English
ThecottagefromthewindowofwhichtheMissesWilliamshadlookedoutstands,andhasstoodformanyayear,inthatpleasantsuburbandistrictwhichliesbetweenNorwood,Anerley,andForestHill.
Longbeforetherehadbeenathoughtofatownshipthere,whentheMetropoliswasstillquiteadistantthing,oldMr.Williamshadinhabited“TheBrambles,”asthelittlehousewascalled,andhadownedallthefieldsaboutit.
Sixoreightsuchcottagesscatteredoverarollingcountry-sidewereallthehousestobefoundthereinthedayswhenthecenturywasyoung.
Fromafar,whenthebreezecamefromthenorth,thedull,lowroarofthegreatcitymightbeheard,likethebreakingofthetideoflife,whilealongthehorizonmightbeseenthedimcurtainofsmoke,thegrimspraywhichthattidethrewup.
Gradually,however,astheyearspassed,theCityhadthrownoutalongbrick-feelerhereandthere,curving,extending,andcoalescing,untilatlastthelittlecottageshadbeengrippedroundbytheseredtentacles,andhadbeenabsorbedtomakeroomforthemodernvilla.
FieldbyfieldtheestateofoldMr.Williamshadbeensoldtothespeculativebuilder,andhadbornerichcropsofsnugsuburbandwellings,arrangedincurvingcrescentsandtree-linedavenues.
Thefatherhadpassedawaybeforehiscottagewasentirelybrickedround,buthistwodaughters,towhomthepropertyhaddescended,livedtoseethelastvestigeofcountrytakenfromthem.
Foryearstheyhadclungtotheonefieldwhichfacedtheirwindows,anditwasonlyaftermuchargumentandmanyheartburnings,thattheyhadatlastconsentedthatitshouldsharethefateoftheothers.
Abroadroadwasdriventhroughtheirquietdomain,thequarterwasre-named“TheWilderness,”andthreesquare,staring,uncompromisingvillasbegantosproutupontheotherside.
Withsorehearts,thetwoshylittleoldmaidswatchedtheirsteadyprogress,andspeculatedastowhatfashionofneighborschancewouldbringintothelittlenookwhichhadalwaysbeentheirown.
Andatlasttheywereallthreefinished.
Woodenbalconiesandoverhangingeaveshadbeenaddedtothem,sothat,inthelanguageoftheadvertisement,therewerevacantthreeeligibleSwiss-builtvillas,withsixteenrooms,nobasement,electricbells,hotandcoldwater,andeverymodernconvenience,includingacommontennislawn,tobeletatL100ayear,orL1,500purchase.
Sotemptinganofferdidnotlongremainopen.
Withinafewweeksthecardhadvanishedfromnumberone,anditwasknownthatAdmiralHayDenver,V.C.,C.B.,withMrs.HayDenverandtheironlyson,wereabouttomoveintoit.
ThenewsbroughtpeacetotheheartsoftheWilliamssisters.
Theyhadlivedwithasettledconvictionthatsomewildimpossiblecolony,someshouting,singingfamilyofmadcaps,wouldbreakinupontheirpeace.
Thisestablishmentatleastwasirreproachable.
Areferenceto“MenoftheTime”showedthemthatAdmiralHayDenverwasamostdistinguishedofficer,whohadbegunhisactivecareeratBomarsund,andhadendeditatAlexandria,havingmanagedbetweenthesetwoepisodestoseeasmuchserviceasanymanofhisyears.
FromtheTakuFortsandtheShannonbrigade,todhow-harryingoffZanzibar,therewasnovarietyofnavalworkwhichdidnotappearinhisrecord;whiletheVictoriaCross,andtheAlbertMedalforsavinglife,vouchedforitthatinpeaceasinwarhiscouragewasstillofthesametruetemper.
Clearlyaveryeligibleneighborthis,themoresoastheyhadbeenconfidentiallyassuredbytheestateagentthatMr.HaroldDenver,theson,wasamostquietyounggentleman,andthathewasbusyfrommorningtonightontheStockExchange.
TheHayDenvershadhardlymovedinbeforenumbertwoalsostruckitsplacard,andagaintheladiesfoundthattheyhadnoreasontobediscontentedwiththeirneighbors.
DoctorBalthazarWalkerwasaverywell-knownnameinthemedicalworld.
Didnothisqualifications,hismembership,andtherecordofhiswritingsfillalonghalf-columninthe“MedicalDirectory,”fromhisfirstlittlepaperonthe“GoutyDiathesis”in1859tohisexhaustivetreatiseupon“AffectionsoftheVaso-MotorSystem”in1884?
Asuccessfulmedicalcareerwhichpromisedtoendinapresidentshipofacollegeandabaronetcy,hadbeencutshortbyhissuddeninheritanceofaconsiderablesumfromagratefulpatient,whichhadrenderedhimindependentforlife,andhadenabledhimtoturnhisattentiontothemorescientificpartofhisprofession,whichhadalwayshadagreatercharmforhimthanitsmorepracticalandcommercialaspect.
TothisendhehadgivenuphishouseinWeymouthStreet,andhadtakenthisopportunityofmovinghimself,hisscientificinstruments,andhistwocharmingdaughters(hehadbeenawidowerforsomeyears)intothemorepeacefulatmosphereofNorwood.
Therewasthusbutonevillaunoccupied,anditwasnowonderthatthetwomaidenladieswatchedwithakeeninterest,whichdeepenedintoadireapprehension,thecuriousincidentswhichheraldedthecomingofthenewtenants.
Theyhadalreadylearnedfromtheagentthatthefamilyconsistedoftwoonly,Mrs.Westmacott,awidow,andhernephew,CharlesWestmacott.
Howsimpleandhowselectithadsounded!
WhocouldhaveforeseenfromitthesefearfulportentswhichseemedtothreatenviolenceanddiscordamongthedwellersinTheWilderness?
Againthetwooldmaidscriedinheartfeltchorusthattheywishedtheyhadnotsoldtheirfield.
“Well,atleast,Monica,”remarkedBertha,astheysatovertheirteacupsthatafternoon,“howeverstrangethesepeoplemaybe,itisourdutytobeaspolitetothemastotheothers.”
“Mostcertainly,”acquiescedhersister.
“SincewehavecalleduponMrs.HayDenverandupontheMissesWalker,wemustcalluponthisMrs.Westmacottalso.”
“Certainly,dear.AslongastheyarelivinguponourlandIfeelasiftheywereinasenseourguests,andthatitisourdutytowelcomethem.”
“Thenweshallcallto-morrow,”saidBertha,withdecision.
“Yes,dear,weshall.But,oh,Iwishitwasover!”
Atfouro’clockonthenextday,thetwomaidenladiessetoffupontheirhospitableerrand.
Intheirstiff,cracklingdressesofblacksilk,withjet-bespangledjackets,andlittlerowsofcylindricalgreycurlsdroopingdownoneithersideoftheirblackbonnets,theylookedliketwooldfashionplateswhichhadwanderedoffintothewrongdecade.
Halfcuriousandhalffearful,theyknockedatthedoorofnumberthree,whichwasinstantlyopenedbyared-headedpage-boy.
Yes,Mrs.Westmacottwasathome.Heusheredthemintothefrontroom,furnishedasadrawing-room,whereinspiteofthefinespringweatheralargefirewasburninginthegrate.
Theboytooktheircards,andthen,astheysatdowntogetheruponasettee,hesettheirnervesinathrillbydartingbehindacurtainwithashrillcry,andproddingatsomethingwithhisfoot.
Thebullpupwhichtheyhadseenuponthedaybeforeboltedfromitshiding-place,andscuttledsnarlingfromtheroom.
“ItwantstogetatEliza,”saidtheyouth,inaconfidentialwhisper.
“Mastersaysshewouldgivehimmore’nhebrought.”
Hesmiledaffablyatthetwolittlestiffblackfigures,anddepartedinsearchofhismistress.
apictureofthecountryside
“What—whatdidhesay?”gaspedBertha.
“Somethingabouta——Oh,goodnessgracious!Oh,help,help,help,help,help!”
Thetwosistershadboundedontothesettee,andstoodtherewithstaringeyesandskirtsgatheredin,whiletheyfilledthewholehousewiththeiryells.
Outofahighwicker-workbasketwhichstoodbythefiretherehadrisenaflatdiamond-shapedheadwithwickedgreeneyeswhichcameflickeringupwards,wavinggentlyfromsidetoside,untilafootormoreofglossyscalyneckwasvisible.
Slowlytheviciousheadcamefloatingup,whileateveryoscillationafreshburstofshriekscamefromthesettee.
“Whatinthenameofmischief!”criedavoice,andtherewasthemistressofthehousestandinginthedoorway.
Hergazeatfirsthadmerelytakeninthefactthattwostrangerswerestandingscreaminguponherredplushsofa.
Aglanceatthefireplace,however,showedherthecauseoftheterror,andsheburstintoaheartyfitoflaughter.
“Charley,”sheshouted,“here’sElizamisbehavingagain.”
“I’llsettleher,”answeredamasculinevoice,andtheyoungmandashedintotheroom.
Hehadabrownhorse-clothinhishand,whichhethrewoverthebasket,makingitfastwithapieceoftwinesoastoeffectuallyimprisonitsinmate,whilehisauntranacrosstoreassurehervisitors.
“Itisonlyarocksnake,”sheexplained.
“Oh,Bertha!”“Oh,Monica!”gaspedthepoorexhaustedgentlewomen.
“She’shatchingoutsomeeggs.Thatiswhywehavethefire.
Elizaalwaysdoesbetterwhensheiswarm.
Sheisasweet,gentlecreature,butnodoubtshethoughtthatyouhaddesignsuponhereggs.
Isupposethatyoudidnottouchanyofthem?”
“Oh,letusgetaway,Bertha!”criedMonica,withherthin,black-glovedhandsthrownforwardsinabhorrence.
“Notaway,butintothenextroom,”saidMrs.Westmacott,withtheairofonewhosewordwaslaw.“Thisway,ifyouplease!Itislesswarmhere.”
Sheledthewayintoaveryhandsomelyappointedlibrary,withthreegreatcasesofbooks,anduponthefourthsidealongyellowtablelitteredoverwithpapersandscientificinstruments.
“Sithere,andyou,there,”shecontinued.“Thatisright.
Nowletmesee,whichofyouisMissWilliams,andwhichMissBerthaWilliams?”
“IamMissWilliams,”saidMonica,stillpalpitating,andglancingfurtivelyaboutindreadofsomenewhorror.
“Andyoulive,asIunderstand,overattheprettylittlecottage.
Itisveryniceofyoutocallsoearly.
Idon’tsupposethatweshallgeton,butstilltheintentionisequallygood.”
Shecrossedherlegsandleanedherbackagainstthemarblemantelpiece.
“Wethoughtthatperhapswemightbeofsomeassistance,”saidBertha,timidly.“Ifthereisanythingwhichwecoulddotomakeyoufeelmoreathome——”
“Oh,thankyou,IamtoooldatravelertofeelanythingbutathomewhereverIgo.
I’vejustcomebackfromafewmonthsintheMarquesasIslands,whereIhadaverypleasantvisit.ThatwaswhereIgotEliza.
InmanyrespectstheMarquesasIslandsnowleadtheworld.”
“Dearme!”ejaculatedMissWilliams.“Inwhatrespect?”
“Intherelationofthesexes.Theyhaveworkedoutthegreatproblemupontheirownlines,andtheirisolatedgeographicalpositionhashelpedthemtocometoaconclusionoftheirown.
Thewomanthereis,assheshouldbe,ineverywaytheabsoluteequalofthemale.Comein,Charles,andsitdown.IsElizaallright?”
“Allright,aunt.”
“Theseareourneighbors,theMissesWilliams.Perhapstheywillhavesomestout.Youmightbringinacoupleofbottles,Charles.”
“No,no,thankyou!Noneforus!”criedhertwovisitors,earnestly.
“No?IamsorrythatIhavenoteatoofferyou.
Ilookuponthesubserviencyofwomanaslargelyduetoherabandoningnutritiousdrinksandinvigoratingexercisestothemale.Idoneither.”
Shepickedupapairoffifteen-pounddumb-bellsfrombesidethefireplaceandswungthemlightlyaboutherhead.
“Youseewhatmaybedoneonstout,”saidshe.
“Butdon’tyouthink,”theelderMissWilliamssuggestedtimidly,“don’tyouthink,Mrs.Westmascott,thatwomanhasamissionofherown?”
Theladyofthehousedroppedherdumb-bellswithacrashuponthefloor.
“Theoldcant!”shecried.“Theoldshibboleth!
Whatisthismissionwhichisreservedforwoman?
Allthatishumble,thatismean,thatissoul-killing,thatissocontemptibleandsoill-paidthatnoneotherwilltouchit.Allthatiswoman’smission.
Andwhoimposedtheselimitationsuponher?
Whocoopedherupwithinthisnarrowsphere?WasitProvidence?Wasitnature?No,itwasthearchenemy.Itwasman.”
“Oh,Isay,auntie!”drawledhernephew.
“Itwasman,Charles.ItwasyouandyourfellowsIsaythatwomanisacolossalmonumenttotheselfishnessofman.
Whatisallthisboastedchivalry—thesefinewordsandvaguephrases?
Whereisitwhenwewishtoputittothetest?
Manintheabstractwilldoanythingtohelpawoman.Ofcourse.
Howdoesitworkwhenhispocketistouched?Whereishischivalrythen?Willthedoctorshelphertoqualify?
willthelawyershelphertobecalledtothebar?
willtheclergytolerateherintheChurch?
Oh,itiscloseyourranksthenandreferpoorwomantohermission!Hermission!
Tobethankfulforcoppersandnottointerferewiththemenwhiletheygrabbleforgold,likeswineroundatrough,thatisman’sreadingofthemissionofwomen.
Youmaysitthereandsneer,Charles,whileyoulookuponyourvictim,butyouknowthatitistruth,everywordofit.”
Terrifiedastheywerebythissuddentorrentofwords,thetwogentlewomencouldnotbutsmileatthesightofthefiery,domineeringvictimandthebigapologeticrepresentativeofmankindwhosatmeeklybearingallthesinsofhissex.
Theladystruckamatch,whippedacigarettefromacaseuponthemantelpiece,andbegantodrawthesmokeintoherlungs.
“Ifinditverysoothingwhenmynervesareatallruffled,”sheexplained.“Youdon’tsmoke?Ah,youmissoneofthepurestofpleasures—oneofthefewpleasureswhicharewithoutareaction.”
MissWilliamssmoothedouthersilkenlap.
“Itisapleasure,”shesaid,withsomeapproachtoself-assertion,“whichBerthaandIarerathertooold-fashionedtoenjoy.”
“Nodoubt,Itwouldprobablymakeyouveryillifyouattemptedit.Bytheway,IhopethatyouwillcometosomeofourGuildmeetings.Ishallseethatticketsaresentyou.”
“YourGuild?”
“Itisnotyetformed,butIshalllosenotimeinformingacommittee.
ItismyhabittoestablishabranchoftheEmancipationGuildwhereverIgo.
ThereisaMrs.SandersoninAnerleywhoisalreadyoneoftheemancipated,sothatIhaveanucleus.
Itisonlybyorganizedresistance,MissWilliams,thatwecanhopetoholdourownagainsttheselfishsex.Mustyougo,then?”
“Yes,wehaveoneortwoothervisitstopay,”saidtheeldersister.“Youwill,Iamsure,excuseus.IhopethatyouwillfindNorwoodapleasantresidence.”
“Allplacesaretomesimplyabattle-field,”sheanswered,grippingfirstoneandthentheotherwithagripwhichcrumpleduptheirlittlethinfingers.
“Thedaysforworkandhealthfulexercise,theeveningstoBrowningandhighdiscourse,eh,Charles?Good-bye!”
Shecametothedoorwiththem,andastheyglancedbacktheysawherstillstandingtherewiththeyellowbullpupcuddledupunderoneforearm,andthethinbluereekofhercigaretteascendingfromherlips.
“Oh,whatadreadful,dreadfulwoman!”whisperedsisterBertha,astheyhurrieddownthestreet.“Thankgoodnessthatitisover.”
“Butshe’llreturnthevisit,”answeredtheother.“IthinkthatwehadbettertellMarythatwearenotathome.”
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