard endeavoured to explain all his joy in
them He showed her how it was Hebrew history made into a series of exquisite
and touching legends he dwelt on the sweet idyllic treatment the lovely
landscape the tender idealism throughout the perfect adaptedness of gemlike
colouring
Miriam endeavoured to see with his eyes but did not pretend to be wholly
successful The very names were discordant to her ear
»I will buy some photographs of them to take away« she said
»Dont do that they are useless Colour and design are here inseparable«
They stayed not more than half an hour then left the Vatican together and
walked to the front of St Peters in silence Mallard looked at his watch
»You are going back to the hotel«
»I suppose so«
»Shall I call one of those carriages I am going to have a walk on to the
Janiculum«
She glanced at the sky
»There will be a fine view today«
»You wouldnt care to come so far«
»Yes I should enjoy the walk«
»To walk It would tire you too much«
»Oh no« replied Miriam looking away and smiling »You mustnt think I am
what I was that winter at Naples I can walk a good many miles and only feel
better for it«
Her tone amused him for it became something like that of a child in
selfdefence when accused of some childlike incapacity
»Then let us go by all means«
They turned into the Borgo San Spirito and then went by the quiet Longara
Mallard soon found that it was necessary to moderate his swinging stride He was
not in the habit of walking with ladies and he felt ashamed of himself when a
glance told him that his companion was put to overmuch exertion The glance led
him to observe Miriams gait its grace and refinement gave him a sudden
sensation of keen pleasure He thought without wishing to do so of Cecily her
matchless maidenly charm in movement was something of quite another kind Mrs
Baske trod the common earth yet with it seemed to him a dignity that
distinguished her from ordinary women
There had been silence for a long time They were alike in the custom of
forgetting what had last been said or how long since
»Do you care for sculpture« Mallard asked led to the inquiry by his
thoughts of form and motion
»Yes but not so much as for painting«
He noticed a reluctance in her voice and for a moment was quite unconscious
of the reason for it But reflection quickly explained her slight embarrassment
»Edward makes it one of his chief studies« she added at once looking
straight before her »He has told me what to read about it«
Mallard let the subject fall But presently they passed a yoke of oxen
drawing a cart and as he paused to look at them he said
»Dont you like to watch those animals I can never be near them without
stopping Look at their grand heads their horns their majestic movement They
always remind me of the antique of splendid power fixed in marble These are
the kind of oxen that Homer saw and Virgil«
Miriam gazed but said nothing
»Does your silence mean that you cant sympathize with me«
»No It means that you have given me a new way of looking at a thing and I
have to think«
She paused then with a curious inflection of her voice as though she were
not quite certain of the tone she wished to strike whether playful or
sarcastic
»You wouldnt prefer me to make an exclamation«
He laughed
»Decidedly not If you were accustomed to do so I should not be expressing
my serious thoughts«
The pleasant mood continued with him and a smile still on his face he
asked presently
»Do you remember telling me that you thought I was wasting my life on
futilities«
Miriam flushed and for an instant he thought he had offended her But her
reply corrected this impression
»You admitted I think that there was much to be said for my view«
»Did I Well so there is But the same conviction may be reached by very
different paths If we agreed in that one result I fancy it was the sole and
singular point of concord«
Miriam inquired diffidently
»Do you still think of most things just as you did then«
»Of most things yes«
»You have found no firmer hope in which to work«
»Hope I am not sure that I understand you«
He looked her in the face and she said hurriedly
»Are you still as far as ever from satisfying yourself Does your work bring
you nothing but a comparative satisfaction«
»I am conscious of having progressed an inch or two on the way of infinity«
Mallard replied »That brings me no nearer to an end«
»But you have a purpose you follow it steadily It is much to be able to
say that«
»Do you mean it for consolation«
»Not in any sense that you need resent« Miriam gave answer a little
coldly
»I felt no resentment But I should like to know what sanction of a lifes
effort you look for now We talked once perhaps you remember of one kind of
work being higher than another How do you think now on that subject«
She made delay before saying
»It is long since I thought of it at all I have been too busy learning the
simplest things to trouble about the most difficult«
»To learn then has been your object all this time Let me question you in
turn Do you find it allsufficient«
»No because I have begun too late I am doing now what I ought to have done
when I was a girl and I have always the feeling of being behindhand«
»But the object in itself quite apart from your progress Is it enough to
study a variety of things and feel that you make some progress towards a
possible ideal of education Does this suffice to your life«
She answered confusedly
»I cant know yet I cant see before me clearly enough«
Mallard was on the point of pressing the question but he refrained and
shaped his thought in a different way
»Do you think of remaining in England«
»Probably I shall«
»You will return to your home in Lancashire«
»I havent yet determined« she replied formally
The dialogue seemed to be at an end Unobservant of each other they reached
the Via Crucis which leads up to S Pietro in Montorio Arrived at the terrace
they stood to look down on Rome
»After all you are tired« said Mallard when he had glanced at her
»Indeed I am not«
»But you are hungry We have been forgetting that it is luncheontime«
»I pay little attention to such hours One can always get something to eat«
»Its all very well for people like myself to talk in that way« said
Mallard with a smile »but women have orderly habits of life«
»For which you a little despise them« she returned with grave face fixed
on the landscape
»Certainly not Its only that I regard their life as wholly different from
my own Since I was a boy I have known nothing of domestic regularity«
»You sometimes visit your relatives«
»Yes But their life cannot be mine It is domestic in such a degree that it
only serves to remind me how far apart I am«
»Do you hold that an artist cannot live like other people in the habits of
home«
»I think such habits are a danger to him He may find a home if fate is
exceptionally kind«
Pointing northwards to a ridged hill on the horizon he asked in another
voice if she knew its name
»You mean Mount Soracte«
»Yes You dont know Latin or it would make you quote Horace«
She shook her head looked down and spoke more humbly than he had ever yet
heard her
»But I know it in an English translation«
»Well thats more than most women do«
He said it in a grudging way The remark itself was scarcely civil but he
seemed all at once to have a pleasure in speaking roughly in reminding her of
her shortcomings Miriam turned her eyes in another quarter and presently
pointed to the far blue hills just seen between the Alban and the Sabine ranges
»Through there is the country of the Volsci« she said in a subdued voice
»Some Roman must have stood here and looked towards it in days when Rome was
struggling for supremacy with them Think of all that happened between that day
and the time when Horace saw the snow on Soracte and then of all that has
happened since«
He watched her face and nodded several times They pursued the subject and
reminded each other of what the scene suggested point by point Mallard felt
surprise though he showed none Cecily standing here would have spoken with
more enthusiasm but it was doubtful whether she would have displayed Miriams
accuracy of knowledge
»Well let us go« he said at length »You dont insist on walking home«
»There is no need to I think I could quite well if I wished«
»I am going to run through a few of the galleries for a morning or two I
wonder whether you would care to come with me tomorrow«
»I will come with pleasure«
»That is how people speak when they dont like to refuse a troublesome
invitation«
»Then what am I to say I spoke the truth in quite simple words«
»I suppose it was your tone you seemed too polite«
»But what is your objection to politeness« Miriam asked naïvely
»Oh I have none when it is sincere But as soon as I had asked you I felt
afraid that I was troublesome«
»If I had felt that I should have expressed it unmistakably« she replied
in a voice which reminded him of the road from Baiæ to Naples
»Thank you that is what I should wish«
Having found a carriage for her and made an appointment for the morning he
watched her drive away
A few hours later he encountered Spence in the Piazza Colonna and they
went together into a caffè Spence had the news that Mrs Lessingham and her
niece would arrive on the third day from now Their stay would be of a fortnight
at longest
»I met Mrs Baske at the Vatican this morning« said Mallard presently as
he knocked the ash off his cigar »We had some talk«
»On Vatican subjects«
»Yes I find her views of art somewhat changed But sculpture still alarms
her«
»Still Do you suppose she will ever overcome that feeling Are you wholly
free from it yourself Imagine yourself invited to conduct a party of ladies
through the marbles and to direct their attention to the merits that strike
you«
»No doubt I should invent an excuse But it would be weakness«
»A weakness inseparable from our civilization The nude in art is an
anachronism«
»Pooh That is encouraging the vulgar prejudice«
»No it is merely stating a vulgar fact These collections of nude figures
in marble have only an historical interest They are kept out of the way in
places which no one is obliged to visit Modern work of that kind is tolerated
nothing more What on earth is the good of an artistic production of which
people in general are afraid to speak freely You take your stand before the
Venus of the Capitol you bid the attendant make it revolve slowly and you
begin a lecture to your wife your sister or your young cousin on the glories
of the masterpiece You point out in detail how admirably Praxiteles has
exhibited every beauty of the female frame Other ladies are standing by you
smile blandly and include them in your audience«
Mallard interrupted with a laugh
»Well why not« continued the other »This isnt the gabinetto at Naples
surely«
»But you are well aware that practically it comes to the same thing How
often is one half pained half amused at the behaviour of women in the Tribune
at Florence They are in a false position it is absurd to ridicule them for
what your own sensations justify For my own part I always leave my wife and
Mrs Baske to go about these galleries without my company If I cant be
honestly at my ease I wont make pretence of being so«
»All this is true enough but the prejudice is absurd We ought to despise
it and struggle against it«
»Despise it many of us do theoretically But to make practical
demonstrations against it is to oppose as I said all the civilization of our
world Perhaps there will come a time once more when sculpture will be
justified at present the art doesnt and cant exist Its relics belong to
museums in the English sense of the word«
»You only mean by this« said Mallard »that art isnt for the multitude We
know that well enough«
»But theres a special difficulty about this point We come across it in
literature as well How is it that certain pages in literature which all
intellectual people agree in pronouncing just as pure as they are great could
never be read aloud say in a family circle without occasioning pain and
dismay No need to give illustrations they occur to you in abundance We skip
them or we read mutteringly or we say frankly that this is not adapted for
reading aloud Yet no man would frown if he found his daughter bent over the
book Theres something radically wrong here«
»This is the old question of our English Puritanism In France here in
Italy there is far less of such feeling«
»Far less but why must there be any at all And Puritanism isnt a
sufficient explanation The English Puritans of the really Puritan time had
freedom of conversation which would horrify us of today We become more and
more prudish as what we call civilization advances It is a hateful fact that
from the domestic point of view there exists no difference between some of the
noblest things in art and poetry and the obscenities which are prosecuted the
one is as impossible of frank discussion as the other«
»The domestic point of view is contemptible It means the bourgeois point of
view the Philistine point of view«
»Then I myself if I had children should be both bourgeois and Philistine
And so I have a strong suspicion would you too«
»Very well« replied Mallard with some annoyance »then it is one more
reason why an artist should have nothing to do with domesticities But look
here you are wrong as regards me If ever I marry amico mio my wife shall
learn to make more than a theoretical distinction between what is art and what
is grossness If ever I have children they shall from the first be taught a
natural morality and not the conventional If I can afford good casts of noble
statues they shall stand freely about my house When I read aloud by the fire
side there shall be no skipping or muttering or frank omissions no by Apollo
If a daughter of mine cannot describe to me the points of difference between the
Venus of the Capitol and that of the Medici she shall be bidden to use her eyes
and her brains better Ill have no contemptible prudery in my house«
»Bravissimo« cried Spence laughing »I see that my cousin Miriam is not
the only person who has progressed during these years Do you remember a certain
conversation of ours at Posillipo about the education of a certain young lady«
»Yes I do But that was a different matter The question was not of Greek
statues and classical books but of modern pruriencies and shallowness and
irresponsibility«
»You exaggerated then and you do so now« said Spence »at present with
less excuse«
Mallard kept silence for a space then said
»Let us speak of what we have been avoiding How has that marriage turned
out«
»I have told you all I know Theres no reason to suppose that things are
anything but well«
»I dont like her coming abroad alone I have no faith in that plea of work
I suspect things are not well«
»A cynic which I am not would suggest that a wish had something to do
with the thought«
»He would be cynically wrong« replied Mallard with calmness
»Why shouldnt she come abroad alone Theres nothing alarming in the fact
that they no longer need to see each other every hour And one takes for granted
that they at all events are not bourgeois their life wont be arranged
exactly like that of Mr and Mrs Jones the greengrocers«
»No« said the other musingly
»In what direction do you imagine that Cecily will progress Possibly she
has become acquainted with disillusion«
»Possibly«
»Well take it for certain Isnt that an inevitable step in her education
Things may still be well enough philosophically speaking She has her life to
live we know it will be to the end a modern life Servetur ad imum and so
on thats what one would wish I suppose We have no longer to take thought for
her«
»But we are allowed to wish the best«
»What is the best« said Spence sustaining his tone of impartial
speculation »Are you quite sure that Mr and Mrs Jones are not too much in
your mind«
»Whatever modern happiness may mean I am inclined to think that modern
unhappiness is not unlike that of oldfashioned people«
»My dear fellow you are a halter between two opinions You cant make up
your mind in which direction to look You are a sort of Janus with anxiety on
both faces«
»Theres a good deal of truth in that« admitted the artist with a growl
»Get on with your painting and whatever else of practical you have in mind
Leave philosophy to men of large leisure and placid pulses like myself Accept
the inevitable«
»I do so«
»But not with modern detachment« said Spence smiling
»Be hanged with your modernity I believe myself distinctly the more modern
of the two«
»Not with regard to women When you marry you will be a rigid autocrat and
make no pretence about it You dont think of women as independent beings who
must save or lose themselves on their own responsibility You are not willing to
trust them alone«
»Well perhaps you are right«
»Of course I am Come and dine at the hotel I think Seaborne will be
there«
»No thank you«
Mallard had waited but a few minutes in the court of the Palazzo Borghese next
morning when Miriam joined him There was some constraint on both sides
Miriam looked as if she did not wish yesterdays conversation to be revived in
their manner of meeting Her Goodmorning Mr Mallard had as little reference
as possible to the fact of this being an appointment The artist was in quite
another mood than that of yesterday his smile was formal and he seemed
indisposed for conversation
»I have the permesso« he said leading at once to the door of the gallery
They sauntered about the first room exchanging a few idle remarks In the
second a woman past the prime of life was copying a large picture They looked
at her work from a distance and Miriam asked if it was well done
»What do you think yourself« asked Mallard
»It seems to me skilful and accurate but I know that perhaps it is neither
one nor the other«
He pointed out several faults which she at once recognized
»I wonder I could not see them at first That confirms me in distrust of
myself I am as likely as not to admire a thing that is utterly worthless«
»As likely as not no at least I think not But of course your eye is
untrained and you have no real knowledge to go upon You can judge an original
picture sentimentally and your sentiment will not be wholly misleading You
cant judge a copy technically but I think you have more than average
observation How would you like to spend your life like this copyist«
»I would give my left hand to have her skill in my right«
»You would«
»I should be able to do something something definite and tolerably good«
»Why so you can already one thing in particular«
»What is that«
»Learn your own deficiencies a thing that most people neither will nor can
Look at this Francia and tell me your thoughts about it«
She examined the picture for a minute or two Then without moving her eyes
she murmured
»I can say nothing that is worth saying«
»Never mind Say what you think or what you feel«
»Why should you wish me to talk commonplace«
»That is precisely what I dont wish you to talk You know what is
commonplace and therefore you can avoid it Never mind his school or his date
What did the man want to express here and how far do you think he has
succeeded Thats the main thing I wish a few critics would understand it«
Miriam obeyed him and said what she had to say diffidently but in clear
terms Mallard was silent when she ceased and she looked up at him He rewarded
her with a smile and one or two nods as his manner was
»I have not made myself ridiculous«
»I think not«
They had walked on a little when Mallard said to her unexpectedly
»Please to bear in mind that I make no claim to infallibility I am a
painter of landscape out of my own sphere I become an amateur You are not
bound to accept my judgment«
»Of course not« she replied simply
»It occurred to me that I had been rather dictatorial«
»So you have Mr Mallard« she returned looking at a picture
»I am sorry Its the failing of men who have often to be combative and who
live much in solitude I will try to use a less offensive tone«
»I didnt mean that your tone was in the least offensive«
»A more polite tone then as you taught me yesterday«
»I had rather you spoke just as is natural to you«
Mallard laughed
»Politeness is not natural to me I admit I am horribly uncomfortable
whenever I have to pick my words out of regard to polite people That is why I
shun what is called society What little I have seen of it has been more than
enough for me«
»I have seen still less of it but I understand your dislike«
»Before you left home didnt you associate a great deal with people«
»People of a certain kind« she replied coldly »It was not society as you
mean it«
»You will be glad to mix more freely with the world when you are back in
England«
»I cant tell By whom is that Madonna«
Thus they went slowly on until they came to the little hall where the
fountain plays and whence is the outlook over the Tiber It was delightful to
sit here in the shadows made cooler and fresher by that plashing water and to
see the glorious sunlight gleam upon the rivers tawny flow
»Each time that I have been in Rome« said Mallard »I have felt after the
first few days a peculiar mental calm The other cities of Italy havent the
same effect on me Perhaps every one experiences it more or less There comes
back to me at moments the kind of happiness which I knew as a boy a freedom
from the sense of duties and responsibilities of work to be done and of
disagreeable things to be faced the kind of contentment I used to have when I
was reading lives of artists or looking at prints of famous pictures or myself
trying to draw It is possible that this mood is not such a strange one with
many people as with me when it comes I feel grateful to the powers that rule
life Since boyhood I have never known it in the north Out of Rome perhaps
only in fine weather on the Mediterranean But in Rome is its perfection«
»I thought you preferred the north« said Miriam
»Because I so often choose to work there I can do better work when I take
subjects in wild scenery and stern climates but when my thoughts go out for
pleasure they choose Italy I dont enjoy myself in the Hebrides or in Norway
but what powers I have are all brought out there Here I am not disposed to
work I want to live and I feel that life can be a satisfaction in itself
without labour I am naturally the idlest of men Work is always pain to me I
like to dream pictures but its terrible to drag myself before the blank
canvas«
Miriam gazed at the Tiber
»Do these palaces« he asked »ever make you wish you owned them Did you
ever imagine yourself walking among the marbles and the pictures with the sense
of this being your home«
»I have wondered what that must be But I never wished it had fallen to my
lot«
»No You are not ambitious«
»Not in that way To own a palace such as this would make one
insignificant«
»That is admirably true I should give it away to recover selfrespect
Shakespeare or Michael Angelo might live here and make it subordinate to him I
should be nothing but the owner of the palace You like to feel your
individuality«
»Who does not«
»In you I think it is strong«
Miriam smiled a little as if she liked the compliment Before either spoke
again other visitors came to look at the view and disturbed them
»I shant ask you to come anywhere tomorrow« said Mallard when they had
again talked for awhile of pictures »And the next day Mrs Elgar will be here«
She looked at him
»That wouldnt prevent me from going to a gallery if you thought of it«
»You will have much to talk of And your stay in Rome wont be long after
that«
Miriam made no reply
»I wish your brother had been coming« he went on »I should have liked to
hear from him about the book he is writing«
»Shall you not be in London before long« she asked without show of much
interest
»I think so but I have absolutely no plans Probably it is raining hard in
England or even snowing I must enjoy the sunshine a little longer I hope your
health wont suffer from the change of climate«
»I hope not« she answered mechanically
»Perhaps you will find you cant live there«
»What does it matter I have no ties«
»No you are independent that is a great blessing«
Chatting as if of indifferent things they left the gallery
Chapter VIII
Stumblings
Rolled tightly together and tied up with string at the bottom of one of
Miriams trunks lay the plans of that new chapel for which Bartles still waited
Miriam did not like to come upon them in packing or unpacking she had covered
them with things which probably would not be moved until she was again in
England
But the thought of them could not be so satisfactorily hidden It lay in a
corner of her mind and many were the new acquisitions heaped upon it but in
spite of herself she frequently burrowed through all those accumulations of
travel and sought the thing beneath Sometimes the impulse was so harassing
the process so distressful that she might have been compared to a murderer who
haunts the burialplace of his victim and cannot restrain himself from
disturbing the earth
It was by no methodic inquiry no deliberate reasoning that Miriam had set
aside her old convictions and ordered her intellectual life on the new scheme
Of those who are destined to pass beyond the bounds of dogma very few indeed do
so by the way of studious investigation How many of those who abide by
inherited faith owe their steadfastness to a convinced understanding
Convictions in the proper sense of the word Miriam had never possessed she
accepted what she was taught without reflecting upon it and pride subsequently
made her stubborn in consistency The same pride aided by the ennui of mental
faculties just becoming selfconscious and the desires of a heart for the first
time humanly touched constrained her to turn abruptly from the ideal she had
pursued and with unforeseen energy begin to qualify herself for the assertion
of new claims No barriers of logic stood in her way it was a simple matter of
facing round about True she still had to endure the sense of having chosen the
wide way instead of that strait one which is authoritatively prescribed It was
a long time before she made any endeavour to justify herself but the wide way
ran through a country that delighted her and her progress was so notable that
selfcommendation and the respect of others made her careless of the occasional
stings of conscience
She was able now to review the process of change and to compare the two
ideals Without the support of a single argument of logical value she stamped
all the beliefs of her childhood as superstition and marvelled that they had so
long held their power over her Her childhood indeed seemed to her to have
lasted until she came to Naples with hot shame she reflected on her speech and
behaviour at that time What did the Spences think of her How did they speak of
her to their friends What impression did she make upon Mallard These memories
were torture they explained the mixture of humility and assumption which on
certain days made her company disagreeable to Eleanor and the dark moods which
now and then held her in sullen solitude
But the word superstition was no guarantee against the haunting of
superstition itself Miriam was far from being one of the emancipated however
arrogantly she would have met a doubt of her freedom Just as little as ever had
she genuine convictions capable of supporting her in hours of weakness and
unsatisfied longing Several times of late she had all but brought herself to
speak plainly with Eleanor and ask on what foundation was built that calm life
which seemed independent of supernatural belief but shame always restrained
her It would be the same as confessing that she had not really the liberty to
which she pretended There was however an indirect way of approaching the
subject by which her dignity would possibly be rather enhanced than suffer and
this she at length took After her return from the Palazzo Borghese she was
beset with a confusion of anxious thoughts The need of confidential or
semiconfidential speech with one of her own sex became irresistible In the
evening she found an opportunity of speaking privately with Eleanor
»I want to ask your opinion about something Its a question I am obliged to
decide now I am going back to England«
Eleanor smiled inquiringly She was not a little curious to have a glimpse
into her cousins mind just now
»You remember« pursued Miriam leaning forward on a table by which she sat
and playing with a twisted piece of paper »that I once had the silly desire to
build a chapel at Bartles«
She reddened in hearing the words upon her own lips so strange a sound
they had after all this time
»I remember you talked of doing so« replied Eleanor with her usual quiet
goodnature
»Unfortunately I did more than talk about it I made a distinct promise to
certain people gravely interested The promise was registered in a Bartles
newspaper And you know that I went so far as to have my plans made«
»Do you feel bound by this promise my dear«
Miriam propped her cheek on one hand and with the other kept rolling the
piece of paper on the table
»Yes« she answered »I cant help thinking that I ought to keep my word
How does it strike you Eleanor«
»I am not quite clear how you regard the matter Are you speaking of the
promise only as a promise«
It was no use Miriam could not tell the truth she could not confess her
position At once a smile trembled scornfully upon her lips
»What else could I mean«
»Then it seems to me that the obligation has passed away with the
circumstances that occasioned it«
Miriam kept her eyes on the table and for a few moments seemed to reflect
»A promise is a promise Eleanor«
»So it is And a fact is a fact I take it for granted that you are no
longer the person who made the promise I have a faint recollection that when I
was about eight years old I pledged myself on reaching maturity to give my
nurse the exact half of my worldly possessions I dont feel the least ashamed
of having made such a promise and just as little of not having kept it«
Miriam smiled but still had an unconvinced face
»I was not eight years old« she said »but about fourandtwenty«
»Then let us put it in this way Do you still feel a desire to benefit that
religious community in Bartles Would it distress you to think that they shook
their heads in mentioning your name«
»I do feel rather in that way« Miriam admitted slowly
»But is this enough to justify you in giving them half or more of all you
possess You spoke of pulling down Redbeck House and building on the site
didnt you«
»Yes«
»In any case should you ever live there again«
»Never«
»You prefer to be with us in London«
»I think you have been troubled with me quite long enough Perhaps I might
take rooms«
»If you are as willing to share our house as we are to have you with us
there can be no need for you to live alone«
»I cant make up my mind about that Eleanor Let us talk only about the
chapel just now Are you sure that other people would see it as you do«
»Other people of my way of thinking would no doubt think the same which is
a pretty piece of tautology Edward would be amazed to hear that you have such
scruples It isnt as if you had promised to support a family in dire need or
anything of that kind The chapel is a superfluity«
»Not to them«
»They have one already«
»But very small and inconvenient«
»Suppose you ask Mr Mallard for his thoughts on the subject« said Eleanor
as if at the bidding of a caprice
»Does Mr Mallard know that I once had this purpose«
»I think so« replied the other with a little hesitation »You know that
there was no kind of reserve about it when you first came to Naples«
»No of course not Do you feel as sure of his opinion as of Edwards«
»I cant say that I do Theres no foreseeing his judgment about anything
As you are such good friends why not consult him«
»Our friendship doesnt go so far as that«
»And after all I dont see what use other peoples opinions can be to you«
said Eleanor waiving the point »Its a matter of sentiment Strict obligation
you see of course that there is none whatever If it would please you to use a
large sum of money in this way you have a perfect right to do so But
bythebye oughtnt you to make the Bartles people clearly understand who it is
that builds their chapel«
»Surely there is no need of that«
»I think so The scruple in my case would be far more on this side than on
the other«
Miriam did not care to pursue the conversation The one result of it was
that she had an added uncertainty She had thought that her proposal to fulfil
the promise would at least earn the respect which is due to stern
conscientiousness but Eleanor clearly regarded it as matter for the smile one
bestows on goodnatured folly Her questions even showed that she was at first
in doubt as to the motives which had revived this project a doubt galling to
Miriam because of its justification She said in going away
»Please to consider that this was in confidence Eleanor«
Confidence of a barren kind It was the same now as it had ever been she
had no one with whom she could communicate her secrets no friend in the nearer
sense On this loneliness she threw the blame of those faults which she
painfully recognized in herself her frequent insincerity her speeches and
silences calculated for effect her pride based on disingenuousness If she
could but have disclosed her heart in the humility of love and trust how would
its aching have been eased
For a long time she had been absorbed or nearly so in studying and
observing but Mallards inquiry whether she found this sufficient touched the
source whence trouble was again arising for her Three years ago it did not cost
her much to subdue a desire which had hopelessness for its birthright the
revival of this desire now united itself with disquietudes of the maturing
intellect and she looked forward in dread to a continuation of her loneliness
Some change in her life there must be Sudden hope had in a day or two brought
to full growth the causes of unrest which would otherwise have developed slowly
It seemed to be her fate to live in pretences As the mistress of Redbeck
House and the light of dissenting piety in Bartles she knew herself for less
than she wished to appear to others not a hypocrite indeed but a pretender to
extraordinary zeal and at the same time a flagrant instance of spiritual pride
Now she was guilty of like simulation directed to a contrary end In truth
neither bond nor free she could not suffer herself to seem less liberalminded
than those with whom she associated And yet her soul was weary of untruth The
one need of her life was to taste the happiness of submission to a stronger than
herself Religious devotion is the resource of women in general who suffer thus
and are denied the natural solace but for Miriam it was impossible Her
temperament was not devout and however persistent the visitings of uneasy
conscience she had no longer the power of making her old beliefs a reality The
abstract would not avail her philosophic comforts had as little to say to her
as the Churches creeds Only by a strong human hand could she be raised from
her unworthy position and led into the way of sincerity
She had counted on having another morning with Mallard before Cecilys
arrival Disappointed in this hope she invented a variety of tormenting reasons
for Mallards behaviour As there was a chance of his calling at the hotel she
stayed in all day But he did not come The next afternoon Mrs Lessingham and
her companion reached Rome
It was known that Cecilys health bad suffered from her watchings by the sick
child and from her grief at its death so no one was surprised at finding her
rather thinfaced She had a warm greeting for her friends and seemed happy to
be with them again but the brightness of the first hour was not sustained
Conversation cost her a perceptible effort she seldom talked freely of
anything and generally with an unnatural weighing of her words an
artificiality of thought and phrase which was a great contrast to the
spontaneousness of former times When Eleanor wanted her to speak about herself
she preferred to tell of what she had lately read or heard or seen That the
simple grace of the girl should be modified in the wife and mother was of course
to be expected but Cecily looked older than she ought to have done and
occasionally bore herself with a little too much consciousness as if she felt
the observation even of intimate friends something of a restraint
Miriam when she had made inquiries about her brothers health took little
part in the general conversation and it was not till late in the evening that
she spoke with Cecily in private
»May I come and sit with you for a few minutes« Cecily asked when Miriam
was going to her bedroom
They were far less at ease with each other than when their differences of
opinion were a recognized obstacle to intimacy Cecily was uncertain how far her
sisterinlaw had progressed from the old standpoint and she saw in her even an
increase of the wonted reticence On her own side there was no longer a warm
impulse of sisterly affection But her first words when they were alone
together sounded like an appeal for tender confidence
»I do so wish you had seen my poor little boy«
»I wish I had been nearer« Miriam answered kindly »It is very sad that you
have suffered such a loss«
Cecily spoke of the child and with simple feeling which made her more like
herself than hitherto
»When a little thing dies at that age« she said presently »it is only the
mothers grief The father cannot have much interest in so young a child«
»But Reuben wrote very affectionately of Clarence in one letter I had from
him«
»Yes but it is natural that he shouldnt feel the loss as I do A man has
his business in life a woman if she neednt work for bread has nothing to do
but be glad or sorry for what happens in her home«
»I shouldnt have thought you took that view of a womans life« said
Miriam after a silence regarding the other with uncertain eyes
»Views have become rather a weariness to me« answered Cecily smiling
sadly »Sorrow is sorrow to me as much as to the woman who never questioned one
of societys beliefs it makes me despondent No doubt I ought to find all sorts
of superior consolations But I dont and cant A womans natural lot is to
care for her husband and bring up children Do you believe Miriam that
anything will ever take the place of these occupations«
»I suppose not But time will help you and your interests will come back
again«
»True On the other hand it is equally true that I am now seeing how little
those interests really amount to They are pastime if you like but nothing
more Some women do serious work however I wish I could be one of them To
them perhaps views are something real and helpful But never mind myself you
were glad to hear that Reuben is working on«
»Very glad«
Cecily waited a little then watching the others face asked
»You know what he is writing«
»In a general way« Miriam answered averting her eyes »Do you think he has
made a wise choice«
»I dare say it is the subject on which he will write best« Cecily answered
smiling
»I doubt whether he understands it sufficiently« said Miriam with balanced
tone »He has really nothing but prejudice to go upon There will be a great
deal of misrepresentation in his book if he ever finishes it«
»Yes I am afraid that is true But it may be useful after all Here and
there he will hit the mark«
Cecily was tentative She saw Miriams brows work uneasily
»Perhaps so« was the reply »But I know quite well that such a book would
have been no use to me when I stood in need of the kind of help you mean«
»To be sure it is for people who have already helped themselves« said
Cecily in a jesting tone
Miriam turned to another subject and very soon said good night Reflecting
on the conversation she was annoyed with herself for having been led by her
familiar weakness to admit that she had changed her way of thinking Certainly
she had no intention of disguising the fact but this explicit confession had
seemed to make her Cecilys inferior she was like a schoolgirl claiming
recognition of progress
The next morning Mallard called He came into a room where Mrs Lessingham
Eleanor and Miriam were waiting for Cecily to join them that all might go out
together Miriam had never seen him behave with such ease of manner He was in
good spirits and talked with a facility most unusual in him Mrs Lessingham
said she would go and see why Cecily delayed Eleanor also made an excuse for
leaving the room But Miriam remained standing by the window and looking into
the street Mallard stood near her but did not speak The silence lasted for a
minute or two then Cecily entered and at once the artist greeted her with warm
friendliness Miriam had turned but did not regard the pair directly her eye
caught their reflection in a mirror and she watched them closely without
seeming to do so Cecily had made her appearance with a face of pleased
anticipation she looked for the first moment with much earnestness at her old
friend and when she spoke to him it was with the unmistakable accent of
emotion Mallard was gentle reverent he held her hand a little longer than was
necessary but his eyes quickly fell from her countenance
»Your husband is well« he asked in a full steady voice
They seated themselves and Miriam again turned to the window Cecilys
voice made a jarring upon her ear it was so much sweeter and more youthful so
much more like the voice of Cecily Doran than when it addressed other people
Mallard too continued in a soft pleasant tone quite different from his usual
speech Miriam thrilled with irritation as she heard him
»They have told me of the picture you painted at Pæstum When may Mrs
Lessingham and I come and see it«
»I havent a place in which I could receive you Ill bring the thing here
whenever you like«
Miriam moved She wished to leave the room but could not decide herself to
do so In the same moment Mallard glanced round at her She interpreted his look
as one of impatience and at once said to Cecily
»I think Ill change my mind and write some letters this morning Perhaps
you could persuade Mr Mallard to take my place for the drive«
»Oh« exclaimed Cecily with a laugh »Im quite sure Mr Mallard has no
desire to go to the English cemetery« She added in explanation to Mallard
himself »My aunt has promised to visit a certain grave and copy the
inscription for a friend at Florence«
Whilst she was speaking Mrs Lessingham and Eleanor returned Mallard
rising looked at Miriam with a singular smile then talked a little longer
and with a promise to come again soon took his leave
»Dont disappoint us« said Cecily to Miriam in the most natural tone
»It was only that I felt we were making Mr Mallards visit very short«
answered Miriam constrained by shame
»He detests ceremony You couldnt please him better than by saying Please
dont hinder me now but come when Im at leisure«
It was peculiarly distasteful to Miriam to have information concerning the
artists character offered her by Cecily in spite of the playful tone During
the drive she persuaded herself that Cecilys improved spirits were entirely
due to the conversation with Mallard and this stirred fresh resentment in her
She had foreseen the effect upon her own feelings of the meeting which had just
come about it was extreme folly but she could not control it
The next day Mallard brought his picture again to the hotel and spent
nearly an hour with Mrs Lessingham and Cecily in their sittingroom Miriam
heard of this on her return from a solitary walk and heard moreover that
Mallard had been showing his friends a number of little drawings which he had
never offered to let her or the Spences see In the afternoon she again went out
by herself and whilst looking into a shopwindow in the Piazza di Spagna
became aware of Mallards face reflected in the glass She drew aside before
looking round at him
»That is a clever piece of work« he said indicating a watercolour in the
window and speaking as if they had already been in conversation He had not
even made the hatsalute
»I thought so« Miriam replied very coldly looking at something else
»Are you going home Mrs Baske«
»Yes I only came out to buy something«
»I am just going to see the studio of an Italian to whom Mr Seaborne
introduced me yesterday Its in the QuattroFontane Would it interest you«
»Thank you Mr Mallard I had rather not go this afternoon«
He accepted the refusal with a courteous smile raised his hat in approved
manner and turned to cross the Piazza as she went her way
This evening they had a visit from Seaborne who met Mrs Lessingham and
Cecily for the first time These ladies were predisposed to like him and before
he left they did so genuinely In his pleasantly quiet way he showed much
respectful admiration of Mrs Elgar
»Now isnt there a resemblance to Mr Mallard« asked Eleanor when the
visitor was gone
»Just just a little« admitted Cecily with fastidiousness and an amused
smile »But Mr Seaborne doesnt impress me as so original so strong«
»Oh that he certainly isnt« said Spence »But acuter and perhaps a finer
feeling in several directions«
Miriam listened and was tortured
She had suffered all the evening from observing Cecily whose powers of
conversation and charms of manner made her bitterly envious How far she herself
was from this ideal of the instructed and socially trained woman The presence
of a stranger had banished Cecilys despondent mood and put all her capacities
in display With a miserable sense of humiliation Miriam compared her own
insignificant utterances and that bright often brilliant talk which held the
attention of every one Beside Cecily she was still indeed nothing but a
schoolgirl who with much labour was getting a smattering of common knowledge
for though Cecily had no profound acquirements the use she made of what she
did know was always suggestive intellectual individual
What wonder that Mallard brought out his drawings to show them to Cecily
There would be nothing commonplace in her remarks and admiration
She felt herself a paltry pretender to those possibilities of modern
womanhood which were open to Cecily from her birth In the course of natural
development Cecily whilst still a girl threw for ever behind her all
superstitions and harassing doubts she was in the true sense emancipated a
word Edward Spence was accustomed to use jestingly And this was Mallards
conception of the admirable in woman
Chapter IX
Silences
Cecily was seeing Rome for the first time but she could not enjoy it in the way
natural to her It was only at rare moments that she felt Rome One of the most
precious of her lifes anticipations was fading into memory displaced by a dull
experience numbered among disillusionings Not that what she beheld
disappointed her but that she was not herself in beholding Had she stayed here
on her first visit to Italy on what a strong current of enthusiasm would the
hours and the days have borne her What a light would have glowed upon the Seven
Hills and how would every vulgarity of the modern streets have been transformed
by her imagination But now she was in no haste to visit the most sacred spots
she was content to take each in its turn and her powers of attention soon
flagged It had been the same in Florence She felt herself reduced to a lower
level of existence than was native to her Had she lived her life all that was
worth calling life
Her chief solace was in the society of Mrs Spence Formerly she had not
been prepared for appreciating Eleanor but now she felt the beauties of that
calm selfreliant character rich in a mode of happiness which it seemed
impossible for herself ever to attain Fortune had been Eleanors friend
Disillusion had come to her only in the form of beneficent wisdom no dolorous
dead leaves rustled about her feet and clogged her walk Happy even in the fact
that she had never been a mother She was a free woman free in the love of her
husband free in the pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of all her tastes
She had outlived passion without mourning it what greater happiness than that
can a woman expect Cecily had once believed that life was to be all passion or
a failure She understood now that there was a middle path But against her it
was closed
In a few days she could talk with Eleanor even of bygone things in a
perfectly simple tone without danger of betraying the thoughts she must keep
secret One such conversation reminded her of something she had learnt shortly
before she left London
»Do you remember« she asked »a family named Denyer who were at Mrs
Glucks«
Eleanor recollected the name and the characteristics attached to it
»An acquaintance of mine who has rooms at Hampstead happened to speak of the
people she is with and it surprised me to discover that they were those very
Denyers One of the daughters is paralyzed poor girl I was shocked to remember
her and think of her visited by such a fate I believe she was to have married
that artist Mr Marsh who gave Mr Bradshaw so much amusement And the eldest
«
She broke off to inquire why Eleanor had looked at her so expressively
»Ill tell you when you have finished your story What of the eldest«
»She has recently married Mr Musselwhite who was also one of our old
acquaintances Mrs Travis the lady who tells me all this says that Mrs
Denyer is overjoyed at this marriage for Mr Musselwhite is the brother of a
baronet«
»Very satisfactory indeed Well now for Mr Marsh Edward heard from Mr
Bradshaw when we were in Sicily and this young gentleman had a great part in
the letter It seems he has long abandoned his artistic career and gone into
commerce«
»That most superior young man But I remember something about that«
»His business takes him often to Manchester and he has been cultivating the
acquaintance of the Bradshaws And now there is an engagement between him and
their eldest daughter«
»Charlotte What a queer thing to happen Isnt she about my age«
»Yes and if she fulfils her promise one of the plainest girls in
existence Her father jokes about the affair but evidently doesnt disapprove«
It was Thursday and the Spences had decided to start for London on Friday
night Miriam had been keeping much alone these last few days and this morning
was out by herself in the usual way Spence was engaged with Seaborne Mrs
Lessingham Eleanor and Cecily went to the Vatican
Where also was Mallard He had visited the chapel and the Stanze and the
Loggia and the picturegallery not looking at things but seeming to look for
some one then he came out and walked round St Peters to the Museum In the
Sala Rotonda he encountered his friends
They talked about the busts Cecily was studying them with the catalogue
and wished Mallard to share her pleasure
»The empresses interest me most« she said »Come and do homage to them«
They look with immortal eyes those three women who once saw the world at
their feet Plotina the wife of Trajan Faustina the wife of Antoninus Pius
Julia the wife of Septimius Severus Noble heads each so unlike the other
Plotina with her strong not beautiful features the high cheekbones the
male chin on her forehead a subdued anxiety Faustina the type of aristocratic
selfconsciousness gloriously arrogant splendidly beautiful with her superb
coronet of woven hair Julia Domna a fine patrician face with a touch of
idleness and goodnatured scorn about her lips taking her dignity as a matter
of course
»These women awe me« Cecily murmured as Mallard stood beside her »They
are not of our world They make me feel as if I belonged to an inferior race«
»Glorious barbarians« returned Mallard
»We of today have no right to say so«
Then the Antinous the finest of all his heads It must be caught in
profile and one stands marvelling at the perfection of soulless beauty And the
Jupiter of Otricoli most majestic of marble faces in that one deep line across
the brow lies not only profound thought but something of the care of rule or
something of pity for mankind as though he had just uttered his words in Homer
»For verily there is no creature more afflicted than man of all that breathe
and move upon the earth« But that other the Serapis is above care of every
kind on his countenance is a divine placidity a supernal blandness he gazes
for ever in sublime and passionless reverie
Thence they passed to the Hall of the Muses and spoke of Thalia whose
sweet and noble face with its deep farlooking eyes bears such a weary
sadness Comedy Yes comedy itself when comedy is rightly understood
And whilst they stood here there came by a young priest holding open a
missal or breviary or some such book and muttering from it as if learning by
heart Cecily followed him with her gaze
»What a place for study of that kind« she exclaimed looking at Mallard
He also had felt the incongruity and laughed
Two or three chambers of the Vatican sufficed for one day Cecily would not
trust herself to remain after her interest had begun to weary it was much that
she had won two hours of intellectual calm Her companions had no wish to stay
longer Just as they came again into the Sala Rotonda they found themselves
face to face with Miriam
»Did you know we were coming here« asked Eleanor
»I thought it likely«
She shook hands with Mallard but did not speak to him Eleanor offered to
stay with her as this would be their last visit but Miriam said in a friendly
manner that she preferred to be alone So they left her
At the exit Mallard saw his companions into a carriage and himself walked
on but as soon as the carriage was out of sight he turned back He had taken
care to recover his permesso from the attendant in the common way when he came
out so that he could enter again immediately He walked rapidly to the place
where they had left Miriam but she was gone He went forward and discovered
her sitting before the Belvedere Apollo As his entrance drew her attention he
saw that she had an impulse to rise but she overcame it and again turned her
eyes upon him with a look in which selfcontrol was unconsciously like
defiance
He sat down by her and said
»I came to the Vatican this morning for the chance of meeting you«
»I hope that was not your only reason for coming« she returned in a voice
of ordinary civility
»It was in fact I should have asked you to let me have your company for an
hour today as it is practically your last in Rome but I was not sure that you
would grant it so I took my chance instead«
She waited a moment before replying
»I am afraid you refer to your invitation of a few days ago I didnt feel
in the mood for going to a studio Mr Mallard«
»Yes I was thinking of that You refused in a way not quite like yourself
I began to be afraid that you thought me too regardless of forms«
His return had gratified her it was unexpected and she set her face in a
hard expression that it might not betray her sudden gladness But the look of
thinlymasked resentment which succeeded told of what had been in her mind since
she encountered him in the company of Cecily That jealous pain was
uncontrollable the most trivial occasions had kept exciting it and now it made
her sick at heart The effort to speak conventionally was all but beyond her
strength
They had in common that personal diffidence which is one of the phases of
pride and which proves so fruitful a source of misunderstandings For all her
selfesteem Miriam could not obtain the conviction that as a woman she
strongly interested Mallard and the artist found it very hard to persuade
himself that Miriam thought of him as anything but a man of some talent whose
attention was agreeable and perhaps a little flattering Still he could not
but notice that her changed behaviour connected itself with Cecilys arrival It
seemed to him extraordinary almost incredible that she should be jealous of
his relations with her sisterinlaw Had she divined his passion for Cecily at
Naples He cherished a delusion that the secret had never escaped him But to
attribute jealousy to her was to assume that she set a high value on his
friendship
Miriam had glanced at the Apollo as he spoke Conscious of his eyes upon
her she looked away saying in a forced tone
»I had no such thought You misunderstood me«
»It was all my fault then and I am sorry for it You said just now that
you preferred to be alone I shall come to the hotel tomorrow just to say
goodbye«
He rose and Miriam as she did the same asked formally
»You are still uncertain how long you remain here«
»Quite« was his answer cheerfully given
»You are not going to work«
»No it is holiday with me for a while I wish you were staying a little
longer«
»You will still have friends here«
Mallard disliked the tone of this
»Oh yes« he replied »I hope to see Mrs Lessingham and Mrs Elgar
sometimes«
He paused then added
»I dare say I shall return to England about the same time that they do May
I hope to see you in London«
»I am quite uncertain where I shall be«
»Then perhaps we shall not meet for a long time Will you let me give you
one or two little drawings that may help to remind you of Italy«
Miriams cheeks grew warm and she cast down her eyes
»Your drawings are far too valuable to be given as one gives trifles Mr
Mallard«
»I dont wish you to receive them as trifles One of their values to me is
that I can now and then please a friend with them If you had rather I did not
think of you as a friend then you would be right to refuse them«
»I will receive them gladly«
»Thank you They shall be sent to the hotel«
They shook hands and he left her
On the morrow they met again for a few minutes when he came to say
goodbye Miriam made no mention of the packet that had reached her She was
distant and her smile at leavetaking very cold
So the three travelled northwards
Their departure brought back Cecilys despondent mood With difficulty she
restrained her tears in parting from Eleanor when she was alone they had their
way She felt vaguely miserable was troubled with shapeless apprehensions
with a sense of desolateness
The next day brought a letter from her husband »Dear Ciss« he wrote »I am
sorry its so long since I sent you a line but really theres no news I foresee
that I shall not have much manuscript to show you I am reading hugely but I
dont feel ready to write Hope you are much better give me notice of your
return My regards to Mallard I expect you will see very little of him« And
so with a yours ever the epistle ended
This was all Reuben had to say to her when she had been absent nearly a
month With a dull disappointment she put the arid thing out of her sight It
had been her intention to write today but now she could not She had even less
to say than he
He expressed no wish for her return and felt none Perhaps it was merely
indifferent to him how long she stayed away but she had no assurance that he
did not prefer to be without her And for her own part had she any desire to
be back again Here she was not contented but at home she would be even less
so
The line in his letter which had reference to the muchtalkedof book only
confirmed her distrust She had no faith in his work The revival of his energy
from time to time was no doubt genuine enough but she knew that its subsequent
decline was marked with all manner of pretences Possibly he was still reading
hugely but the greater likelihood was that he had fallen into mere idleness It
was significant of her feeling towards him that she never made surmises as to
how he spent his leisure her thoughts consciously and unconsciously avoided
such reflections it was a matter that did not concern her He had now a number
of companions men of whom her own knowledge was very vague that they were not
considered suitable acquaintances for her of course meant that Reuben could
have no profit from them and would probably suffer from their contact But in
these things she had long been passive careless Experience had taught her how
easy it was for husband and wife to live parted lives even whilst their
domestic habits seemed the same as ever in books that situation had formerly
struck her as inconceivable but now she suspected that it was the commonest of
the results of marriage Habit habit how strong it is
And how degrading To it she attributed this bluntness in her faculties of
perception and enjoyment this barrenness of the world about her It was
dreadful to look forward upon a tract of existence thus vulgarized Already she
recognized in herself the warnings of a possible future in which she would have
lost her intellectual ambitions There is a creeping paralysis of the soul and
did she not experience its symptoms Already it was hard to apply herself to any
study that demanded real effort she was failing to pursue her Latin she
avoided German books because they were more exacting than French her memory
had lost something of its grasp Was she to become a woman of society a refined
gossip a pretentious echo of the reviews and of clever peoples talk If not
assuredly she must exert a force of character which she had begun to suspect was
not in her
Strange that the one person to whom she had disclosed something of her real
mind was also the one who seemed at the greatest distance from her in this
circle of friends Involuntarily she had spoken to Miriam as to no one else
This might be a result of old associations But had it a connection with that
curious surmise she had formed during the first hour of her conversation with
the Spences and with Miriam herself that an unexpected intimacy was coming
about between Miriam and Mallard For in her frequent thoughts of Mallard she
had necessarily wondered whether he would ever perceive the true issue of her
selfwill and so far from desiring to blind him she had almost a hope that
one day he might know how her life had shaped itself Mallards position in her
mind was a singular one in some such way she might have regarded a brother who
had always lived remote from her but whom she had every reason to love and
reverence Her esteem for him was boundless he was the ideal of the artist and
at the same time of the nobly strong man Had such a thing been possible she
would have sought to make him her confidant However it was to be explained she
felt no wound to her selfrespect in supposing him cognizant of all her
sufferings rather a solace a source of strength
Was it in a measure womans gratitude for love In the course of three
years she had seen many reasons for believing that Reuben was right that the
artist had loved her and gone through dark struggles when her fate was being
decided That must have added tenderness to her former regard and admiration
But she was glad that he had now recovered his liberty the first meeting his
look and the grasp of his hand told her at once that the trouble was long gone
by She was glad of this and the proof of her sincerity came when she watched
the relations between him and Miriam
On the last evening Miriam came to her room carrying a small portfolio
which she opened before her disclosing three watercolours
»You have bought them« Cecily asked as the other said nothing
»No Mr Mallard has given me them« was the answer in a voice which
affected a careless pleasure
»They are admirable I am delighted that you take such a present away with
you«
Cecily expected no confidences and received none she could only puzzle
over the problem Why did Miriam behave with so strange a coldness Her new way
of regarding life ought to have resulted in her laying aside that austerity
Mrs Lessingham hinted an opinion that the change did not go very deep
Puritanism the result of birth and breeding was not so easily eradicated
Mallard stayed on in Rome but during this next week Cecily only saw him
twice the first time for a quarter of an hour on the Pincio then in the
Forum On that second occasion he was invited to dine with them at the hotel the
next day Mr Seabornes company having also been requested The result was a
delightful evening Seaborne was just now busy with a certain period of Papal
history he talked of some old books he had been reading in the Vatican library
and revealed a world utterly strange to all his hearers
Here were men who used their lives to some purpose who not only planned
but executed When the excitement of the evening had subsided Cecily thought
with more bitterness than ever yet of the contrast between such workers and her
husband The feeling which had first come upon her intensely when she stood
before Mallards picture at the Academy was now growing her habitual mood She
had shut herself out for ever from close communion with this world of genuine
activity she could only regard it from behind a barrier instead of warming her
heart and brain in free enjoyment of its emotions And the worst of it was that
these glimpses harmed her injured her morally One cannot dwell with discontent
and keep a healthy imagination She knew her danger and it increased the misery
with which she looked forward
Another week and again there was a chance meeting with Mallard this time
on the Via Appia where Cecily and her aunt were driving They spent a couple of
hours together At the parting Mallard announced that the next day would see
him on his journey to London
Chapter X
Elgar at Work
At Dover it was cold and foggy the shore looked mildewed the town rainsoaked
and mudstained In London a solid leaden sky lowered above the streets
neither threatening rain nor allowing a hope of sunlight What a labour
breathing had become
»My heart warms to my native land« said Spence »This is a spring day that
recalls ones youth«
Eleanor tried to smile but the railway journey had depressed her beneath
the possibility of joking Miriam was pallid and miserable she had scarcely
spoken since she set foot on the steamboat Cabborne through the clangorous
streets they seemed a party of exiles
The house in Chelsea which the Spences held on a long lease had been
occupied during their absence by Edwards brotherinlaw and his family
Vacated swept and garnished the old furniture from the Pantechnicon
reestablished somewhat at haphazard it was not a home that welcomed warmly
but one could heap coals on all the fires and draw down the blinds as soon as
possible and make a sort of Christmas evening If only ones lungs could have
free play But in a week or so such little incommodities would become natural
again
Miriam had decided that in a day or two she would go down to Bartles not to
stay there but merely to see her relative Mrs Fletcher and Redbeck House
Before leaving London she must visit Reuben she had promised Cecily to do so
without delay This same evening she posted a card to her brother asking him to
be at home to see her early the next morning
She reached Belsize Park at ten oclock and dismissed the cab as soon as
she had alighted from it Her ring at the door was long in being answered and
the maidservant who at last appeared did small credit to the domestic
arrangements of the house she was slatternly and seemed to resent having her
morning occupations whatever they were thus disturbed Miriam learnt with
surprise that Mr Elgar was not at home
»He is out of town«
The servant thought so he had not been at the house for two days
»You are unable to tell me when he will return«
Mr Elgar was often away for a day or two but not for longer than that The
probability was that he would at all events look in before evening though he
might go away again
Miriam left a card which the servant inspected with curiosity before the
door was closed and turned to depart It was raining and very windy She had
to walk some distance before she could find a conveyance and all the way she
suffered from a painful fluttering of the heart an agitation like that of fear
All night she had wished she had never returned to England and now the wish
became a dread of remaining
By the last post that evening came a note from Reuben He wrote in manifest
hurry requesting her to come again next morning he would have visited her
himself but perhaps she had not a separate sittingroom and he preferred to
talk with her in privacy
So in the morning she again went to Belsize Park This time the servant was
a little tidier and behaved more conventionally Miriam was conducted to the
library where Reuben awaited her
They examined each other attentively Miriam was astonished to find her
brother looking at least ten years older than when she last saw him he was much
sparer in body had duller eyes and it seemed to her thinner hair
»But why didnt you write sooner to let me know you were coming« was his
first exclamation
»I supposed you knew from Cecily«
»I havent heard from her since the letter in which she told me she had got
to Rome She said you would be coming soon but that was all I dont understand
this economy of postage«
He grew more annoyed as he spoke Meeting Miriams eye he added in the
tone of explanation
»Its abominable that you should come here all the way from Chelsea and be
turned away at the door What did the servant tell you«
»Only that your comings and goings were very uncertain« she replied
looking about the room
»Yes so they are I go now and then to a friends in Surrey and stop
overnight One cant live alone for an indefinite time But sit down Unless
youd like to have a look at the house first of all«
»Ill sit a little first«
»This is my study when Im working at home« Reuben continued walking
about and handling objects a book or a pen or a paperknife »Comfortable
dont you think I want to have another bookcase over there I havent worked
here much since Cecily has been away I have a great deal of reading to do at
the Museum you know You look a vast deal better Miriam What are you going
to do«
»I dont know Most likely I shall continue to live with the Spences«
»You wouldnt care to come here«
»Thank you I think the other arrangement will be better«
»Perhaps so For one thing its quite uncertain whether we shall keep this
house Its really a good deal too large for us an unnecessary expense If
Cecily is often to be away like this theres no possibility of keeping the
place in order How the servants live or what they do I have no idea How can
I be expected to look after such things«
»But surely it is not expected of you I understood that Cecily had left a
housekeeper«
»Oh yes but I have a suspicion that she does little but eat and drink I
know the house is upside down Its long enough since I had a decent meal here
Practically I have taken to eating at restaurants Of course I say nothing about
it to Cecily whats the use of bothering her Bythebye how is she How did
you leave her«
»Not very well Im afraid«
»She never says a word about her health But then practically she never
writes I doubt whether London suits her We shall have to make our
headquarters in Paris I fancy she was always well enough there Of course I
cant abandon London entirely at all events not till Ive till my materials
for the book are all ready but its simple enough for me to come and take
lodgings for a month now and then«
Miriam gave an absent »Yes«
»You dont seem to have altered much after all« he resumed looking at her
with a smile »You talk to me just like you used to I expected to find you more
cheerful«
Miriam showed a forced smile but answered nothing
»Well did you see much of Mallard« he asked throwing himself into a seat
impatiently and beginning to rap his knee with the paperknife
»Not very much«
»Has he come back with you«
»Oh no he is still in Rome He said that he would most likely return when
the others did«
»How do he and Cecily get on together«
»They seemed to be quite friendly«
»Indeed Does he go about with them«
»I dont know«
»But did he when you were there«
»I think he was with them at the Vatican once«
Elgar heard it with indifference He was silent for a minute or two then
quitting his chair asked
»Had you much talk with her«
»With Cecily We were living together you know«
»Yes but had she much to tell you Did she talk about how things were going
with us what I was doing and so on«
He was never still Now he threw himself into another chair and strummed
with his fingers on the arm of it
»She told me about your work«
»And showed that she took very little interest in it no doubt«
Miriam gazed at him
»Why do you think that«
»Oh thats tolerably well understood between us« Again he rose and paced
with his hands in his pockets »It was a misfortune that Clarence died Now she
has nothing to occupy herself with She doesnt seem to have any idea of
employing her time It was bad enough when the child was living but since then
«
He spoke as though the hints fell from him involuntarily he wished to be
understood as implying no censure but merely showing an unfortunate state of
things When he broke off it was with a shrug and a shake of the head
»But I suppose she reads a good deal« said Miriam »and has friends to
visit«
»She seems to care very little about reading nowadays And as for the
friends yes she is always going to some house or other Perhaps it would have
been better if she had had no friends at all«
»You mean that they are objectionable people«
»Oh no I dont mean to say anything of that kind But well never mind
we wont talk about it«
He threw up an arm and began to pace the floor again His nervousness was
increasing In a few moments he broke out in the same curious tone which was
half complaining half resigned
»You know Cecily I dare say She has a good deal of well I wont call it
vanity because that has a vulgar sound and she is never vulgar But she likes
to be admired by clever people One must remember how young she still is And
thats the very thing of which she cant endure to be reminded If I hint a
piece of counsel she feels it an insult I suppose I am to blame myself in
some things When I was working here of an evening now and then I felt it a
bore to have to dress and go out I dont care much for society thats the fact
of the matter But I couldnt bid her stay at home You see how things get into
a wrong course A girl of her age oughtnt to be going about alone among all
sorts of people Of course something had to precede that The first year or two
she didnt want any society I suppose a man who studies much always runs the
danger of neglecting his home affairs But it was her own wish that I should
begin to work She was incessantly urging me to it One of the inconsistencies
of women you see«
He laughed unmelodiously and then there was a long silence Miriam who
watched him mechanically though her eyes were not turned directly upon him saw
that he seated himself on the writingtable and began to make idle marks with a
pencil on the back of an envelope
»Why didnt you go abroad with her« she asked in a low voice
»I would have gone if it hadnt been quite clear that she preferred not to
have my company«
»Are you speaking the truth«
»What do you mean Miriam She preferred to go alone I know she did«
»But didnt you make the excuse to her that you couldnt leave your work«
»Thats true also Could I say plainly that I saw what she wished«
»I think it very unlikely that you were right« Miriam rejoined in a tone of
indecision
»What reason have you for saying that«
»You ought to have a very good reason before you believe the contrary«
She waited for him to reply but he had taken another piece of paper and
seemed absorbed in covering it with a sort of pattern of his own design
»Right or wrong what does it matter« he exclaimed at length flinging the
pencil away »The event is the same in any case Does it depend on myself how I
act or what I think Do you believe still that we are free agents and
responsible for our acts and thoughts«
Miriam avoided his look and said carelessly
»I know nothing about it«
He gave a short laugh
»Well thats better and more honest than saying you believe what is
contrary to all human experience Look back on your life Has its course been of
your own shaping Compare yourself of today with yourself of four years ago
has the change come about by your own agency If you are wrong are you to
blame Imagine some fanatic seizing you by the arm and shouting to you to
beware of the precipice to which you are advancing «
He suited the action to the word and grasped her wrist Miriam shook him
off angrily
»What do you know of me« she exclaimed with suppressed scorn
»True Just as little as you know of me or any one person of any other
However I was speaking of what you know of yourself I suppose you can look
back on one or two things in your life of which your judgment doesnt approve
Do you imagine they could have happened otherwise than they did Do you think it
lay in your own power to take the course you now think the better«
Miriam stood up impatiently and showed no intention of replying Again
Elgar laughed and waved his arm as if dismissing a subject of thought
»Come up and look at the drawingroom« he said walking to the door
»Some other time Ill come again in a few days«
»As you please But you must take your chance of finding me at home unless
you give me a couple of days notice«
»Thank you« she answered coldly »I will take my chance«
He went with her to the front door With his hand on the latch he said in
an undertone
»Shall you be writing to Cecily«
»I think not no«
»All right Ill let her know you called«
For Miriam this interview was confirmative of much that she had suspected She
believed now that Reuben and his wife if they had not actually agreed to live
apart were practically in the position of people who have The casual reference
to a possible abandonment of their house meant more than Reuben admitted She
did not interpret the situation as any less interested person with her
knowledge of antecedents certainly would have done that is to say conclude
that Reuben was expressing his own desires independently of those which Cecily
might have formed Her probing questions in which she had seemed to take
Cecilys side were in reality put with a perverse hope of finding that such a
view was untenable and she came away convinced that this was the case The
state of things at home considered Cecily would not have left for so long an
absence but on her own wish
And this determined she thought with increased bitterness of Mallards
remaining in Rome He too could not but suspect the course that Cecilys married
life was taking by this time he might even know with certainty How would that
affect him In her doubt as to how far the exchange of confidences between
Cecily and Mallard was a possible thing she tortured herself with picturing the
progress of their intercourse at Rome inventing chance encounters imagining
conversations Mrs Lessingham was as good as no obstacle to their intimacy
her Miriam distrusted profoundly Judging by her own impulses she attributed
to Cecily a strong desire for Mallards sustaining companionship and on the
artists side she judged all but inevitable under such circumstances a
revival of that passion she had read in his face long ago Her ingenuity of
selftorment went so far as to interpret Mallards behaviour to herself in a
dishonourable sense It is doubtful whether any one who loves passionately
fulfils the ideal of being unable to see the object of love in any but a noble
light this is one of the many conventions chiefly of literary origin which to
the eyes of the general make cynicism of wholesome truth Miriam deemed it not
impossible that Mallard had made her his present of pictures simply to mislead
her thought when she was gone Jealousy can sink to baser imaginings than this
It is only calm affection that judges always in the spirit of pure sympathy
On the following day the Spences dined from home and Miriam who had
excused herself from accompanying them sat through the evening in their
drawingroom The weather was wretched a large fire made the comfort within
contrast pleasantly enough with sounds of wind and rain against the house
Miriams mind was far away from Chelsea it haunted the Via del Babuino and the
familiar rooms of the hotel where Cecily was living Just after the clock had
struck ten a servant entered and said that Mr Elgar wished to see her
Reuben was in evening dress
»What you are alone« he said on entering »Im glad of that I supposed I
should have to meet the people I want to kill half an hour thats all«
He drew a small low chair near to hers and when he had seated himself
took one of her hands Miriam glanced at him with surprise but did not resist
him His cheeks were flushed perhaps from the cold wind and there was much
more life in his eyes than the other morning
»Youre a lonely girl Miriam« he let fall idly after musing »Im glad I
happened to come in to keep you company What have you been thinking about«
»Italy« she answered with careless truth
»Italy Italy Who doesnt think of Italy I wish I knew Italy as well as
you do Isnt it odd that I should be saying that to you I believe you are now
far my superior in all knowledge that is worth having Did I mention that Ciss
wrote an account of you in the letter just after she had reached Rome«
Miriam made an involuntary movement as if to withdraw her hand but overcame
herself before she had succeeded
»How did she come to know me so quickly« was her question murmured
absently
»From Mrs Spence it seemed Come tell me what you have been doing this
long time You have seen Greece too I must go to Greece perhaps before the
end of this year Ill make a knapsack ramble Greece Egypt Asia Minor
Constantinople«
Miriam kept silence and her brother appeared to forget that he had said
anything that required an answer Pressently he released her hand after patting
it and moved restlessly in his chair then he looked at his watch and compared
it curiously with the clock on the mantelpiece
»Ciss« he began suddenly and at once with a laugh corrected himself
»Miriam I mean«
»What«
»I forget what I was going to say« he muttered after delaying »But that
reminds me Ive been anxious lest you should misunderstand what I said
yesterday You didnt think I wished to make charges against Cecily«
»Its difficult to understand you« was all she replied
»But you mustnt think that I misjudge her Cecily has more than realized
all I imagined her to be There are few women living who could be called her
equals I say this in the gravest conviction this is the simple result of my
knowledge of her She has an exquisite nature an admirable mind I have never
heard her speak a sentence that was unworthy of her not one«
His voice trembled with earnestness Miriam looked at him from under her
eyebrows
»If any one« he pursued »ever threw doubt on the perfect uprightness of
Cecilys conduct her absolute honour I would gage my life upon the issue«
And in this moment he spoke with sincerity whatever the mental process
which had brought him to such an utterance Even Miriam could not doubt him His
clenched fist quivered as it lay on his knee and the gleam of firelight showed
that his eyes were moist
»Why do you say this« his sister asked still scrutinizing him
»To satisfy myself to make you understand once for all what I do believe
Have you any other opinion of her Miriam«
She gave a simple negative
»I am not saying this« he pursued »in the thought that you will perhaps
repeat it to her some day It is for my own satisfaction If I could put it more
strongly I would but I will have nothing to do with exaggerations The truth
is best expressed in the simplest words«
»What do you mean by honour« Miriam inquired when there had been a short
silence
»Honour«
»Your definitions are not generally those accepted by most people«
»I hope not« He smiled »But you know sufficiently what I mean Deception
for instance is incompatible with what I understand as honour«
He spoke it slowly and clearly his eyes fixed on the fire
»You seem to me to be attributing moral responsibility to her«
»What I say is this that I believe her nature incapable of admitting the
vulgar influences to which people in general are subject I attach no merit to
her high qualities no more than I attach merit to the sea for being a nobler
thing than a muddy puddle Of course I know that she cannot help being what she
is and cannot say to herself that in future she will become this or that How
am I inconsistent Suppose me wrong in my estimate of her I might then lament
that she fell below what I had imagined but of course I should have no right to
blame her«
Miriam reflected then put the question
»And does she hold the same opinion with reference to you for instance«
»Theoretically she does«
»Theoretically If she made her opinions practical I suppose there would be
no reason why you shouldnt live together in contentment«
Reuben glanced at her
»I cant say« he replied gloomily »That is quite another matter«
»Speaking of honour« said Miriam »you would attach no blame to yourself if
you fell below it«
He replied with deliberation
»One often blames ones self emotionally but the understanding is not
affected by that Unless your mind is unsteadied by excess of feeling«
»I believe you are a victim of sophistry sophistry of the most dangerous
kind I cant argue with you but I pity you and fear for you«
The words were uttered so solemnly that Reuben for a moment was shaken his
features moved in a way which indicates a sudden failure of selfpossession But
he recovered himself immediately and smiled his least amiable smile
»I see you are not yet past the halfway house on the way of emancipation
Miriam These things sound disagreeable and prompt such deliverances as this of
yours But can I help it if a truth is unpalatable What better should I be if I
shut my eyes against it You will say that this conviction makes me incapable of
struggle for the good Nothing of the kind Where I am destined to struggle I
do so without any reference to my scientific views Of course one is unhappier
with science than without it Who ever urged the contrary that was worth
listening to I believe the human race will be more and more unhappy as science
grows But am I on that account likely to preach a crusade against it Sister
mine we are what we are we think and speak and do what causation determines
If you can still hold another belief do so and be thrice blessed I would so
gladly see you happy dear Miriam«
Again he took her hand and pressed it against his cheek Miriam looked
straight before her with wide almost despairing eyes
»I must go this moment« Elgar said happening to notice the time »Say I
have been here and couldnt wait for their return indeed they wouldnt expect
it«
»Wait a few minutes Reuben«
She retained his hand
»I cant dear I cant« His cheeks were hot »I have an appointment«
»What appointment With whom«
»A friend It is something important Ill tell you another time«
»Tell me now Your sister is more to you than a friend I ask you to stay
with me Reuben«
In his haste he did not understand how great an effort over herself such
words as these implied The egoist rarely is moved to wonder at unusual
demonstrations made on his own behalf Miriam was holding his hand firmly but
he broke away Then he turned back took her in his arms and kissed her more
tenderly than he ever had done since he was a child Miriam had a smile of hope
but only for a moment After all he was gone
Chapter XI
In Due Course
A change of trains and half an hours delay at Manchester then on through
Lancashire civilization through fumes and evil smells and expanses of
greybuilt hideousness as far as the station called Bartles
Miriam remarked novelties as she alighted The long wooden platform which
used to be almost bare was now in part sheltered by a structure of iron and
glass There was a bookstall Porters were more numerous The old stationmaster
still bustled about he recognized her with a stare of curiosity but did not
approach to speak as formerly he would have done Miriam affected not to
observe him he had been wont to sit in the same chapel with her
The wooden stairs down into the road were supplanted by steps of stone and
below waited several cabs instead of the two she remembered »To Redbeck
House« The local odours were at all events the same as ever with what
intensity they revived the past Every wellknown object every familiar face
heightened the intolerable throbbing of her heart so that at length she drew
herself into a corner of the cab and looked at nothing
In the house itself nothing was new even the servants were the same Miriam
had left there Mrs Fletcher lived precisely the life of three and a half years
ago down to the most trivial habit used the same phrases wore the same kind
of dress To Miriam everything seemed unreal visionary her own voice sounded
strange for it was out of harmony with this resuscitated world She went up to
the room prepared for her and tried to shake off the nightmare oppression The
difficulty was to keep a natural consciousness of her own identity Above all
the scents in the air disturbed her confused her mind forced her to think in
forgotten ways about the things on which her eyes fell
The impressions of every moment were disagreeable now and then acutely
painful To what purpose had she faced this experience She might have foreseen
what the result would be and her presence here was unnecessary
But in an hour when her pulse again beat temperately she began to adjust
the relations between herself and these surroundings They no longer oppressed
her the sense of superiority which had been pleasant at a distance
reestablished itself and gave her a defiant strength such as she had hoped for
So far from the anxieties of her conscience being aggravated by return to
Bartles she could not recover that mode of feeling which had harassed her for
the last few months Like so many other things it had become insubstantial It
might revive but for the present she was safe against it
And this selfpossession was greatly aided by Mrs Fletchers talk From her
sisterinlaws letters though for the last two years they had been few Miriam
had formed some conception of the progress of Bartles opinion concerning
herself Now she led Mrs Fletcher to converse with native candour on this
subject and in the course of the evening which they spent alone all the
towns gossip since Miriams going abroad was gradually reported Mrs Fletcher
was careful to prevent the inference which would have been substantially
correct that she herself had been the source of such rumours as had set wagging
the tongues of dissident Bartles she spoke with much show of reluctance and
many protestations of the wrath that had been excited in her by those who were
credulous of ill Miriam confined herself to questioning she made no verbal
comments But occasionally she averted her face with a haughty smile
Mrs Welland the oncedreaded rival had established an unassailable
supremacy From her according to Mrs Fletcher proceeded most of the
scandalous suggestions which had attached themselves to Mrs Baskes name This
lady had not scrupled to state it as a fact in her certain knowledge that Mrs
Baske was become a Papist To this end it seemed was the suspicion of Bartles
mainly directed the Scarlet Woman throned by the Mediterranean had made a
victim of her who was once a light in the rereformed faith That was the
reason said Mrs Welland why the owner of Redbeck House continued to dwell in
foreign parts If ever she came back at all it would be as an insidious enemy
but more likely she would never return possibly her life would close in a
convent like that of other hapless Englishwomen whose personal property excited
the covetousness of the Pope In the Bartles newspaper there had appeared from
time to time enigmatic paragraphs which Mrs Welland and her intimates made
the subject of much gossip these passages alluded either to a certain new
chapel which seemed very long in getting its foundations laid or to a certain
former inhabitant of Bartles who found it necessary owing to the sad state of
her health to make long residence in Roman Catholic countries Mrs Fletcher
had preserved these newspapers and now produced them Miriam read and smiled
»Why didnt it occur to them to suggest that I had become an atheist«
Mrs Fletcher screamed with horror No no Bartles did not contain any one
so malicious as that After all whatever had been said was merely the outcome
of a natural disappointment All would be put right again Tomorrow was Sunday
and when Miriam appeared in the chapel
»I have no intention of going to chapel«
On Monday morning she returned to London Excepting Mrs Fletcher and her
daughters she had spoken with no one in Bartles She came away with a
contemptuous hatred of the place a resolve never to see it again
This had been the one thing needed to make Miriam as intolerant in
agnosticism as she formerly was in dogma Henceforth she felt the animosity of a
renegade In the course of a few hours her soul had completed its
transformation and at the incitement of that pride which had always been the
strongest motive within her Her old faith was now identified with the cackle of
Bartles and she flung it behind her with disdain
Not that she felt insulted by the supposition that she had turned Romanist
No single reason would account for her revolt which coming thus late was all
but as violent as that which had animated her brother from his boyhood
Intellectual progress had something to do with it for on approaching with new
eyes that narrow provincial life she could scarcely believe it had once been
her own and resented the memory of such a past But less worthy promptings were
more strongly operative The Bartles folk had a certain measure of right against
her she had ostentatiously promised them a chapel and how was her failure in
keeping the promise to be accounted for This justification of theirs chafed
her she felt the ire of one who has no right to be angry It shamed her
moreover to be reminded of the pretentious spirit which was the origin of this
trouble and to be shamed by her inferiors was to Miriam a venomed stab Then
again she saw no way of revenging herself Had she this morning possessed the
power of calling down fire from heaven Lancashire would shortly have missed one
of its ugliest little towns small doubt of that
No wonder a grave old gentleman who sat opposite on the journey to London
was constrained frequently to look at her As often as she forgot herself the
wrathful arrogance which boiled in her heart was revealed on her features the
strained brow the flashing eyes the sternset lips made a countenance not
often to be studied in the railwaycarriage
It was with distinct pleasure that she found herself again in London
Contrasted with her homes in the south London had depressed and discouraged
her but in this also did the visit to Bartles change her feeling She
understood now what had determined the Spences to make their abode once more in
London She too was in need of tonics for the mind The roar of the streets was
grateful to her it seemed to lull the painful excitement in which she had
travelled and at the same time to stimulate her courage Yes she could face
miseries better in London after all She could begin to work again and make
lofty that edifice of antidogmatic scorn which had now such solid foundations
She allowed nearly a week to pass before writing to Reuben When at length she
sent a note asking him either to come and see her or to make an appointment it
remained unanswered for three days then arrived a few hurried lines in which
he said that he had been out of town and was again on the point of leaving
home but he hoped to see her before long She waited always apprehensive of
ill What she divined of her brothers life was inextricably mingled with the
other causes of her suffering
One afternoon she returned from walking on the Chelsea Embankment and on
reaching the drawingroom door which was ajar heard a voice that made her
stand still She delayed an instant then entered and found Eleanor in
conversation with Mallard
He had been in London he said only a day or two Miriam inquired whether
Mrs Lessingham and Cecily had also left Rome Not yet he thought but
certainly they would be starting in a few days The conversation then went on
between Mallard and Eleanor Miriam holding a cup of tea only gave a brief
reply when it was necessary
»And now« said Eleanor »appoint a day for us to come and see your studio«
»You shall appoint it yourself«
»Then let us say tomorrow«
In speaking Eleanor turned interrogatively to Miriam who however said
nothing Mallard addressed her
»May I hope that you will come Mrs Baske«
His tone was to her ear as unsatisfying as could be he seemed to put the
question under constraint of civility But of course only one answer was
possible
So next day this visit was paid Spence also came Mallard had made
preparations A teaservice which would not have misbecome Eleanors own
drawingroom stood in readiness Pictures were examined tea was taken artistic
matters were discussed
And Miriam went away in uttermost discontent She felt that henceforth her
relations with Mallard were established on a perfectly conventional basis Her
dreams were left behind in Rome Here was no Vatican in which to idle and hope
for possible meetings The holiday was over Everything seemed of a sudden so
flat and commonplace that even her jealousy of Cecily faded for lack of
sustenance
Then she received a letter from Cecily herself announcing return within a
week From Reuben she had even yet heard nothing
A few days later as she was reading in her room between tea and
dinnertime Eleanor came in she held an evening newspaper and looked very
grave more than grave Miriam as soon as their eyes met went pale with
misgiving
»Theres something here« Eleanor began »that I must show you If I said
nothing about it you would see it all the same Sooner or later we should
speak of it«
»What is it About whom« Miriam asked with fearful impatience half
rising
»Your brother«
Miriam took the paper and read what was indicated It was the report of a
discreditable affair in journalistic language a fracas that had happened
the previous night at Notting Hill A certain musichall singer a lady who had
of late achieved popularity drove home about midnight accompanied by a
gentleman whose name was also familiar to the public at all events to that
portion of it which reads society journals and has an interest in racehorses
The pair had just alighted at the housedoor when they were hurriedly
approached by another gentleman who made some remark to the songstress
whereupon the individual known to fame struck him smartly with his
walkingstick The result was a personal conflict a rolling upon the pavement
a tearing of shirtcollars and the opportune arrival of police The gentleman
whose interference had led to the rencontre again to borrow the reporters
phrase and who was charged with assault by the other at first gave a false
name it had since transpired that he was a Mr R Elgar of Belsize Park
Miriam laid down the paper She had overcome her extreme agitation but
there was hot shame on her cheeks She tried to smile
»One would think he had contrived it for his wifes greeting on her return«
Eleanor was silent
»I am not much surprised« Miriam added »Nor you either I dare say«
»I have felt uneasy but I never pictured anything like this Can we do
anything Shall you go and see him«
»No«
They sat for some minutes without speaking then Miriam exclaimed angrily
»What right had she to go abroad alone«
»For anything we know Miriam she may have had only too good a reason«
»Then I dont see that it matters«
Eleanor sighed and after a little lingering but without further speech
went from the room
In the meantime Spence had entered the house Eleanor met him in the
drawingroom and held the paper to him with a silent indication of the
paragraph He read and with an exclamation of violent disgust threw the thing
aside His philosophy failed him for once
»What a blackguardly affair Does Miriam know«
»I have just shown it her Evidently she had a suspicion of what was going
on«
Spence muttered a little then regained something of his usual equanimity
»Our conjectures may be right« he said »Perhaps no revelation awaits her«
»I begin to think it very likely Oh it is hateful vile She oughtnt to
return to him«
»Pray what is she to do«
»I had rather she died than begin such a life«
»I see no help for her Her lot is that of many a woman no worse than
herself We both foresaw it Mallard foresaw it«
»I am afraid to look forward I dont think she is the kind of woman to
forgive again and again This will revolt her and there is no telling what she
may do«
»It is the old difficulty Short of killing herself whatever she does will
be the beginning of worse things In this respect theres no distinction
between Cecily and the wife of the costermonger Civilization is indifferent
Her life is marred and theres an end ont«
Eleanor turned away Her eyes were wet with tears of indignant sympathy
Chapter XII
Cecilys Return
On alighting at Charing Cross Cecily searched the platform for Reuben There
could be no doubt of his coming to meet her for she had written to tell him
that Mrs Lessingham would at once go into the country from another station and
she would thus be alone But she looked about and waited in vain In the end she
took a cab parted with her companion and drove homewards
It was more than a trivial disappointment On the journey she had felt a
longing for home a revival of affection she had tried to persuade herself that
this long separation would have made a happy change and that their life might
take a new colour Had Reuben appeared at the station she would have pressed
his hand warmly Her health had improved hope was again welcome It came not
like the hope of years ago radiant with eyes of ecstasy but sober homely a
gentle smile on its compassionate lips
His failure would easily be explained either he had mistaken the train or
something inevitable had hindered him possibly she had made a slip of the pen
in writing Nearing home she grew tremulous nervously impatient Before the
cab had stopped she threw the door open
The servant who admitted her wore an unusual expression but Cecily did not
observe this
»Mr Elgar is at home«
»No maam«
»When did he go out«
»He has not been at home for three days maam«
Cecily controlled herself
»There are some parcels in the cab Take them upstairs«
She went into the study and stood looking about her On the writingtable
lay some unopened letters all addressed to her husband also two or three that
had been read and thrown aside Whilst she was still at the mercy of her
confused thoughts the servant came and asked if she would pay the cabman
Then she ascended to the drawingroom and sat down Had her letter gone
astray But if he had not been home for three days and as appeared his
letters were not forwarded to him did not this prove supposing a miscarriage
of what she had written that he was not troubling himself about news from her
If he had received her letter and it ought to have arrived at least four days
ago what was the meaning of his absence
She shrank from questioning the servants further Presently without having
changed her dress she went down again to the library and reexamined the
letters waiting to be read and the handwriting was in each case unknown to her
Then she took up the letters that were open One was an invitation to dine one
the appeal of some charitable institution last a few lines from Mallard He
wrote asking Elgar to come and see him seemingly with no purpose beyond a wish
to reestablish friendly relations Cecily read the note again and again
wondering whether it had led to a meeting
Why had not the housekeeper made her appearance She rang the bell and the
woman came With as much composure as she could command Cecily inquired whether
Mr Elgar had spoken of her expected arrival Yes he had done so everything
had been made ready And had he left word when he himself should be back No he
had said nothing
Naturally she thought of going to the Spences but her dignity resisted
How could she seek information about her husband from friends It was difficult
to believe that he kept away voluntarily Would he not in any case have sent
word even though the excuse were untruthful What motive could he have for
treating her thus His last letter was longer and kinder than usual
She was troubling herself needlessly The simple explanation was of course
the true one He had been away in the country and had arranged to be back in
time to meet her at the station then some chance had intervened Doubtless he
would very soon present himself Her impatience and anxiety would never occur to
him what difference could a few hours make They were not on such loverlike
terms nowadays
Compelling herself to rest in this view she made a change of clothing and
again summoned the housekeeper this time for discussion of domestic details
Cecily had no feminine delight in such matters for their own sake the butcher
the baker and the candlestickmaker were necessary evils to be put out of mind
as soon as possible She learned incidentally that Reuben had been a great deal
from home but this did not surprise her She had never imagined him leading a
methodical life between Belsize Park and the British Museum That was not in
his nature
At the usual hour she had luncheon Shortly after when her patience was
yielding to fears fears which in truth she had only masked with the show of
explanation a letter was brought in But nothing to the purpose It came from
Zillah Denyer who began with apologies for writing and expressed uncertainty
whether Mrs Elgar had yet returned from abroad then went on to say that her
sister Madeline had been suffering dreadfully of late »Perhaps you know that
Mrs Travis has left us Madeline has missed her company very much and often
longs to see the face of some visitor She speaks of the one visit you paid her
and would so like to see you again Forgive me for asking if you could spare
half an hour The evening is best I venture to say this as you came in the
evening before«
Cecily forgot herself for a few minutes in sorrows graver than her own Her
impression after the one visit had been that Madeline would not greatly care for
her to repeat it this it seemed was a mistake So Mrs Travis had left her
lodgings She heard of it for the first time
About halfpast three there sounded the knock of a visitor at the house
door Expecting no one Cecily had given no directions the parlourmaid hurried
upstairs to ask if she was at home She replied that the name must first be
announced to her
It was Mrs Travis Cecily hesitated but decided to receive her
Though the intercourse between them had been resumed it was with a
restraint on both sides that seemed to forbid the prospect of friendship They
had met two or three times only once it was in the Denyers house and on that
occasion Cecily had renewed her acquaintance with the family and sat a little
with Madeline Interest in each other they certainly felt but not in like
degrees Mrs Travis showed herself more strongly attracted to Cecily than
Cecily was to her as it had been from the first That this was the attraction
of simple liking and goodwill Cecily could never quite convince herself Mrs
Travis always seemed to be studying her and sometimes in a spirit of curiosity
that was disagreeable But at the same time she was so manifestly in need of
sympathetic companionship and allowed such sad glimpses into her own wrecked
life that Cecily could not reject her nor even feel with actual coldness
»Have you been home long« the visitor asked as they shook hands
»A few hours only«
»Indeed You have arrived today«
They sat down Mrs Travis fixed her eyes on Cecily
»I hardly hoped to find you«
»I should have let you know that I was back«
Their conversations were accustomed to begin awkwardly constrainedly They
never spoke of ordinary topics and each seemed to wait for a suggestion of the
others mood At present Cecily was uneasy under her visitors gaze which was
stranger and more inquisitive than usual
»So you have left the Denyers« she said
»From whom did you hear«
»I have just had a note from Zillah Denyer about Madeline She merely
mentions that you are no longer there«
»I ought to go and see them but I cant today«
»Have you been in London all the time«
»Yes I have gone back to my husband«
It was spoken in a matteroffact tone obviously assumed which was very
incongruous with the feeling it excited in Cecily She could not hear the
announcement without an astonished look
»Of your own free will« she asked in a diffident voice
»Oh yes That is to say he persuaded me«
Their eyes met and Cecily had an impulse of distrust more decided than she
had ever felt She could not find anything to say and by keeping silence she
hoped the interview might be shortened
»You are disposed to feel contempt for me« Mrs Travis added after a few
moments
»No one can judge another in such things It is your own affair Mrs
Travis«
»Yes but you despise me for my weakness naturally you do Had you no
suspicion that it would end again in this way«
»I simply believed what you told me«
»That nothing would induce me to return to him That is how women talk you
know We are all very much the same«
Again Cecily kept silence Mrs Travis observing her saw an offended look
rise to her face
»I mean we are few of us us women strong enough to hold out against
natural and social laws We feel indignant we suffer more than men can imagine
but we have to yield But it is true that most women are wise enough not to act
in my way You are quite right to despise me«
»Why do you repeat that It is possible you are acting quite rightly How
should I be able to judge«
»I am not acting rightly« said the other with bitterness »Two courses are
open to a woman in my position Either she must suffer in silence care nothing
for the worlds talk take it for granted that at any cost she remains under
her husbands roof or she must leave him once and for ever and regard herself
as a free woman The first is the ordinary choice most women are forced into it
by circumstances very few have courage and strength for the second But to do
first one thing then the other to be now weak and now strong to yield to the
world one day and defy it the next and then to yield again that is base
Such a woman is a traitor to her sex«
Cecily did not lift her eyes She heard the speakers voice tremble and
could not bear to look at her face Her heart was sinking though she knew not
exactly what oppressed her There was a long silence then Cecily spoke
»If your husband persuaded you to return it must have been that you still
have affection for him«
»The feeling is not worthy of that name«
»That is for yourself to determine Why should we talk of it«
Looking up Cecily found the others eyes again fixed on her It was as
though this strange gaze were meant to be a reply
»Would it not be better« she continued »if we didnt speak of these
things If it could do any good But surely it cannot«
»Sympathy is good offered or received«
»I do sympathize with you in your difficulties«
»But you do not care to receive mine« replied Mrs Travis in an undertone
Cecily gazed at her with changed eyes inquiring offended fearful
»What need have I of your sympathy Mrs Travis« she asked distantly
»None I see« answered the other with a scarcely perceptible smile
»I dont understand you Please let us never talk in this way again«
»Never if you will first let me say one thing You remember that Mr Elgar
once had doubts about my character He was anxious on your account lest you
should be friendly with a person who was not all he could desire from the moral
point of view He did me justice at last but it was very painful as you will
understand to be suspected by one who embodies such high morality«
There was no virulence in her tone she spoke as though quietly defending
herself against some unkindness But Cecily could not escape her eyes which
searched and stabbed
»Why do you say this«
»Because I am weak and therefore envious Why should you reject my
sympathy I could be a better friend to you than any you have I myself have no
friend I cant make myself liked I feel dreadfully alone without a soul who
cares for me I am my husbands plaything and of course he scorns me I am sure
he laughs at me with his friends and mistresses And you too scorn me though I
have tried to make you my friend Of course it is all at an end between us now
I understand your nature it isnt quite what I thought«
Cecily heard but scarcely with understanding The word for which she was
waiting did not come
»Why« she asked »do you speak of offering me sympathy What do you hint
at«
»Seriously you dont know«
»I dont« was the cold answer
»Why did you go abroad without your husband«
It came upon Cecily with a shock Were people discussing her and thus
interpreting her actions
»Surely that is my own business Mrs Travis I was in poor health and my
husband was too busy to accompany me«
»That is the simple truth from your point of view«
»How have you done me the honour to understand me«
Mrs Travis examined her then put another question
»Have you seen your husband since you arrived«
»No I have not«
»And you dont know that he is being talked about everywhere not exactly
for his moral qualities«
Cecily was mute Thereupon Mrs Travis opened the little sealskinbag that
lay on her lap and took out a newspaper She held it to Cecily pointing to a
certain report It was a long account of lively proceedings at a policecourt
Cecily read When she had come to the end her eyes remained on the paper She
did not move until Mrs Travis put out a hand and touched hers then she drew
back as in repugnance
»You had heard nothing of this«
Cecily did not reply Thereupon Mrs Travis again opened her little bag and
took out a cabinet photograph It represented a young woman in tights her arms
folded one foot across the other the face was vulgarly piquant and wore a
smile which made eloquent declaration of its price
»That is the lady« said Mrs Travis with a slight emphasis on the last
word
Cecily looked for an instant only There was perfect silence for a minute or
two after that then Cecily rose She did not speak but the other also rising
said
»I shouldnt have come if I had known you were still ignorant But now you
can and will think the worst of me from this day you will hate me«
»I am not sure« replied Cecily »that you havent some strange pleasure in
what you have been telling me but I know you are very unhappy and that alone
would prevent me from hating you I cant be your friend it is true we are too
unlike in our tempers and habits of thought Let us shake hands and say
goodbye«
But Mrs Travis refused her hand and with a look of bitter suffering which
tried to appear resignation went from the room
Cecily felt a cold burden upon her heart She sat in a posture of
listlessness corresponding to the weary misery numbing instead of torturing
which possessed her now that the shock was over Perhaps the strange manner of
the revelation tended to produce this result the strong selfcontrol which she
had exercised the mingling of incongruous emotions the sudden end of her
expectation brought about a mood resembling apathy
She began presently to reflect to readjust her view of the life she had
been living It seemed to her now unaccountable that she had been so little
troubled with fears Ignorance of the world had not blinded her nor was she
unaware of her husbands history But the truth was that she had not cared to
entertain suspicion For a long time she had not seriously occupied her mind
with Reuben Selfabsorbed she was practically content to let happen what
would provided it called for no interference of hers Her indifference had
reached the point of idly accepting the present and taking for granted that
things would always be much the same
Yet she knew the kind of danger to which Reuben was exposed from the hour
when her indifference declared itself it was present to her imagination when he
chose to remain alone in London But such thoughts were vague impalpable She
had never realized a picture of such degradation as this which had just stamped
itself upon her brain In her surmises jealousy had no part and therefore
nothing was conceived in detail In the certainty that he no longer loved her
with love of the nobler kind did it matter much what he concealed But this
flagrant shame had never threatened her This was indeed the experience in
which as Reuben had insisted she was lacking
No difficulty in understanding now why he kept away Would he ever come Or
had he determined that their life in common was no longer possible and resolved
to spare her the necessity of saying that they were no longer husband and wife
Doubtless that was what he expected to hear from her his view of her character
which she understood sufficiently well would lead him to think that
But she had no impulse to leave his house The example of Mrs Travis was
too near Escape with or without melodramatic notes of farewell never
suggested itself She knew that it was a practical impossibility to make that
absolute severance of their lives without which they were still man and wife
though at a distance from each other they must still be linked by material
interests by common acquaintances The end of sham heroics would come sooner
or later in the same way as to Mrs Travis How was her life different from
what it had been yesterday By an addition of shame and scorn that was all
actually nothing was altered When Reuben heard that she was remaining at home
he would come to her Perhaps they might go to live in some other place that
was all
Tea was brought in but she paid no heed to it Sunset and twilight came
the room grew dusk then the servants appeared with lamps She dined returned
to the drawingroom and took up a book she had been reading on her journey It
was a volume of Quinet and insensibly its interest concentrated her attention
She read for nearly two hours
Then she was tired of it and began to move restlessly about Again she grew
impatient of the uncertainty whether Reuben would return tonight She lay upon
a couch and tried to forget herself in recollection of faroff places and
people But instead of the pictures she wished to form there kept coming before
her mind the repulsive photograph which Mrs Travis had produced Though she had
barely glanced at it she saw it distinctly the tawdry costume the ignoble
attitude the shameless and sordid face It polluted her imagination
Jealousy of a woman such as that Had she still loved him she must have
broken her heart to think that he could fall so low If it had been told her
that he was overcome by passion for a woman of some nobleness she could have
heard it with resignation in that there would have been nothing base But the
choice he had made would not allow her even the consolation of reflecting that
she felt no jealousy it compelled her to involve him in the scorn if not in
the loathing with which that portrait inspired her
That he merely had ceased to love her what right had she to blame him The
very word of blame was unmeaning in such reference In this at all events his
fatalism had become her own way of thinking To talk of controlling love is
nonsensical dead love is dead beyond hope But need one sink into a slough of
vileness
At midnight she went to her bedroom He would not come now
Sleep seemed far from her and yet before the clock struck one she had
fallen into a painful slumber When she awoke it was to toss and writhe for
hours in uttermost misery She could neither sleep nor command a train of
thoughts At times she sobbed and wailed in her suffering
No letter arrived in the morning She could no longer read and knew not how
to pass the hours In some way she must put an end to her intolerable
loneliness but she could not decide how to act Reuben might come today she
wished it that the meeting might be over and done with
But the long torment of her nerves had caused a change of mood She was
feverish now and impatience grew to resentment The emotions which were
yesterday so dulled began to stir in her heart and brain Walking about the
room unable to occupy herself for a moment she felt as though fetters were
upon her this house had become a prison her life was that of a captive without
hope of release
There came in her a sudden outbreak of passionate indignation at the unequal
hardships of a womans lot Often as she had read and heard and talked of this
she seemed to understand it for the first time now first was it real to her in
the sense of an ill that goads and tortures Not society alone was chargeable
with the injustice nature herself had dealt cruelly with woman Constituted as
she is limited as she is by inexorable laws by what refinement of malice is
she endowed with energies and desires like to those of men She should have been
made a creature of sluggish brain of torpid pulse then she might have
discharged her natural duties without exposure to fever and pain and remorse
such as man never knows
She asked no liberty to be vile as her husband made himself but that she
was denied an equal freedom to exercise all her powers to enrich her life with
experiences of joy this fired her to revolt A woman who belongs to the old
education readily believes that it is not to experiences of joy but of sorrow
that she must look for her true blessedness her ideal is one of renunciation
religious motive is in her enforced by what she deems the obligation of her sex
But Cecily was of the new world the emancipated order For a time she might
accept misery as her inalienable lot but her youthful years fed with the new
philosophy must in the end rebel
Could she live with such a man without sooner or later taking a taint of his
ignobleness His path was downwards and how could she hope to keep her own
course in independence of him It shamed her that she had ever loved him But
indeed she had not loved the Reuben that now was the better part of him was
then predominant No matter that he was changed no matter how low he descended
she must still be bound to him Whereas he acknowledged no mutual bond he was a
man and therefore in practice free
Yet she was as far as ever from projecting escape The unjust law was still
a law and irresistible Had it been her case that she loved some other man and
his return of love claimed her then indeed she might dare anything and break
her chains But the power of love seemed as dead in her as the passion she had
once and only once conceived She was utterly alone
Morning and noon went by She had exhausted herself with ceaseless movement
and now for two or three hours lay on a couch as if asleep The fever burned
upon her forhead and in her breath
But at length endurance reached its limits As she lay still a thought had
taken possession of her at first rejected again and again but always
returning and with more tempting persistency She could not begin another night
without having spoken to some one She seemed to have been foresaken for days
there was no knowing how long she might live here in solitude When it was
nearly five oclock she went to her bedroom and prepared for going out
When ready she met the servant who was bringing up tea
»I shall not want it« she said »And probably I shall not dine at home
Nothing need be prepared«
She entered the library and took up from the writingtable Mallards note
she looked at the address that was on it
Then she left the house and summoned the first vacant cab
Chapter XIII
Onward to the Vague
The cab drew up in a quiet road in Chelsea by a gateway opening into a yard
Cecily alighted and paid the driver
»Be good enough to wait a minute or two« she said »I may need you again at
once But if I am longer I shall not be coming«
Entering the yard she came in front of a row of studios on the door of
each was the tenants name and she easily discovered that of Ross Mallard This
door was half open she looked in and saw a flight of stairs Having ascended
these she came to another door which was closed Here her purpose seemed to
falter she looked back and held her hand for a moment against her cheek But
at length she knocked There was no answer She knocked again more loudly
leaning forward to listen and this time there came a distant shout for reply
Interpreting it as summons to enter she turned the handle the door opened and
she stepped into a little antechamber From a room within came another shout
now intelligible
»Whos there«
She advanced raised a curtain and found herself in the studio but hidden
behind some large canvases There was a sound of some one moving and when she
had taken another step Mallard himself pipe in mouth came face to face with
her With a startled look he took the pipe from his lips and stood regarding
her she met his gaze with the same involuntary steadiness
»Are you alone Mr Mallard« fell at length from her
»Yes Come and sit down«
There was a gruffness in the invitation which under ordinary circumstances
would have repelled a visitor But Cecily was so glad to hear the familiar voice
that its tone mattered nothing she followed him and seated herself where he
bade her There was much tobaccosmoke in the air Mallard opened a window She
watched him with timid anxious eyes Then without looking at her he sat down
near an easel on which was his painting of the temples of Pæstum This canvas
held Cecilys gaze for a moment
»When did you get home« Mallard asked abruptly
»Yesterday morning«
»Mrs Lessingham went on I suppose«
»Yes I have been alone ever since except that a visitor called«
»Alone«
She met his eyes and asked falteringly
»You know why You have heard about it«
»Do you mean what happened the other day« he returned in a voice that
sounded careless unsympathetic
»Yes«
»I know that of course Where is your husband«
»I have neither seen him nor heard from him I shouldnt have understood why
he kept away but for the visitor that came a lady she showed me a newspaper«
Mallard knit his brows and now scowled at her askance now looked away His
visage was profoundly troubled There was silence for some moments Cecilys
eyes wandered unconsciously over the paintings and other objects about her
»You have come to ask me if I know where he is«
She failed in her attempt to reply
»I am sorry that I cant tell you I know nothing of him But perhaps Mrs
Baske does You know their address«
»I didnt come for that« she answered with decision her features working
painfully »It is not my part to seek for him«
»Then how can I help you« Mallard asked still gruffly but with more
evidence of the feeling that his tone disguised
»You cant help me Mr Mallard How could any one help me I was utterly
alone and I wanted to hear a friends voice«
»That is only natural It is impossible for you to remain alone You dont
feel able to go to Mrs Baske«
She shook her head
»But your aunt will come You have written to her«
»No I had rather she didnt come It seems strange to you that I should
bring my troubles here when it can only pain you to see me and to have to
speak But I am not seeking comfort or support not of the kind you naturally
think I need«
As he watched the workings of her lips the helpless misery in her young
eyes the endeavour for selfcommand and the struggles of womanly pride Mallard
remembered how distinctly he had foreseen this in his past hours of anguish It
was hard to grasp the present as a reality at moments he seemed only to be
witnessing the phantoms of his imagination The years that had vanished were so
insubstantial in memory now and then what was it that divided the two This
that was today a fact was it not equally so when Cecily walked by his side at
Baiæ That which is to come already is In the stress of a deep emotion we
sometimes are made conscious of this unity of things and the effect of such
spiritual vision is a nobler calm than comes of mere acquiescence in human
blindness
»I came here« Cecily was continuing »because I had something to say to you
something I shall never say to any one else You were my guardian when I was a
child and I have always thought of you as more than a simple friend I want to
fulfil a duty to you I owe you gratitude and I shall have no rest till I have
spoken it told you how deeply I feel it«
Mallard interrupted her for every word seemed to be wrung from her by pain
and he felt like one who listens to a forced confession
»Dont give way to this prompting« he said with kind firmness »I
understand and it is enough You are not yourself dont speak whilst you are
suffering so«
»My worst suffering would be not to speak« she replied with increased
agitation »I must say what I came to say then I can go and face whatever is
before me I want to tell you how right you were You told me through Mrs
Lessingham how strongly you disapproved of my marrying at once you wished me to
take no irrevocable step till I knew myself and him better You did everything
in your power to prevent me from committing a childish folly But I paid no
regard to you I ought to have held your wish sacred I owed you respect and
obedience But I chose my own foolish way and now that I know how right you
were I feel the need of thanking you You would have saved me if you could It
is a simple duty in me to acknowledge this now I know it«
Mallard rose and stood for a minute looking absently at the temples Then he
turned gravely towards her
»If it has really lightened your mind to say this I am content to have
heard it But let it end there there is no good in such thoughts and speeches
They are hysterical and you dont like to be thought that Such a service as
you believe I might have rendered you is so very doubtful so entirely a matter
of suppositions and probabilities and possibilities that we cant talk of it
seriously I acted as any guardian was bound to act under the circumstances
You on the other hand took the course that young people have taken from time
immemorial The past is past it is worse than vain to revive it Come now let
us talk for a few minutes quietly«
Cecilys head was bent He saw that her bosom heaved but on her face there
was no foreboding of tears The strong impulse having had its way she seemed to
be recovering self command
»By the bye« he asked »how did you know where to find me«
»I found a letter of yours lying open Did he answer your invitation«
»Yes he wrote a few lines saying he would come before long But I havent
seen him What do you intend to do when you leave me«
»Go home again and wait« she answered with quiet sadness
»In solitude And what assurance have you that he means to come«
»None whatever But where else should I go but home My place is there
until I have heard his pleasure«
It was mournfully unlike her this bitter tone Her eyes were fixed upon the
picture again Looking at her Mallard was moved by something of the same
indignant spirit that was still strong in her heart Her pure and finewrought
beauty so subtle in expression of the souls life touched him with a sense of
deepest pathos It revolted him to think of her in connection with those
brutalities of the newspaper he had a movement of rebellion against the
undiscerning rigour of social rule Disinterested absolutely but he averted his
face lest she should have a suspicion of what he thought
In spite of that he was greatly relieved to hear her purpose He had feared
other things It was hateful that she should remain the wife of such a man as
Elgar but what refuge was open to her The law that demands sacrifice of the
noble few on behalf of the ignoble many is too swift and sure in avenging itself
when defied It was well that she had constrained herself to accept the
inevitable
»You will write this evening to Mrs Lessingham« he said in a tone of
assuredness
»Why do you wish me to do that« she asked looking at him
»Because of the possibility of your still being left alone You are not able
to bear that«
»Yes I can bear anything that is necessary now« she answered firmly »If
it was weakness to come here and say what I have said then my weakness is over
Mrs Lessingham is enjoying herself with friends why should I disturb her What
have I to say to her or to any one«
»Suppose an indefinite time goes by and you are still alone«
»In that case I shall be able to arrange my life as other such women do I
shall find occupation the one thing I greatly need My gravest misfortune is
that I feel the ability to do something but do not know what Since the death
of my child that is what has weighed upon me most«
Mallard reflected upon this He could easily understand its truth He felt
assured that Miriam suffered in much the same way having reached the same
result by so very different a process of development But it was equally clear
to him that neither of these women really could do anything it was not their
function to do but to be Eleanor Spence would in all likelihood have
illustrated the same unhappy problem had it been her lot to struggle against
adverse conditions she lived the natural life of an educated woman and
therefore was beset by no questionings as to her capacities and duties So long
however as the educated woman is the exceptional woman of course it will
likewise be exceptional for her life to direct itself in a calm course
To discuss such questions with Cecily was impossible How should he say to
her »You have missed your chance of natural happiness and it will only be by
the strangest good fortune if you ever again find yourself in harmony with
fate« Mallard had far too much discretion to assume the part of lay preacher
and involve himself in the dangers of suggesting comfort The situation was
delicate enough and all his efforts were directed to subduing its tone After a
pause he said to her
»Have you taken your meals today«
She smiled a little
»Yes But I am thirsty Can you give me a glass of water«
»Are you very thirsty Can you wait a quarter of an hour«
With a look of inquiry as to his meaning she answered that she could
Mallard nodded and began to busy himself in a corner of the studio She saw
that he was lighting a spiritlamp and putting a kettle over it She made no
remark it was soothing to sit here in this companionship and feel the feverish
heat in her veins gradually assuaged Mallard kept silence and when he saw her
beginning to look around at the pictures he threw out a word or two concerning
them She rose to see better and moved about now and then putting a question
In little more than the stipulated time tea was prepared After a short
withdrawal to the anteroom Mallard produced some delicate slices of bread and
butter Cecily ate and drank As it was growing dusk the artist lit a lamp
»You know« she said again turning her eyes to the pictures »that I used
to pretend to draw to make poor little sketches Would there be any hope of my
doing anything not good but almost good if I began again and worked
seriously«
He would rather have avoided answering such a question but perhaps the
least dangerous way of replying was to give moderate approval
»At all events you would soon find whether it was worth while going on or
not You might take some lessons it would be easy to find some lady quite
competent to help you in the beginning«
She kept silence for a little then said that she would think about it
Mallard had left his seat and remained standing When both had been busy
with their thoughts for several minutes Cecily also rose
»I must ask a promise from you before you go« Mallard said as soon as she
had moved »If you are still alone tomorrow you promise me to communicate with
Mrs Lessingham Whether you wish to do so or not is nothing to the point«
She hesitated but gave her promise
»That is enough your word gives me assurance You are going straight home
Then I will send for a cab«
In a few minutes the cab was ready at the gate Mallard resolved to behave
as though this were the most ordinary of visits put on his hat and led the way
downstairs They went out into the road and then Cecily turned to give him her
hand He looked at her and for the first time spoke on an impulse
»Its a long drive Will you let me come a part of the way with you«
»I shall be very glad«
They entered the hansom and drove off
The few words that passed between them were with reference to Mrs
Lessingham Mallard inquired about her plans for the summer and Cecily answered
as far as she was able When they had reached the neighbourhood of Regents
Park he asked permission to stop the cab and take his leave Cecily acquiesced
From the pavement he shook hands with her seeing her face but dimly by the
lamplight she said only »Thank you« and the cab bore her away
Carried onward with closed eyes as if in selfabandonment to her fate
Cecily thought with more repugnance of home the nearer she drew to it It was
not likely that Reuben had returned there would be again an endless evening of
misery in solitude When the cab was at the end of Belsize Park she called the
drivers attention and bade him drive on to a certain other address that of
the Denyers Zillahs letter of appeal all but forgotten had suddenly come to
mind and revived her sympathies Was there not some resemblance between her
affliction and that of poor Madeline Her own life had suffered a paralysis
helpless amid the ruin of her hopes she could look forward to nothing but long
endurance
On arriving she asked for Mrs Denyer but that lady was from home Miss
Zillah then She was led into the front room on the ground floor and waited
there for several minutes
At length Zillah came in hurriedly excusing herself for being so long This
youngest of the Denyers was now a tall awkward plain girl with a fixed
expression of trouble in talking she writhed her fingers together and gave
other signs of nervousness she spoke in quick short sentences often breaking
off in embarrassment During the years of her absence from home as a teacher
Zillah had undergone a spiritual change relieved from the necessity of
sustaining the Denyer tone she had by degrees ceased to practise affectation
with herself and one by one the characteristics of an emancipated person had
fallen from her Living with a perfectly conventional family she adopted not
only the forms of their faith in which she had of course no choice but at
length the habit of their minds with a profound sense of solace she avowed her
selfdeceptions and became what nature willed her to be a daughter of the
Church The calamities that had befallen her family had all worked in this
direction with her and now that her daily life was in a sickchamber she put
forth all her best qualities finding in accepted creeds that kind of support
which only the very few among women can sincerely dispense with
»She has been very very ill the last few days« was her reply to Cecilys
inquiry »I dont venture to leave her for more than a few minutes«
»Mrs Denyer is away«
»Yes she is staying at Sir Rolands in Lincolnshire Barbara and her
husband are there and they sent her an invitation«
»But havent you a nurse«
»Im afraid I shall be obliged to find one«
»Can I help you tonight Do let me I have only been home two days and
came in reply to your letter as soon as I could«
They went up to Zillahs room and Cecily threw aside her outofdoor
clothing Then they silently entered the sickchamber
Madeline was greatly changed in the short time since Cecily had seen her
Ceaseless pain had worn away the last traces of her girlish beauty the drawn
features the deadened eyes offered hope that an end must come before long She
gave a look of recognition as the visitor approached her but did not attempt to
speak
»Are you easier again dear« Zillah asked bending over her
»Yes«
»Mrs Elgar would like to stay with you a little She wont ask you to
talk«
»Very well Go and rest while she stays«
»Yes go and lie down« urged Cecily »Please do I will call you at once if
it is necessary«
Zillah was persuaded and Cecily took her seat alone by the bedside She had
lost all thought of herself The tremor which possessed her when she entered was
subsiding the unutterable mournfulness of this little room made everything
external to it seem of small account She knew not whether it was better to
speak or remain mute and when silence had lasted for a few minutes she could
not trust her voice to break it But at length the motionless girl addressed
her
»Have you enjoyed yourself in Italy«
»Not much I have not been very well« Cecily answered leaning forward
»Did you go to Naples«
»Only as far as Rome«
»How can any one be in Italy and not go to Naples« said Madeline in a low
tone of wonder
Silence came again Cecily listened to the sound of breathing Madeline
coughed and seemed to make a fruitless effort to speak then she commanded her
voice
»I took a dislike to you at Naples« she said with the simple directness of
one who no longer understands why every thought should not be expressed »It
began when you showed that you didnt care for Mr Marshs drawings It is
strange to think of that now You know I was engaged to Mr Marsh«
»Yes«
»He used to write me letters I mean since this But it is a long time
since the last came No doubt he is married now It would have been better if he
had told me and not just ceased to write I want Zillah to write to him for me
but she doesnt like to«
»Why do you think he is married« Cecily asked
»Isnt it natural Im not so foolish as to wish to prevent him Its
nothing to me now I should even be glad to hear of it He ought to marry some
goodnatured ordinary kind of girl who has money Of course you were right
about his drawings he was no artist really But I had a liking for him«
Cecily wondered whether it would be wise or unwise to tell what she knew
The balance seemed in favour of holding her peace In a few minutes Madeline
moaned a little
»You are in pain«
»Thats nothing pain pain I find it hard to understand that life is
anything but pain I cant live much longer thats the one comfort Death
doesnt mean pain but the end of it Yesterday I felt myself sinking sinking
and I said Now this is the end and I could have cried with joy But Zillah
gave me something and I came back Thats cruelty you know They ought to help
us to die instead of keeping us alive in pain If doctors had any sense they
would help us to die there are so many simple ways You see the little bottle
with the blue label look round the little bottle with the measure near it If
only it had been left within my reach They call it poison when you take too
much of it but poison means sleep and rest and the end of pain«
Cecily listened as though some one spoke from beyond the grave that strange
voice made all the world unreal
»Do you believe in a life after this« asked Madeline with earnestness
»I know nothing« was the answer
»Neither do I It matters nothing to me All I have to do is to die and
then whatever comes will come Poor Zillah does her best to persuade me that she
does know I shall try to seem as if I believed her Why should I give her pain
What does it matter if she is wrong She is a kind sister to me and I shall
pretend that I believe her Perhaps she is right She may be maynt she«
»She may be«
»Its good of you to come and sit here while she rests She hasnt gone to
bed for two nights Shes the only one of us that cares for me Barbara has got
her husband well Im glad of that And theres no knowing she might live to
be Lady Musselwhite Sir Roland hasnt any children Doesnt it make you laugh«
She herself tried to laugh a ghostly sound It seemed to exhaust her For
half an hour no word was spoken Then Cecily who had fallen into brooding
heard herself called by a strange name
»Miss Doran«
She rose and bent over the bed startled by this summons from the dead past
»Can I do anything for you Madeline«
The heavy eyes looked at her in a perplexed way They seemed to be just
awaking and Madeline smiled faintly
»Didnt I call you Miss Doran I was thinking about you and got confused
But you are married of course What is your name now I cant remember«
»Mrs Elgar«
»How silly of me Mrs Elgar of course Are you happily married«
»Why do you ask«
For the first time she remembered the possibility that the Denyers knew of
her disgrace But Madelines reply seemed to prove that she at all events had
no such thing in mind
»I was only trying to remember whom you married Yes yes you told us about
it before Or else Mrs Travis told me«
»What did she say«
»Only that you had married for love as every woman ought to But she is
very unhappy Perhaps that would have been my own lot if I had lived I dare say
I should have been married long ago What does it matter But as long as one is
born at all one might as well live life through see the best as well as the
worst of it Its been all worst with me Oh thats coming again That
wishing and rebelling and despairing I thought it was all over You stand there
and look at me that is you and this is I this this I am lying here waiting
for death and burial You have the husband you love and long years of happy
life before you Do you feel sorry for me Suppose it was you who lay here«
The same question she had put to Mrs Travis but now spoken in a more
anguished voice The tears streamed from Cecilys eyes
»You cry like Zillah does when she tries to persuade me I dont know
whether I had rather be pitied or lie quite alone But dont cry You shant go
away and be made miserable by thinking of me I can bear it all well enough
there cant be much more of it you know Sit down again if you have time
Perhaps you want to go somewhere tonight to see friends«
»No I will stay with you as long as ever you wish«
Presently the conversation ceased and then for nearly three hours Cecily
listened to the sound of breathing At length the door softly opened and Zillah
came in She was distressed it had struck twelve long since and only now had
she awoke from sleep Cecily entreated her to go and sleep again she herself
had no desire to close her eyes
»But what will Mr Elgar think has become of you«
»He is not at home tonight Let me have my way theres a good girl«
Zillah whose eyelids could scarcely be supported at length went back to
her room Madeline still slept with unusual calmness The vigil was resumed
and nothing again disturbed it until white dawn began to glimmer at the windows
Then Madeline awoke with a sudden loud cry of anguish Cecily aroused from
slumber which was just beginning sprang up and spoke to her But the cry seemed
to have been the end of her power of utterance she moved her lips and looked up
fearfully Cecily hastened to summon Zillah
Chapter XIV
Suggestion and Assurance
When Miriam went out by herself to walk either going or returning she took the
road in which was Mallards studio She kept on the side opposite the gateway
and in passing seemed to have no particular interest in anything at hand A
model who one day came out of the gate and made inspection of the handsomely
attired lady just going by little suspected for what purpose she walked in this
locality
And so it befell that Miriam was drawing near to the studios at the moment
when a cab stopped there at the moment when Cecily alighted from it Instantly
recognizing her sisterinlaw Miriam thought it inevitable that she herself
must be observed for an instant her foot was checked But Cecily paid the
driver without looking this way or that and entered the gateway Miriam walked
on for a few paces then glanced back and saw the cab waiting She reached the
turning of the road and still the cab waited Another moment and it drove away
empty
She stood and watched it until it disappeared in the opposite direction
Heedless of one or two people who came by she remained on the spot for several
minutes gazing towards the studios Presently she moved that way again She
passed the gate and walked on to the farther end of the road always with
glances at the gate Then she waited again and then began to retrace her steps
How many times backwards and forwards She neither knew nor cared it was
indifferent to her whether or not she was observed from the windows of certain
houses She felt no weariness of body but time seemed endless The longer she
stood or walked the longer was Cecily there within For what purpose Yesterday
she was to arrive in London today she doubtless knew all that had been going
on in her absence And dusk fell and twilight thickened The streetlamps were
lit But Cecily still remained within
Twice or thrice some one entered or left the studioyard strangers to
Miriam At length there came forth a man who after looking about hurried away
and in a few minutes returned with a hansom following him Seeing that it
stopped at the gateway she approached as close as she durst keeping in shadow
There issued two persons whom at once she knew Cecily with Mallard They
spoke together a moment then both got into the vehicle and drove away
That evening Miriam had an engagement to dine out together with the Spences
When she reached home Eleanor dressed ready for departure and not a little
impatient met her in the entrancehall
»Have you forgotten«
»No I am very sorry that I couldnt get back sooner What is the time«
It was too late for Miriam to dress and reach her destination at the
appointed hour
»You must go without me I hope it doesnt matter They are not the kind of
people who plan for their guests to go like the animals of Noahs ark«
This was a sally of unwonted liveliness from Miriam and it did not suit
very well with her jaded face
»Will you come after dinner« Eleanor asked
»Yes I will Make some excuse for me«
So Miriam dined alone or made a pretence of doing so and at nine oclock
joined her friends Through the evening she talked far more freely than usual
and with a frequency of caustic remark which made one or two mild ladies rather
afraid of her
At halfpast nine next morning when she and Eleanor were talking over a
letter Mrs Spence had just received from Greece a servant came into the
drawingroom to say that Mr Elgar wished to speak with Mrs Baske The ladies
looked at each other then Miriam directed that the visitor should go up to her
own sittingroom
»This has something to do with Cecily« said Eleanor in a low voice
»Probably«
And Miriam turned away
As she entered her room Reuben faced her standing close by He looked
miserably ill the wreck of a man compared with what he had been at his last
visit When the door was shut he asked without preface and in an anxious tone
»Can you tell me where Cecily is«
Miriam laid her hand on a chair and met his gaze
»Where she is«
»She isnt at home Havent you heard of her«
»Since when has she been away«
Her manner of questioning seemed to Elgar to prove that her own surprise was
as great as his
»I only went there last night« he said »about eleven oclock She had been
in the house since her arrival the day before yesterday but in the afternoon
she went out and didnt return She left no word and theres nothing from her
this morning I thought it likely you had heard something«
»I have heard many things but not about her«
»Of course I know that« he exclaimed impatiently averting his eyes for a
moment »I havent come to talk but to ask you a simple question You have no
idea where she is«
Miriam moved a few steps away and seated herself But almost at once she
arose again
»Why didnt you go home before last night« she asked harshly
»I tell you I am not going to talk of my affairs« he answered with a
burst of passion »If you want to drive me mad Cant you answer me Do you
know anything or guess anything about her«
»Yes« said Miriam after some delay speaking deliberately »I can give you
some information«
»Then do so and dont keep me in torment«
»Yesterday afternoon I happened to be passing Mr Mallards studio and I
saw her enter it she came in a cab She stayed there an hour or two it grew
dark whilst she was there Then I saw them both go away together«
Elgar stared half incredulously
»You saw this Do you mean that you waited about and watched«
»Yes«
»You had suspicions«
»I knew what a happy home she had returned to«
Again she seated herself
»She went there to ask about me« said Elgar in a forced voice
»You think so Why to him Wouldnt she rather have come to me Why did she
stay so long Why did he go away with her And why hasnt she returned home«
Question followed question with cold deliberateness as if the matter barely
concerned her
»But Mallard What is Mallard to her«
»How can I tell«
»Were they together much in Rome«
»I think very likely they were«
»Miriam I cant believe this How could it happen that you were near
Mallards studio just then How could you stand about for hours spying«
»Perhaps I dreamt it«
»Where is this studio« he asked »I knew the other day but I have
forgotten«
She told him the address
»Very well then I must go there You still adhere to your story«
»Why should I invent it« she exclaimed bitterly »And what is there
astonishing in it What right have you to be astonished«
»Every right« he answered with violence »What warning have I had of such
a thing«
She rose and moved away with a scornful laugh For a minute he looked at her
as she stood apart her face turned from him
»If I find Mallard« he said »of course I shall tell him who my authority
is«
She turned
»No that you will not do«
»And why not«
»Because I forbid you You will not dare to mention my name in any such
conversation Besides« her voice fell to a tone of indifference »if you meet
him there will be no need You will ask your question and that will be enough
There is very little chance of his being at the studio«
»I see that your Puritan spirit is gratified« he said looking at her with
fierce eyes
»Naturally«
He went towards the door Miriam raising her eyes and following him a step
or two said sternly
»In any case you understand that my name is not to be spoken Show at least
some remnant of honour Remember who I am and dont involve me in your
degradation«
»Have no fear Your garment of righteousness shall not be soiled«
When he was gone Miriam sat for a short time alone She had not foreseen
this sequel of yesterdays event In spite of all the promptings of her jealous
fear she had striven to explain Cecilys visit in some harmless way Mean what
it might it tortured her but in her ignorance of what was happening between
Cecily and her husband she tried to believe that Mallard was perhaps acting the
part of reconciler not an unlikely thing as her better judgment told her Now
she could no longer listen to such calm suggestions Cecily had abandoned her
home and with Mallards knowledge if not at his persuasion
She thought of Reuben with all but hatred He was the cause of the despair
which had come upon her The abhorrence with which she regarded his vices no
whit less strong for all her changed habits of thought blended now with the
sense of personal injury this only had been lacking to destroy what natural
tenderness remained in her feeling towards him Cecily she hated without the
power of condemning her as she formerly would have done The old voice of
conscience was not mute but Miriam turned from it with sullen scorn If Cecily
declared her marriage at an end what fault could reason find with her If she
acted undisguisedly as a free woman how was she to blame Reubens praise of
her might still keep its truth And the unwilling conviction of this was one of
Miriams sharpest torments She would have liked to regard her with disdainful
condemnation or a fugitive wife a dishonoured woman But the power of
sincerely judging thus was gone Reuben had taunted her amiss
Presently she left her room and went to seek Eleanor Mrs Spence was
writing she laid down her pen and glanced at Miriam but did not speak
»Cecily has left her home« Miriam said with matteroffact brevity
Eleanor stood up
»Parted from him«
»It seems he didnt go to the house till late last night She had left in
the afternoon and did not come back«
»Then they have not met«
»No«
»And had Cecily heard«
»Theres no knowing«
»Of course she has gone to Mrs Lessingham«
»I think not« replied Miriam turning away
»Why«
But Miriam would give no definite answer Neither did she hint at the
special grounds of her suspicion Presently she left the room as she had
entered dispirited and indisposed for talk
Elgar walked on to the studios He found Mallards door and was beginning
to ascend the stairs when the artist himself appeared at the top of them on
the point of going out He recognized his visitor with a grim movement of brows
and lips and without speaking turned back Reuben reached the door which
remained open and entered Mallard who stood there in the anteroom looked at
him inquiringly
»I want a few minutes talk with you if you please« said Elgar
»Come in«
They passed into the studio The last time they had seen each other was more
than three years ago at Naples both showed something of curiosity over and
above the feelings of graver moment Mallard observing the signs of mental
stress on Elgars features wondered to what they were attributable Was the
fellow capable of suffering remorse or shame to this degree Or was it the
outcome of that other affair sheer ignoble passion Reuben on his part could
not face the artists somewhat rigid selfpossession without feeling rebuked and
abashed The fact of Mallards being here at this hour seemed all but a
disproval of what Miriam had hinted and when he looked up again at the rugged
saturnine energetic countenance and met the calmly austere eyes he felt how
improbable it was that this man should be anything to Cecily save a
conscientious friend
»I havent come in answer to your invitation« Reuben began glancing
uneasily at the pictures and endeavouring to support an air of selfrespect
»Something less agreeable has brought me«
They had not shaken hands nor did Mallard offer a seat
»What may that be« he asked
»I believe you have seen my wife lately«
»What of that«
Mallard began to knit his brows anxiously He put up one foot on a chair
and rested his arm on his knee
»Will you tell me when it was that you saw her«
»If you will first explain why you come with such questions« returned the
other quietly
»She has not been home since yesterday I think that is reason enough«
Mallard maintained his attitude for a few moments but at length put his
foot to the ground again and repeated the keen look he had cast at the speaker
as soon as that news was delivered
»When did you yourself go home« he asked gravely
»Late last night«
Mallard pondered anxiously
»Then« said he »what leads you to believe that I have seen Mrs Elgar«
»I dont merely believe I know that you have«
Elgar felt himself oppressed by the artists stern and authoritative manner
He could not support his dignity his limbs embarrassed him and he was
conscious of looking like a man on his trial for ignoble offences
»How do you know« came from Mallard sharply
»I have been told by some one who saw her come here yesterday in the late
afternoon«
»I see No doubt Mrs Baske«
The certainty of this flashed upon Mallard He had never seen Miriam walk
by but on the instant he comprehended her doing so It was even possible he
thought that if she had not herself seen Cecily some one in her employment
had made the espial for her The whole train of divination was perfect in his
mind before Elgar spoke
»It is nothing to the purpose who told me My wife was here for a long time
and when she went away you accompanied her«
»I understand«
»That is more than I do Will you please to explain it«
»You are accurately informed Mrs Elgar came here naturally enough to ask
if I knew what had become of you«
»And why should she come to you«
»Because my letter to you lay open somewhere in your house and she thought
it possible we had been together«
Elgar reflected Yes he remembered that the letter was left on his table
»And where did she go afterwards Where did you conduct her«
»I went rather more than halfway home with her in the cab« replied
Mallard somewhat doggedly »I supposed she was going on to Belsize Park«
»Then you know nothing of her reason for not doing so«
»Nothing whatever«
Elgar became silent The artist after moving about quietly turned to
question him with black brows
»Hasnt it occurred to you that she may have joined Mrs Lessingham in the
country«
»She has taken nothing not even a travellingbag«
»You come of course from the Spences house«
Elgar replied with an affirmative As soon as he had done so he remembered
that this was as much as corroborating Mallards conjecture with regard to
Miriam but for that he cared little He had begun to discern something odd in
the relations between Miriam and Mallard and suspected that Cecily might in
some way be the cause of it
»Did they not at once suggest that she was with Mrs Lessingham«
Elgar muttered a »No« averting his face
»What did they suggest then«
»I saw only my sister« said Reuben irritably
»And your sister thought I was the most likely person to know of Mrs
Elgars whereabouts«
»Yes she did«
»I am sorry to disappoint you« said Mallard coldly »I have given you all
the information I can«
»All you will« replied Elgar whose temper was exasperated by the firmness
with which he was held at a scornful distance He began now to imagine that
Mallard from reasons of disinterested friendship had advised Cecily to seek
some retreat and would not disclose the secret More than that he still found
incredible
Mallard eyed him scornfully
»I said all I can and I dont deal in double meanings I know nothing more
than I have told you You are probably unaccustomed of late to receive simple
and straightforward answers to your questions but youll oblige me by
remembering where you are«
Elgar might rage inwardly but he had no power of doubting what he heard He
understood that Mallard would not even permit an allusion to anything save the
plain circumstances which had come to light Moreover the artist had found a
galling way of referring to the events that had brought about this juncture
Reuben was profoundly humiliated he had never seen himself in so paltry a
light He could have shed tears of angry shame
»I dare say the tone of your conversation« he said acridly »was not such
as would reconcile her to remaining at home No doubt you gave her abundant
causes for selfpity«
»I did not congratulate her on her return home but on the other hand I
said nothing that could interfere with her expressed intention to remain there«
»She told you that she had this intention« asked Reuben with some
eagerness
»She did«
As in the dialogue of last evening so now Mallard kept the sternest
control upon himself Had he obeyed his desire he would have scarified Elgar
with savage words but of that nothing save harm could come His duty was to
smooth and not to aggravate the situation It was a blow to him to learn that
Cecily had passed the night away from home but he felt sure that this would be
explained in some way that did no injury to her previous resolve He would not
admit the thought that she had misled him What had happened he could not with
any satisfaction conjecture but he was convinced that a few hours would solve
the mystery Had she really failed in her determination then assuredly she
would write to him even though it were without saying where she had taken
refuge But he persisted in hoping that it was not so
»Go back to your house and wait there« he added gravely but without
harshness »For some reason best known to yourself you kept your wife waiting
for nearly two days in expectation of your coming I hope it was reluctance to
face her You can only go and wait If I hear any news of her you shall at once
receive it And if she comes I desire to know of it as soon as possible«
Elgar could say nothing more He would have liked to ask several questions
but pride forbade him Turning in silence he went from the studio and slowly
descended the stairs Mallard heard him pause near the foot then go forth
Reuben had no choice but to obey the artists directions He walked a long way
the exercise helping him to combat his complicated wretchedness but at length
he felt weary and threw himself into a cab
The servant who opened the door to him said that Mrs Elgar had been in for
a few minutes about an hour ago she would be back again by lunchtime
Chapter XV
Peace in Show and Peace in Truth
At first so much relieved that he was able to sit down and quietly review his
thoughts Elgar could not long preserve this frame of mind in half an hour he
began to suffer from impatience and when the time of Cecilys return
approached he was in a state of intolerable agitation Mallards severity lost
its force now that it was only remembered He accused himself of having been as
always weakly sensitive to the moments impression The fact remained that
Cecily had spent a long time alone with Mallard had made him the confidant of
her troubles was it credible in human nature the past borne in mind that
Mallard had never exceeded a passionless sympathy Did not Miriam say distinctly
that suspicion had been excited in her by the behaviour of the two when they
were in Rome Why had he not stayed to question his sister on that point As
always he had lost his head missed the essential obeyed impulses instead of
proceeding on a rational plan
He worked himself into a sense of being grossly injured The shame he had
suffered in this mornings interviews was now a mortification What had he to do
with vulgar rules and vulgar judgments By what right did these people pose as
his superiors and look contemptuous rebuke His anger concentrated itself on
Cecily the violence of jealousy and the brute instinct of male prerogative
plied his brain to frenzy as the minutes dragged on Where had she passed the
night How durst she absent herself from home and keep him in these tortures of
expectation
At a few minutes past one she came The library door was ajar and he heard
her admit herself with a latchkey she would see his hat and gloves in the
hall But instead of coming to the library she went straight upstairs it was
Cecily for he knew her step Almost immediately he followed She did not stop
at the drawingroom he followed and came up with her at the bedroom door
Still she paid no attention but went in and took off her hat
»Where have you been since yesterday afternoon« he asked when he had
slammed the door
Cecily looked at him with offended surprise almost as she might have
regarded an insolent servant
»What right have you to question me in such a tone«
»Never mind my tone but answer me«
»What right have you to question me at all«
»Every right so long as you choose to remain in my house«
»You oblige me to remind you that the house is at least as much mine as
yours For what am I beholden to you If it comes to the bare question of rights
between us I must meet you with arguments as coarse as your own Do you suppose
I can pretend now to acknowledge any authority in you I am just as free as
you are and I owe you no account of myself«
Physical exhaustion had made her incapable of selfcontrol She had
anticipated anything but such an address as this with which Elgar presented
himself The insult was too shameless it rendered impossible the cold dignity
she had purposed
»What do you mean by free« he asked less violently
»Everything that you yourself understand by it I am accountable to no one
but myself If I have allowed you to think that I held the old belief of a
womans subjection to her husband you must learn that that is at an end I owe
no more obedience to you than you do to me«
»I ask no obedience All I want to know is whether it is possible for us to
live under the same roof or not«
Cecily made no reply Her anger had involved her in an inconsistency yet
she was not so far at the mercy of blind impulses as to right herself by taking
the very course she had recognized as impossible
»That entirely depends« added Elgar »on whether you choose to explain your
absence last night«
»In other words« said Cecily »it can be of no significance to me where you
go or what you do but if you have a doubt about any of my movements it at once
raises the question whether you can continue to live with me or not I refuse to
admit anything of the kind I have chosen as you put it to remain in your
house and in doing so I know what I accept By what right do you demand more of
me than I of you«
»You know that you are talking absurdly You know as well as I do the
difference«
»Whatever laws I recognize they are in myself only As regards your claims
upon me what I have said is the simple truth I owe you no account If you are
not content with this you must form whatever suppositions you will and act as
you think fit«
»That is as much as telling me that our married life is at an end I suppose
you meant that when you kindly reminded me that it was your money I have been
living on Very well Let it be as you wish«
Cecily regarded him with resentful wonder
»Do you dare to speak as if it were I who had brought this about«
Reuben was not the man to act emotion and contrive scenes Whenever it might
have seemed that he did so he was in truth yielding to the sudden revulsions
which were characteristic of his passionate nature In him harshness and
unreason inevitably led to a reaction in which all the softer of his qualities
rose predominant So it was now Those last words of his were not consciously
meant to give him an opportunity of changing his standpoint Inconstant
incapable of selfdirection at the mercy of the moments will he could foresee
himself just as little as another could foresee him His impetuous being
prompted him to utter sincerely what a man of adroit insincerity would have
spoken with calculation
»Yes« he exclaimed »it is you who have done most towards it«
»By what act what word« she asked in astonishment
»By all your acts and words for the year past and longer You had
practically abandoned me long before you went abroad When you discovered that I
was not everything you imagined when you found faults and weaknesses in me you
began to draw away to be cold and indifferent to lose all interest in whatever
I did or wished to do When I was working you showed plainly that you had no
faith in my powers it soon cost you an effort even to listen to me when I
talked on the subject I looked to you for help and I found none Could I say
anything The help had to come spontaneously or it was no use Then you gave
yourself up entirely to the child you were glad of that excuse for keeping out
of my way If I was away from home for a day or two you didnt even care to ask
what I had been doing that was what proved to me how completely indifferent you
had become And when you went abroad what a pretence it was to ask me to come
with you I knew quite well that you had much rather be without me And how did
you suppose I should live during your absence You never thought about it never
cared to think Dont imagine I am blaming you Everything was at an end between
us and which of us could help it But it is as well to show you that I am not
the cause of all that has happened You have no justification whatever for this
tone of offence It is foolish childish unworthy of a woman who claims to
think for herself«
Cecily listened with strange sensations She knew that all this had nothing
to do with the immediate point at issue and that it only emphasized the want of
nobility in Reubens character but as he proceeded there was so much truth in
what he attributed to her that in spite of everything she could not resist a
feeling of culpability However little it really signified to her husband it
was undoubtedly true that she had made no effort with herself when she became
conscious of indifference towards him To preserve love was not in her power
but was he not right in saying that she might have done more as a wife to
supply his defects Knowing him weak should she not have made it a duty to help
him against himself Had she not as he said virtually abandoned him
Elgar observed her and recognized the effect of his words
»Of course« he pursued »if you have made up your mind to be released I
have neither the power nor the will to keep you But you must deal plainly with
me You cant both live here and have ties elsewhere I should have thought you
would have been the first to recognize that«
»Of what ties do you speak«
»I dont know that you have any but you say you hold yourself free to form
them«
»If I had done so I should not be here«
»Then what objection can you have to telling me where you have been«
How idle it was to posture and use grandiose words Why did she shrink from
the complete submission that her presence here implied No amount of
selfassertion would do away with the natural law of which he had contemptuously
reminded her the law which distinguishes man and woman and denies to one what
is permitted to the other
»I passed the night by a sickbed« she replied letting her voice drop into
weariness »Madeline Denyers«
»Did you go there directly on leaving home«
»No«
»Will you tell me where else you went«
»I went first of all to see Mr Mallard I talked with him for a long time
and he gave me some tea Then he came part of the way back with me Shall I try
and remember the exact spot where he got out of the cab«
»What had you to do with Mallard Cecily«
»I had to tell him that my life was a failure and to thank him for having
wished to save me from this fate«
Her answers were given in a dull monotone she seemed to be heedless of the
impression they made
»You said that to Mallard«
»Yes It can be nothing to me what you think of it I had waited here till I
could bear loneliness no longer I knew I had one true friend and I went to
him«
»You behaved as no selfrespecting woman could« Elgar exclaimed
passionately
»If so« she answered meeting his look »the shame falls only on myself«
»That is not true You yourself seem to be unconscious of the shame to me
it is horrible suffering I thought you incapable of anything of the kind I
looked up to you as a highminded woman and I loved you for your superiority to
myself«
»You loved me« she asked with a bitter smile
»Yes believe it or not as you like Because I was maddened by sensual
passion for a creature whom I never one moment respected how did that lessen my
love for you You complain that I kept away from you I did so because I was
still racked by that vile torment and shrank in reverence from approaching you
You might have known me well enough to understand this Have I not told you a
thousand times that in me soul and body have lived separate lives Even when I
seemed sunk in the lowest depths I still loved you purely and truly I loved
you all the more because I was conscious of my brutal faults Now you have
destroyed my ideal you have degraded yourself in my esteem It is nothing to me
now do what you may I can never forgive you By doing yourself wrong you have
wronged me beyond all words«
Cecily could not take her eyes from him She marvelled at such emotion in
him But the only way in which it affected her own feeling was to make her
question herself anxiously as to whether she had really fallen below her
selfrespect Had she led Mallard to think of her with like disapproval
Life is so simple to people of the old civilization The rules are laid down
so broadly and plainly and the consicience they have created answers so readily
when appealed to But for these poor instructed persons what a complex affair
has morality become Hard enough for men but for women desperate indeed Each
must be her own casuist and without any criterion save what she can establish
by her own experience The growth of Cecilys mind had removed her further and
further from simplicity of thought this was in part the cause of that perpetual
sense of weariness to which she awoke day after day Communion with such a man
as Elgar strengthened the natural tendency until there was scarcely a motive
left to which she could yield without discussing it in herself consciously or
unconsciously Her safeguard was an innate nobleness of spirit But it is not to
every woman of brains that this is granted
»What I did« she said at length slowly »was done no doubt in a moment of
weakness I gave way to the need of sympathy Had my friend been a man of less
worth he might have misunderstood me and then I might indeed have been shamed
But I knew him and trusted him«
»Which means that you were false to me in a way I never was to you It is
you who have broken the vow we made to be faithful to each other«
»I cannot read in your heart If you still love me it is a pity I can give
you no love in return«
He drew nearer and looked at her despairingly
»Cecily when I came last night I had a longing to throw myself at your
feet and tell you all my misery everything and find strength again with your
help I never feared this You who are all love and womanliness you cannot
have put me utterly from your heart«
»I am your wife still but I ask nothing of you and you must not seek for
more than I can give«
»Well I too ask for nothing But I will prove «
She checked him
»Dont forget your philosophy We both of us know that it is idle to make
promises of that kind«
»You will leave London with me«
»I shall go wherever you wish«
»Then we will make our home again in Paris The sooner the better A few
days and we will get rid of everything except what we wish to take with us I
dont care if I never see London again«
In the evening Cecily was again at the Denyers house Madeline lay without
power of speech and seemed gradually sinking into unconsciousness Mrs Denyer
had been telegraphed for a reply had come saying that she would be home very
soon but already a much longer time than was necessary had passed and she did
not arrive Zillah sat by the bed weeping or knelt in prayer
»If your mother does not come« Cecily said to her »I will stay all night
Its impossible for you to be left alone«
»She must surely come and Barbara too How can they delay so long«
Madelines eyes were open but she gave no sign of recognition The look
upon her face was one of suffering there was no telling whether of body or
mind Hitherto it had changed a little when Zillah spoke to her but at length
not even this sign was to be elicited Cecily could not take her gaze from the
blank visage she thought unceasingly of the bright confident girl she had
known years ago and the sunny shore of Naples
The doctor looked in at nine oclock He stayed only a few minutes
At halfpast ten there came a loud knocking at the housedoor and the servant
admitted Mrs Denyer who was alone In the little room above the two watchers
were weeping over the dead girl
Chapter XVI
The Two Faces
Mallard when he had taken leave of Cecily by Regents Park set out to walk
homewards He was heavyhearted and occasionally a fit of savage feeling
against Elgar took hold of him but his mood remained that of one who watches
lifes drama from a point of vantage Sitting close by Cecilys side he had
been made only more conscious of their real remoteness from each other of his
inability to give her any kind of help He wished she had not come to him for
he saw she had hoped to meet with warmer sympathy and perhaps she was now more
than ever oppressed with the sense of abandonment And yet such a result might
have its good it might teach her that she must look for support to no one but
herself Useless to lament the necessity fate had brought her to the hardest
pass that woman can suffer and she must make of her life what she could It was
not the kind of distress that a friend can remedy though she perished he could
do nothing but stand by and sorrow
Coming to his own neighbourhood he did not go straight to the studio but
turned aside to the Spences house He had no intention of letting his friends
know of Cecilys visit but he wished to ask whether they had any news of Elgar
No one was at home however
The next morning when surprised by the appearance of Elgar himself he was
on the point of again going to the Spences The interview over he set forth
and found Eleanor alone She had just learnt from Miriam what news Reuben had
brought and on Mallards entrance she at once repeated this to him
»I knew it« replied the artist »The fellow has been with me«
»He ventured to come Before or after his coming here«
»After I think« he added carelessly »that Mrs Baske suggested it to
him«
»Possibly I know nothing of what passed between them«
»Do you think Mrs Baske has any idea on the subject« Mallard inquired
again without special insistence
»She spoke rather mysteriously« Eleanor replied »When I said that Mrs
Lessingham probably could explain it she said she thought not but gave no
reasons«
»Why should she be mysterious«
»That is more than I can tell you Mystery rather lies in her character I
fancy«
»Would you mind telling me whether she is in the habit of going out alone«
Eleanor hesitated a little surprised by the question
»Yes she is She often takes a walk alone in the afternoon«
»Thank you Never mind why I wished to know It throws no light on Cecilys
disappearance«
They talked of it for some time and were still so engaged when Spence came
in In him the intelligence excited no particular anxiety Cecily had gone to
her aunt that was all What else was to be expected when she found an empty
house
»But« remarked Eleanor »the question remains whether or not she has heard
of this scandal«
Mallard could have solved their doubts on this point but to do so involved
an explanation of how he came possessed of the knowledge he held his peace
It was doubtful whether Elgar would keep his promise and communicate any news he
might have Mallard worked through the day as usual but with an uneasy mind
In the morning he walked over once more to the Spences and learnt that
anxieties were at an end Mrs Baske had received a letter from her brother in
which Cecilys absence was explained Elgar wrote that he was making
preparations for departure in a few days they hoped to be in Paris where
henceforth they purposed living
He went away without seeing Miriam and there passed more than a fortnight
before he again paid her a visit In the meantime he had seen Spence who
reported an interview between Eleanor and Mrs Lessingham nothing of moment
but illustrating the idiosyncrasies of Cecilys relative When at length one
sunny afternoon Mallard turned his steps towards the familiar house it was his
chance to encounter Eleanor and her husband just hastening to catch a train
they told him hurriedly that Miriam had heard from Paris
»Go and ask her to tell you about it« said Eleanor »She is not going out«
Mallard asked nothing better He walked on with a curious smile was
admitted and waited a minute or two in the drawingroom Miriam entered and
shook hands with him coldly courteous distantly dignified
»I am sorry Mrs Spence is not at home«
»I came to see you Mrs Baske I have just met them and heard that you
have news from Paris«
»Only a note sending a temporary address«
He observed her as she spoke and let silence follow
»You would like to know it the address« she added meeting his look with
a rather defiant steadiness
»No thank you It will be enough if I know where they finally settle You
saw Mrs Elgar before she left«
»No«
»Im sorry to hear that«
Miriams face was clouded She sat very stiffly and averted her eyes as if
to ignore his remark Mallard who had been holding his hat and stick in
conventional manner threw them both aside and leaned his elbow on the back of
the settee
»I should like« he said deliberately »to ask you a question which sounds
impertinent but which I think you will understand is not really so Will you
tell me how you regard Mrs Elgar I mean is it your wish to be still as
friendly with her as you once were Or do you for whatever reason hold aloof
from her«
»Will you explain to me Mr Mallard why you think yourself justified in
asking such a question«
In both of them there were signs of nervous discomposure Miriam flushed a
little the artist moved from one attitude to another and began to play
destructively with a tassel
»Yes« he answered »I have a deep interest in Mrs Elgars welfare that
needs no explaining and I have reason to fear that something in which I was
recently concerned may have made you less disposed to think of her as I wish you
to Is it so or not«
Her answer was uttered with difficulty
»What can it matter how I think of her«
»That is the point To my mind it matters a great deal For instance it
seems to me a deplorable thing that you her sister in more senses than one
should have kept apart from her when she so much needed a womans sympathy Of
course if you had no true sympathy to give her theres an end of it But it
seems to me strange that it should be so Will you put aside conventionality
and tell me if you have any definite reason for acting as if you and she were
strangers«
Miriam was mute Her questioner waited observing her At length she spoke
with painful impulsiveness
»I cant talk with you on this subject«
»I am very sorry to distress you« Mallard continued his voice growing
almost harsh in its determination »but talk of it we must once for all Your
brother came to my studio one morning and demanded an explanation of something
about his wife which he had heard from you He didnt say that it came from you
but I have the conviction that it did Please to tell me if I am wrong«
She kept an obstinate silence sitting motionless her hands tightly clasped
together on her lap
»If you dont contradict me I must conclude that I am right To speak
plainly it had come to his knowledge that Mrs Elgar no I will call her
Cecily as I used to do when she was a child that Cecily had visited my studio
the evening before You told him of that How did you know of it Mrs Baske«
Miriam answered in a hard forced voice
»I happened to be passing when she drove up in a cab«
»I understand But you also told him how long she remained and that when
she left I accompanied her How could you be aware of those things«
She seemed about to answer but her voice failed She stood up and began to
move away Instantly Mallard was at her side
»You must answer me« he said his voice shaking »If I detain you by force
you must answer me«
Miriam turned to face him She stood splendidly at bay her eyes gleaming
her cheeks bloodless her lithe body in an attitude finer than she knew They
looked into each others pupils long intensely as if reading the heart there
Miriams eyes were the first to fall
»I waited till she came out again«
»You waited all that time In the road«
»Yes«
»And when you heard that Cecily had not returned home that night you
believed that she had left her husband for ever«
»Yes«
Mallard drew back a little and his voice softened
»Forgive me for losing sight of civility Knowing this it was perhaps
natural that you should inform your brother of it You took it for granted that
Cecily however unwise it was of her had come to tell me of her resolve to
leave home and that I as her old friend had seen her safely to the place
where she had taken refuge«
He uttered this with a peculiar emphasis gazing steadily into her face
Miriam dropped her eyes and made no reply
»You represented it to your brother in this light« he continued in the
same tone
She forced herself to look at him there was awed wonder on her face
»There is no need to answer in words I see that I have understood you But
of course you soon learnt that you had been in part mistaken Cecily had no
intention of leaving her husband from the first«
Miriam breathed with difficulty He motioned to her to sit down but she
gave no heed
»Then why did she come to you« fell from her lips
»Please to take your seat again Mrs Baske«
She obeyed him He took a chair at a little distance and answered her
question
»She came because she was in great distress and had no friend in whom she
could confide so naturally This was a misfortune it should not have been so
It was to you that she should have gone and I am afraid it was your fault that
she could not«
»My fault«
»Yes You had not behaved to her with sisterly kindness You had held apart
from her you had been cold and unsympathetic Am I unjust«
»Can one command feelings«
»That is to say you felt coldly to her Are you conscious of any reason I
believe religious prejudice no longer influences you«
»No«
»Then I am obliged to recall something to your mind Do you remember that
you were practically an agent in bringing about Cecilys marriage No doubt
things would have taken much the same course however you had acted But is it
not true that you gave what help was in your power You acted as though your
brothers suit had your approval And I think you alone did so«
»You exaggerate I know what you refer to Reuben betrayed my lack of
firmness as he betrays every one who trusts in him«
»Let us call it lack of firmness The fact is the same and I feel very
strongly that it laid an obligation on you From that day you should have been
truly a sister to Cecily You should have given her every encouragement to
confide in you She loved you in those days in spite of all differences You
should never have allowed this love to fail«
Miriam kept her eyes on the floor
»I am afraid« he added after a pause »that you wont tell me why you
cannot think kindly of her«
She hesitated her lips moving uncertainly
»There is a reason«
»I cant tell you«
»I have no right to press you to do so I will rather ask this I asked it
once before and had no satisfactory answer why did you allow me to think for
a few days in Italy that you accepted my friendship and gave me yours in
return and then became so constrained in your manner to me that I necessarily
thought I had given you offence«
She was silent
»That also you cant tell me«
She glanced at him or rather let her eyes pass over his face with the
old suggestion of defiance Her firmset lips gave no promise of answer
Mallard rose
»Then I must still wait Some day you will tell me I think«
He held his hand to her then turned away but in a moment faced her again
»One word a yes or no Do you believe what I have told you Do you believe
it absolutely Look at me and answer«
She flushed and met his gaze almost as intensely as when he compelled her
confession
»Do you put absolute faith in what I have said«
»I do«
»That is something«
He smiled very kindly and so this dialogue of theirs ended
A few days later the Spences gathered friends about their dinnertable
Mallard was of the invited The necessity of donning societys uniform always
drew many growls from him he never felt at his ease in it and had a suspicion
that he looked ridiculous Indeed it suited him but ill it disguised the true
man as he appeared in his rough travelling apparel and in the soiled and
venerable attire of the studio
As he entered the drawingroom his first glance fell on Seaborne who sat
in conversation with Mrs Baske The man of letters was just returned from
Italy Going to shake hands with Miriam Mallard exchanged a few words with him
then he drew aside into a convenient corner He noticed that Miriams eyes
turned once or twice in his direction Informed that she was to be his partner
in the solemn procession he approached her when the moment arrived They had
nothing to say to each other until they had been seated some time then they
patched together a semblance of talk a few formalities commonplaces all but
imbecilities Finding this at length intolerable each turned to the person on
the other side In Mallards case this was a young lady whom he had once before
met a pretty bright charming girl without hesitation she abandoned her
companion proper and drew the artist into lively dialogue It was continued
afterwards in the drawingroom until Mallard observing that Miriam sat alone
went over to her
»Whats the matter« he asked as he seated himself
»The matter Nothing«
»I thought you looked unusually well and cheerful early in the evening Now
you are the opposite«
»Society soon tires me«
»So it does me«
»You seem anything but tired«
»I have been listening to clever and amusing talk Do you like Miss Harper«
»I dont know her well enough to like or dislike her«
Mallard was looking at her hands as they lay folded together he noticed a
distinct tension of the muscles a whitening of the knuckles
»She has just the qualities to put me in good humour Often when I have got
stupid and bearish from loneliness I wish I could talk to some one so happily
constituted«
Miriam had become mute and in a minute or two she rose to speak to a lady
who was passing As she stood there Mallard regarded her at his ease She was
admirably dressed tonight and looked younger than of wont Losing sight of
her owing to people who came between Mallard fell into a brown study an
anxious smile on his lips
On the second morning after that he interrupted his work to sit down and pen a
short letter »Dear Mrs Baske« he began then pondered and rose to give a
touch to the picture on which his eyes were fixed But he seated himself again
and wrote on rapidly »Would you do me the kindness to come here tomorrow early
in the afternoon If you have an engagement the day after would do But please
to come if you can I wish to see you«
There was no reply to this At the time he had mentioned Mallard walked
about his room in impatience Just before three oclock his ear caught a
footstep outside and a knock at the door followed
»Come in« he shouted
From behind the canvases appeared Miriam
»Ah How do you do This is kind of you Are you alone«
The question was so indifferently asked that Miriam stood in embarrassment
»Yes I have come because you asked me«
»To be sure Can you sew Mrs Baske«
She looked at him in confusion half indignant
»Yes I can sew«
»I hardly like to ask you but would you mend this for me Its the case
in which I keep a large volume of engravings the seams are coming undone you
see«
He took up the article in question which was of glazed cloth and held it
to her
»Have you a needle and thread« she asked
»Oh yes heres a complete workbasket«
He watched her as she drew off her gloves
»Will you sit here« He pointed to a chair and a little table »I shall go
on with my work if you will let me You dont mind doing this for me«
»Not at all«
»Is that chair comfortable«
»Quite«
He moved away and seemed to be busy with a picture it was on an easel so
placed that as he stood before it he also overlooked Miriam at her needlework
For a time there was perfect quietness Mallard kept glancing at his companion
but she did not once raise her eyes At length he spoke
»I have never had an opportunity of asking you what your new impressions
were of Bartles«
»The place was much the same as I left it« she answered naturally
»And the people Did you see all your old friends«
»I saw no one except my sisterinlaw and her family«
»You felt no inclination«
»None whatever«
»Bythebye« he seemed to speak half absently looking closely at his work
»hadnt you once some thought of building a large new chapel there«
»I once had«
She drew her stitches nervously
»That has utterly passed out of your mind«
»Must it not necessarily have done so«
He stepped back held his head aside and examined her thoughtfully
»Hm I have an impression that you went beyond thinking of it as a
possibility Did you not make a distinct promise to some one or another
perhaps to the congregation«
»Yes a distinct promise«
He became silent and Miriam looking up for the first time asked
»Is it your opinion that the promise is still binding on me«
»Why I am inclined to think so Your difficulty is of course that you
dont see your way to spending a large sum of money to advance something with
which you have no sympathy«
»It isnt only that I have no sympathy with it« broke from Miriam »The
thought of those people and their creeds is hateful to me Their socalled
religion is a vice They are as far from being Christians as I am from being a
Mahometan To call them Puritans is the exaggeration of compliment«
Mallard watched and listened to her with a smile
»Well« he said soberly »I suppose this only applies to the most foolish
among them However I see that you can hardly be expected to build them a
chapel Let us think a moment Are there any public baths in Bartles«
»There were none when I lived there«
»The proverb says that after godliness comes cleanliness Why should you not
devote to the establishing of decent baths what you meant to set apart for the
chapel How does it strike you«
She delayed a moment then
»I like the suggestion«
»Do you know any impartial man there with whom you could communicate on such
a subject«
»I think so«
»Then suppose you do it as soon as possible«
»I will«
She plied her needle for a few minutes longer then looked up and said that
the work was done
»I am greatly obliged to you Now will you come here and look at something«
She rose and came to his side Then she saw that there stood on the easel a
drawingboard on that was a sheet of paper which showed drawings of two heads
in crayon
»Do you recognize these persons« he asked moving a little away
Yes she recognized them They were both portraits of herself but subtly
distinguished from each other The one represented a face fixed in excessive
austerity with a touch of pride that was by no means amiable with resentful
eyes and lips on the point of becoming cruel In the other though undeniably
the features were the same all these harsh characteristics had yielded to a
change of spirit austerity had given place to grave thoughtfulness the eyes
had a noble light on the lips was sweet womanly strength
Miriam bent her head and was silent
»Now both these faces are interesting« said Mallard »Both are uncommon
and full of force But the first I cant say that I like It is that of an
utterly undisciplined woman with a possibility of great things in her but
likely to be dangerous for lack of selfknowledge and humility an ignorant
woman moreover one subjected to superstitions and aiming at unworthy
predominance The second is obviously her sister but how different An educated
woman this one who has learnt a good deal about herself and the world She is
emancipated in the true sense of the hackneyed word that is to say she is not
only freed from those bonds that numb the faculties of mind and heart but is
able to control the native passions that would make a slave of her Now this
face I love«
Miriam did not stir but a thrill went through her
»One of the passions that she has subdued« Mallard went on »is you can
see particularly strong in this sister of hers I mean jealousy This first
face is that of a woman so prone to jealousy of all kinds that there would be no
wonder if it drove her to commit a crime The woman whom I love is superior to
idle suspicions she thinks nobly of her friends she respects herself too much
to be at the mercy of chance and change of circumstance«
He paused and Miriam spoke humbly
»Do you think it impossible for the first to become like her sister«
»Certainly not impossible The fact is that she has already made great
progress in that direction The first face is not that of an actually existing
person She has changed much since she looked altogether like this so much
indeed that occasionally I see the sister in her and then I love her for the
sisters sake But naturally she has relapses and they cannot but affect my
love That word you know has such very different meanings When I say that I
love her I dont mean that I am ready to lose my wits when she is good enough
to smile on me I shouldnt dream of allowing her to come in the way of my
lifes work if she cannot be my helper in it then she shall be nothing to me
at all I shall never think or call her a goddess not even if she develop all
the best qualities she has Still I think the love is true love I think so for
several reasons of which I neednt speak«
Miriam again spoke all but raising her face
»You once loved in another way«
»I was once out of my mind which is not at all the same as loving«
He moved to a distance then turned and asked
»Will you tell me now why you became so cold to Cecily«
»I was jealous of her«
»And still remain so«
»No«
»I am glad to hear that Now I think Ill get on with my work Thank you
very much for the sewing Bythebye I often feel the want of some one at
hand to do a little thing of that kind«
»If you will send for me I shall always be glad to come«
»Thank you Now dont hinder me any longer Goodbye for today«
Miriam moved towards the door
»You are forgetting your gloves Mrs Baske« he called after her
She turned back and took them up
»Bythebye« he said looking at his watch »it is the hour at which ladies
are accustomed to drink tea Will you let me make you a cup before you go«
»Thank you Perhaps I could save your time by making it myself«
»A capital idea Look there is all the apparatus Please to tell me when it
is ready and Ill have a cup with you«
He painted on and neither spoke until the beverage was actually prepared
Then Miriam said
»Will you come now Mr Mallard«
He laid down his implements and approached the table by which she stood
»Do you understand« he asked »what is meant when one says of a man that he
is a Bohemian«
»I think so«
»You know pretty well what may be fairly expected of him and what must not
be expected«
»I believe so«
»Do you think you could possibly share the home of such a man«
»I think I could«
»Then suppose you take off your hat and your mantle or whatever its
called and make an experiment see if you can feel at home here«
She did so Whilst laying the things aside she heard him step up to her
till he was very close Then she turned and his arms were about her and his
heart beating against hers
Chapter XVII
End and Beginning
In the autumn of this year Mrs Lessingham died Owing to slight ailments she
had been advised to order her life more restfully and with a view to this she
took a house at Richmond where Mrs Delph and Irene again came to live with
her Scarcely was the settlement effected when grave illness fell upon her the
first she had suffered since girlhood She resented it her energies put
themselves forth defiantly two days before her death she had no suspicion of
what was coming Warned at length she made her will angrily declined spiritual
comfort and with indignation fought her fate to the verge of darkness
Cecily and her husband arrived a few hours too late when the telegram of
summons reached them they were in Denmark The Spences attended the funeral
Mallard and Miriam who were in the north of Scotland they had been married
some two months did not come By Mrs Lessinghams will the greater part of
her possessions fell to Cecily there was a legacy of money to Irene Delph and
a London hospital for women received a bequest
Eleanor wrote to Miriam
»They went back to Paris yesterday I had Cecily with me for one whole day
but of herself she evidently did not wish to speak and of course I asked no
questions Both she and her husband looked well however It pleased me very
much to hear her talk of you all her natural tenderness and gladness came out
impossible to imagine a more exquisite sincerity of joy She is a noble and
beautiful creature I do hope that the shadow on her life is passing away and
that we shall see her become as strong as she is lovable She said she had
written to you Your letter at the time of your marriage was a delight to her
It happened that on the day when she was here we had a visit from whom
think you Mr Bradshaw accompanied by his daughter Charlotte and her husband
The old gentleman was in London on business and had met the young people who
were just returning from their honeymoon He is still the picture of health and
his robust practical talk seemed to do us good How he laughed and shouted over
his reminiscences of Italy Your marriage had amazed him when he began to speak
of it it was in a grave puzzled way as if there must be something in the
matter which required its being touched upon with delicacy The substitution of
baths for a chapel at Bartles obviously gave him more amusement than he liked to
show he chuckled inwardly with a sober face What has Mallard got to say to
that he asked me aside I answered that it met with your husbands entire
approval Well he said I feel that I cant keep up with the world in my day
you didnt begin married life by giving away half your income It caps me but
no doubt its all right Mrs Bradshaw bythebye shakes her head whenever you
are mentioned
You will like to hear of Mr and Mrs Marsh Charlotte is excessively plain
and I am afraid excessively dull but it is satisfactory to see that she regards
her husband as a superior being not to be spoken of save with bated breath Mr
Marsh is rather too stout for his years and I should think very selfindulgent
whenever his wife looks at him he unconsciously falls into the attitude of one
who is accustomed to snuff incense He speaks of my Bohemian years with a
certain pride wishing one to understand that he was a wild reckless youth and
that his present profound knowledge of the world is the result of experiences
which do not fall to the lot of common men With Cecily he was superbly gracious
talked to her of art in a large fluent way the memory of which will supply
Edward with mirth for some few weeks The odd thing is that his fatherinlaw
seems more than half to believe in him«
Time went on Cecilys letters to her friends in England grew rare Writing
to Eleanor early in the spring she mentioned that Irene Delph who had been in
Paris since Mrs Lessinghams death was giving her lessons in painting but
said she doubted whether this was anything better than a way of killing time
»You know Mr Seaborne is here« she added »I have met him two or three times
at Madame Courbets whom I was surprised to find he has known for several
years She translated his book on the revolutions of 48 into French«
Never a word now of Elgar The Spences noted this cheerlessly and could not
but remark a bitterness that here and there revealed itself in her short dry
letters To Miriam she wrote only in the form of replies rarely even alluding
to her own affairs but always with affectionate interest in those of her
correspondent
Another autumn came and Cecily at length was mute the most pressing
letters obtained no response Miriam wrote to Reuben but with the same result
This silence was unbroken till winter then one morning in November Eleanor
received a note from Cecily asking her to call as soon as she was able at an
address in the far west of London nothing more than that
In the afternoon Eleanor set out to discover this address It proved to be
a house in a decent suburban road On asking for Mrs Elgar she was led up to
the second floor and into a rather bare little sittingroom Here was Cecily
alone
»I knew you would come soon« she said looking with an earnest but not
wholly sad smile at her visitor »I had very nearly gone to you but this was
better You understand why I am here«
»I am afraid so after your long silence«
»Dont let us get into low spirits about it« said Cecily smiling again
»All that is over I cant make myself miserable any more and certainly dont
wish any one to be so on my account Come and sit nearer the fire What a black
crushing day«
She looked out at the hopeless sky and shook her head
»You have lodgings here« asked Eleanor watching the girl with concern
»Irene and her mother live here they were able to take me in for the
present He left me a month ago This time he wrote and told me plainly said
it was no use that he wouldnt try to deceive me any longer He couldnt live
as I wish him to so he would have done with pretences and leave me free I
waited there in my freedom till the other day he might have come back in spite
of everything you know But at last I wrote to an address he had given me and
told him I was going to London that I accepted his release and that
henceforth all his claims upon me must be at end«
»Is he in Paris«
»In the south of France I believe But that is nothing to me What I
inherited from my aunt makes me independent there is no need of any
arrangements about money fortunately I dare say he foresaw this when he
expressed a wish that I should keep this quite apart from our other sources of
income and manage it myself«
Eleanor felt that the last word was said There was no distress in Cecilys
voice or manner nothing but the simplicity of a clear decision which seemed to
carry with it hardly a regret
»A tragedy can go no further than its fifth act« Cecily pursued »I have
shed all my tears long since exhausted all my indignation You cant think what
an everyday affair it has become with me I am afraid that means that I am in a
great measure demoralized by these experiences I can only hope that some day I
shall recover my finer feeling«
»You havent seen Miriam«
»No and I dont know whether I can There is no need for you to keep
silence about me when you see her what has happened cant be hidden I thought
it possible that Reuben might have written and told her If she comes here I
shall welcome her but it is better for me not to seek her first«
»If he writes to her« asked Eleanor with a grave look »is it likely that
he will try to defend himself«
»I understand you You mean defend himself by throwing blame of one kind or
another on me No that is impossible He has no desire to do that What makes
our relations to each other so hopeless is that we can be so coldly just In me
there is no resentment left and in him no wish to disguise his own conduct We
are simply nothing to each other I appreciate all the good in him and all the
evil and to him my own qualities are equally well known We have reached the
point of studying each other in a mood of scientific impartiality surely the
most horrible thing in man and wife«
Eleanor had a sense of relief in hearing that last comment For the tone of
the speech put her painfully in mind of that which characterizes certain French
novelists all very well in its place but on Cecilys lips an intolerable
discord It was as though the girls spirit had been materialized by Parisian
influences yet the look and words with which she ended did away with or at
least mitigated that fear
»He is pursued by a fate« murmured the listener
»Listen to my defence« said Cecily after a pause with more earnestness
»For I have not been blameless throughout Before we left London he charged me
with contributing to what had befallen us and in a measure he was right He
said that I had made no effort to keep him faithful to me that I had watched
the gulf growing between us with indifference and allowed him to take his own
course A jealous and complaining wife he said would have behaved more for his
good Hearing this I recognized its truth I had held myself too little
responsible When our life in Paris began I resolved that I would accept my
duties in another spirit I did all that a wife can do to strengthen the purer
part in him I interested myself in whatever he undertook I suggested subjects
of study which I thought congenial to him and studied them together with him
putting aside everything of my own for which he did not care And for a time I
was encouraged by seeming success He was grateful to me and I found my one
pleasure in this absolute devotion of myself I choose my words carefully you
must not imagine that there was more in either his feeling or mine than what I
express But it did not last more than six months Then he grew tired of it I
still did my utmost believe that I did Mrs Spence for it is indeed true I
made every effort in my power to prevent what I knew was threatening Until he
began to practise deceit trickery of every kind What more could I do If he
was determined to deceive me he would do so what was gained by my obliging him
to exert more cunning Then I turned sick at heart and the end came«
»But Cecily« said Eleanor »how can the end be yet«
»You mean that he will once more wish to return«
»Once more or twenty times more«
»I know but «
She broke off and Eleanor did not press her to continue
It was not long before the news reached Miriam In a few days Eleanor paid one
of her accustomed visits to a little house out at Roehampton externally cold
and bare enough in these days of November but inwardly rich with whatsoever the
heart or brain can desire Hither came no payers of formal calls no leavers of
cards no pests from the humdrum world to open their mouths and utter
foolishness It was a dwelling sacred to love and art and none were welcome
across its threshold save those to whom the consecration was of vital
significance To Eleanor the air seemed purer than that of any other house she
entered to breathe it made her heart beat more hopefully gave her a keener
relish of life
Mallard was absent today held by business in London The visitor had for
once no wish to await his return She sat for an hour by the fireside and told
what she had to tell then took her leave
When the artist entered Miriam was waiting for him by the light of the
fire blinds shut out the miserable gloaming but no lamp had yet been brought
into the room Mallard came in blowing the fog and rain off his moustache he
kicked off his boots kicked on his slippers and then bent down over the chair
to the face raised in expectancy
»A damnable day Miriam in the strict and sober sense of the word«
»Far too sober« she replied »Eleanor came through it however«
»Wonderful woman Did she come to see if you bore it with the philosophy she
approves«
»She had a more serious purpose Im sorry to say Cecily is in London He
has left her written her a goodbye«
Mallard leaned upon the mantelpiece and watched his wifes face illumined
by the firelight A healthier and more beautiful face than it had ever been not
quite the second of those two faces that Mallard drew but with scarcely a
record of the other They talked in subdued voices Miriam repeated all that
Eleanor had been able to tell
»You must go and see her of course« Mallard said
»Yes I will go tomorrow«
»Shall you ask her to come here«
»I dont think she will wish to« answered Miriam
»That brother of yours« he growled
»Isnt it too late even to feel angry with him dear We know what all this
means It is absolutely impossible for them to live together and Reubens
behaviour is nothing but an assertion of that Sooner or later it would be just
as impossible even if he preserved the decencies«
»Perhaps true perhaps not Would it be possible for him to live for long
with any woman«
Miriam sighed
»Well well go and talk to the poor girl and see if you can do anything I
wish she were an artist of whatever kind then it wouldnt matter much A woman
who sings or plays or writes or paints can live a free life But a woman who
is nothing but a woman what the deuce is to become of her in this position
What would become of you if I found you in my way and bade you go about your
business«
»We are not far from the Thames« she answered looking at him with the
fireglow in her loving eyes
»Oh you« he muttered with show of contempt »But other women have more
spirit They get over their foolish love and then find that life in earnest is
just beginning«
»I shall never get over it«
»Pooh How long to dinner Miriam«
Miriam went to see her sisterinlaw and repeated the visit at intervals
during the next few months but Cecily would not come to Roehampton Neither
would she accept the invitations of the Spences though Eleanor was with her
frequently and became her nearest friend She seemed quite content with the
society of Irene and Mrs Delph her health visibly improved and as spring drew
near there was a brightening in her face that told of thoughts in sympathy with
the newborn hope of earth
The Mallards were seldom in town Excepting the house at Chelsea their
visits were only to two or three painters who lived much as Mallard had done
before his marriage In these studios Miriam at first inspired a little awe but
as her understanding of the artworld increased she adapted herself to its
habits in so far as she could respect them and where she could not the
restraint of her presence was recognized as an influence towards better things
At the Spences one day in April they met Seaborne They had heard of his
being in London again after a year mostly spent in Paris but had not as yet
seen him He was invited to visit them and promised to do so before long A
month or more passed however and the promise remained unfulfilled At Chelsea
the same report was made of him he seemed to be living in seclusion
In midMay as Miriam was walking by herself at a little distance from home
she was overtaken by a man who had followed her over the heath When the step
paused at her side she turned and saw Reuben
»Will you speak to me« he said
»Why not Reuben«
She gave him her hand
»That is kinder than I hoped to find you But I see how changed you are You
are so happy that you can afford to be indulgent to a poor devil«
»Why have you made yourself a poor devil«
»Why why why Pooh Why is anything as it is Why are you what you are
after being what you were«
It pained her to look at him At length she discerned unmistakably the fatal
stamp of degradation When he came to her two years ago his face was yet
unbranded now the darkening spirit declared itself Even his clothing told the
same tale in spite of its being such as he had always worn
»Where are you living« she asked
»Anywhere nowhere I have no home«
»Why dont you make one for yourself«
»Its all very well for you to talk like that Every one doesnt get a home
so easily Does old Mallard make you a good husband«
»Need you ask that« Miriam returned averting her eyes and walking slowly
on
»You have to thank me for it Miriam in part«
She looked at him in surprise
»Its true It was I who first led him to think about you and interested
him in you We were going from Pompeii to Sorrento how many years ago thirty
forty and I talked about you a great deal I told him that I felt convinced
you could be saved if only some strong man would take you by the hand It led
him to think about you I am sure of it«
Miriam had no reply to make They walked on
»I didnt come to the house« he resumed presently »because I thought it
possible that the door might be shut in my face Mallard would have wished to do
so«
»He wouldnt have welcomed you but you were free to come in if you wished«
»Have you thought it likely I might come some day«
»I expected sooner or later to hear from you«
He had a cane and kept slashing with it at the green growths by his feet
When he missed his aim at any particular object he stopped and struck again
more fiercely
»Does Cecily come to see you« was his next question uttered as if
unconcernedly
»No«
»But you know about her You know where she is«
»Yes«
»Tell me what you know Miriam How is she living«
»I had much rather not speak of her I dont feel that I have any right to«
»Why not« he asked quickly standing still »What is there to hide Why had
you rather not speak«
»For reasons that you understand well enough What is it to you how she
lives«
He searched her face like one suspecting a studied ambiguity His eyes
which were a little bloodshot grew larger and more turbid a repulsive
animalism came out in all his features
»Do tell me what you know Miriam« he pleaded »Of course its nothing to
me I know that I have no wish to interfere with her I promise you to do
nothing of the kind I promise solemnly«
»You promise« she exclaimed not harshly but with stern significance »How
can you use such words Under what circumstances could I put faith in a promise
of yours Reuben«
He struck violently at the trunk of a tree and his cane broke then he
flung it away still more passionately
»Youre right enough What do I care I lie more often than I tell the
truth I have a sort of pride in it If a man is to be a liar let him be a
thorough one Do you know why I smashed the stick I had a devilish temptation
to strike you across the face with it That would have been nice wouldnt it«
»You had better go your own way Reuben and let me go mine«
She drew apart and not without actual fear of him so brutal he looked and
so strangely coarse had his utterance become
»You neednt be afraid If I had hit you Id have gone away and killed
myself so perhaps its a pity I didnt I felt a savage hatred of you and just
because I wanted you to take my hand and be gentle with me I suppose you cant
understand that You havent gone deep enough into life«
His voice choked and Miriam saw tears start from his eyes
»I hope I never may« she answered gently »Have done with all that and
talk to me like yourself Reuben«
»Talk Ive had enough of talking I want to rest somewhere and be quiet«
»Then come home with me«
»Dare you take me«
»Theres no question of daring Come with me if you wish to«
They walked to the house almost in silence It was noon Mallard was busy in
his studio Having spoken a word with him Miriam rejoined her brother in the
sittingroom He had thrown himself on a couch and there he lay without
speaking until luncheontime when Mallards entrance aroused him The artist
could not be cordial but he exercised a decent hospitality
In the afternoon brother and sister again sat for a long time without
conversing When Reuben began to speak it was in a voice softened by the
influences of the last few hours
»Miriam theres one thing you will tell me you wont refuse to Is she
still living alone«
»Yes«
»Then there is still hope for me I must go back to her Miriam No listen
to me That is my one and only hope If I lose that I lose everything Down and
down lower and lower into bestial life thats my fate unless she saves me
from it Wont you help me Go and speak to her for me dear sister you cant
refuse me that Tell her how helpless I am and implore her to save me only out
of pity I dont care how mean it makes me in your eyes or hers I have no
selfrespect left nor courage nothing but a desire to go back to her and ask
her to forgive me«
Miriam could scarcely speak for shame and distress
»It is impossible Reuben Be man enough to face what you have brought on
yourself Have you no understanding left With her there is no hope for you
She and you are no mates you can only wreck each others lives Surely surely
you know this by now She could only confirm your ruin strive with you as she
might you would fall again into hateful falsity Forget her begin a life
without thought of her and you may still save yourself yourself no one else
can save you Begin the struggle alone manlike You have no choice but to do
so«
»I tell you I cant live without her Where is she I will go myself «
»You will never know from me What right have you to ask her to sink with
you Thats what it means There are people who think that a wifes obligation
has no bounds that she must sink if her husband choose to demand it Let those
believe it who will What motive should render such a sacrifice possible to her
You know she cannot love you Pity How can she pity you in such a sense as to
degrade herself for your sake Neither you nor she nor I hold the creed that
justifies such martyrdom Am I to teach you such things Shame Have the courage
of your convictions You have released her and you must be content to leave her
free The desire to fetter her again is ignoble dastardly«
He would neither be shamed nor convinced With desperate beseechings with
every argument of passion no matter how it debased him he strove frantically
to subdue her to his purpose But Miriam was immovable At length she could not
even urge him with reasonings his prostrate frenzy revolted her and she drew
away in repugnance Reubens supplication turned on the instant into brutal
rage
»Curse your obstinacy« he shouted in a voice that had strained itself to
hoarseness
The door opened and Mallard who had come to see whether Elgar was still
here heard his exclamation
»Out of the house« he commanded sternly »March And never let me see you
here again«
Reuben rushed past him and the housedoor closed violently
Then Miriams overstrung nerves gave way and for the first time Mallard saw
her shed tears She described to him the scene that had passed
»What ought I to do She must be warned It is horrible to think that he may
find her and persuade her«
They agreed that she should go to Cecily early next morning In the meantime
she wrote to Eleanor
But the morning brought a letter from Reuben of a tenor which seemed to
make it needless to mention this incident to Cecily
»I had not long left you« he wrote »when I recovered my reason and
recognized your wisdom in opposing me For a week I have been drinking myself
into a brutal oblivion or trying to do so I came to you in a nerveless and
half imbecile state You were hard with me but it was just what I needed You
have made me understand for today at all events the completeness of my
damnation Thank you for discharging that sisterly office I observe
bythebye that Mallards influence is strengthening your character Formerly
you were often rigorous but it was spasmodic You can now persevere in
pitilessness an essential in one who would support what we call justice Dont
think I am writing ironically Whenever I am free from passion as now and
that is seldom enough I can see myself precisely as you and all those on your
side of the gulf see me The finer qualities I once had survive in my memory
but I know it is hopeless to try and recover them I find it interesting to
study the processes of my degradation I should like to write a book about it
but it would be of the kind that no one would publish
I hope I may never by chance see Cecily I have a horrible conviction that I
should kill her Why shouldnt I tell you all the truth My feeling towards her
is a strange and vile compound of passions but I believe that hatred
predominates If she were so unfortunate as to come again into my power I
should make it my one object to crush her to my own level and in the end I
should kill her Perhaps that is the destined close of our drama Even to you
as I confessed I felt murderous impulses I havent yet been quite successful
in analyzing this state of mind The vulgar would say that having chosen the
devils part I am receiving a share of the devils spirit But to give a thing
a bad name doesnt help one to understand it
Dont let this terrify you I am going away again to be out of reach of
temptation I know I know with certainty that the end in some form or other
draws near I have thought so much of Fate that I seem to have got an unusual
perception of its course as it affects me Keep this letter as a piece of
curious human experience It may be the last you receive from me«
Something less than a month after this Edward Spence examining his
correspondence at the breakfasttable found a French newspaper addressed to
him in a hand he recognized
»This is from Seaborne« he said to Eleanor as he stripped off the wrapper
He discovered a marked paragraph It reported a tragic occurrence in a
street near the Luxembourg The husband of an actress at one of the minor
theatres in Paris had encountered his wifes lover and shot him dead The
victim was un jeune Anglais nommé Elgare
The sender of this newspaper had also written his letter contained fuller
details He had seen the corpse and identified it Could he do anything Or
would some friend of Mrs Elgar come over
Eleanor carried the intelligence first of all to Roehampton In her
consultation with the Mallards it was decided that she rather than Miriam
should visit Cecily She left them with this purpose
It was possible that Cecily had already heard On arriving at the house
Eleanor was at once admitted and went up to the sittingroom on the second
floor she entered with a tremulous anxiety and the first glance told her that
her news had not been anticipated Cecily was seated with several books open
before her the smile of friendly welcome slowly lighting her grave countenance
showed that her mind detached itself with difficulty from an absorbing subject
»Welcome always« she said »and most so when least expected«
The room was less bare than when she first occupied it Pictures and books
were numerous the sunlight fell upon an open piano an easel on which was a
charcoal drawing from a cast stood in the middle of the floor But the plain
furniture remained and no mere luxuries had been introduced It was a
workroom not a boudoir
»You are still content in your hermitage« said Eleanor seating herself and
controlling her voice to its wonted tone
»More and more I have been reading since six oclock this morning and
never felt so quiet in mind«
Her utterance proved it she spoke in a low sweet voice its music once
more untroubled But in looking at Eleanor she became aware of veiled trouble
on her countenance
»Have you come only to see me Or is there something «
Eleanor broke the news to her And as she spoke the beautiful face lost its
calm of contemplation grew painshadowed stricken with pangs of sorrow Cecily
turned away and wept wept for the past which in these moments had lived again
and again perished
It seemed to Spence that his wife mourned unreasonably A week or more had
passed and yet he chanced to find her with tears in her eyes
»I have still so much of the old Eve in me« replied Eleanor »I am
heavyhearted not for him but for Cecilys dead love We all have a secret
desire to believe love imperishable«
»An amiable sentiment but it is better to accept the truth«
»True only in some cases«
»In many« said Spence with a smile »First love is fools paradise But
console yourself out of Boccaccio Bocca baciata non perde ventura anzi
rinnuova come fa la luna«