English
FromthatdaytheDoctor’speacewasgone.
Neverwasaquietandorderlyhouseholdtransformedsosuddenlyintoabeargarden,orahappymanturnedintosuchacompletelymiserableone.
Hehadneverrealizedbeforehowentirelyhisdaughtershadshieldedhimfromallthefrictionoflife.
Nowthattheyhadnotonlyceasedtoprotecthim,buthadthemselvesbecomeasourceoftroubletohim,hebegantounderstandhowgreattheblessingwaswhichhehadenjoyed,andtosighforthehappydaysbeforehisgirlshadcomeundertheinfluenceofhisneighbor.
“Youdon’tlookhappy,”Mrs.Westmacotthadremarkedtohimonemorning.“Youarepaleandalittleoffcolor.Youshouldcomewithmeforatenmilespinuponthetandem.”
“Iamtroubledaboutmygirls.”Theywerewalkingupanddowninthegarden.Fromtimetotimetheresoundedfromthehousebehindthemthelong,sadwailofaFrenchhorn.
“ThatisIda,”saidhe.“Shehastakentopracticingonthatdreadfulinstrumentintheintervalsofherchemistry.AndClaraisquiteasbad.Ideclareitisgettingquiteunendurable.”
“Ah,Doctor,Doctor!”shecried,shakingherforefinger,withagleamofherwhiteteeth.
“Youmustliveuptoyourprinciples—youmustgiveyourdaughtersthesamelibertyasyouadvocateforotherwomen.”
“Liberty,madam,certainly!Butthisapproachestolicense.”
“Thesamelawforall,myfriend.”Shetappedhimreprovinglyonthearmwithhersunshade.
“Whenyouweretwentyyourfatherdidnot,Ipresume,objecttoyourlearningchemistryorplayingamusicalinstrument.
Youwouldhavethoughtittyrannyifhehad.”
“Butthereissuchasuddenchangeinthemboth.”
“Yes,Ihavenoticedthattheyhavebeenveryenthusiasticlatelyinthecauseofliberty.
OfallmydisciplesIthinkthattheypromisetobethemostdevotedandconsistent,whichisthemorenaturalsincetheirfatherisoneofourmosttrustedchampions.”
TheDoctorgaveatwitchofimpatience.“Iseemtohavelostallauthority,”hecried.
“No,no,mydearfriend.Theyarealittleexuberantathavingbrokenthetrammelsofcustom.Thatisall.”
“YoucannotthinkwhatIhavehadtoputupwith,madam.Ithasbeenadreadfulexperience.
Lastnight,afterIhadextinguishedthecandleinmybedroom,Iplacedmyfootuponsomethingsmoothandhard,whichscuttledfromunderme.Imaginemyhorror!
Ilitthegas,andcameuponawell-growntortoisewhichClarahasthoughtfittointroduceintothehouse.
Icallitafilthycustomtohavesuchpets.”
Mrs.Westmacottdroppedhimalittlecourtesy.“Thankyou,sir,”saidshe.“ThatisanicelittlesidehitatmypoorEliza.”
“IgiveyoumywordthatIhadforgottenabouther,”criedtheDoctor,flushing.
“Onesuchpetmaynodoubtbeendured,buttwoaremorethanIcanbear.
Idahasamonkeywhichlivesonthecurtainrod.Itisamostdreadfulcreature.
Itwillremainabsolutelymotionlessuntilitseesthatyouhaveforgottenitspresence,andthenitwillsuddenlyboundfrompicturetopictureallroundthewalls,andendbyswingingdownonthebell-ropeandjumpingontothetopofyourhead.
Atbreakfastitstoleapoachedegganddaubeditalloverthedoorhandle.
Idacallstheseoutragesamusingtricks.”
“Oh,allwillcomeright,”saidthewidowreassuringly.
“AndClaraisasbad,Clarawhousedtobesogoodandsweet,theveryimageofherpoormother.
Sheinsistsuponthispreposterousschemeofbeingapilot,andwilltalkofnothingbutrevolvinglightsandhiddenrocks,andcodesofsignals,andnonsenseofthekind.”
“Butwhypreposterous?”askedhiscompanion.
“Whatnobleroccupationcantherebethanthatofstimulatingcommerce,andaidingthemarinertosteersafelyintoport?
Ishouldthinkyourdaughteradmirablyadaptedforsuchduties.”
“ThenImustbegtodifferfromyou,madam.”
“Still,youareinconsistent.”
“Excuseme,madam,Idonotseethematterinthesamelight.AndIshouldbeobligedtoyouifyouwoulduseyourinfluencewithmydaughtertodissuadeher.”
“Youwishtomakemeinconsistenttoo.”
“Thenyourefuse?”
“IamafraidthatIcannotinterfere.”
TheDoctorwasveryangry.“Verywell,madam,”saidhe.
“InthatcaseIcanonlysaythatIhavethehonortowishyouaverygoodmorning.”
Heraisedhisbroadstrawhatandstrodeawayupthegravelpath,whilethewidowlookedafterhimwithtwinklingeyes.
ShewassurprisedherselftofindthatshelikedtheDoctorbetterthemoremasculineandaggressivehebecame.
Itwasunreasonableandagainstallprinciple,andyetsoitwasandnoargumentcouldmendthematter.
Veryhotandangry,theDoctorretiredintohisroomandsatdowntoreadhispaper.
Idahadretired,andthedistantwailsofthebugleshowedthatshewasupstairsinherboudoir.
Clarasatoppositetohimwithherexasperatingchartsandherbluebook.
TheDoctorglancedatherandhiseyesremainedfixedinastonishmentuponthefrontofherskirt.
“MydearClara,”hecried,“youhavetornyourskirt!”
Hisdaughterlaughedandsmoothedoutherfrock.Tohishorrorhesawtheredplushofthechairwherethedressoughttohavebeen.“Itisalltorn!”hecried.“Whathaveyoudone?”
“Mydearpapa!”saidshe,“whatdoyouknowaboutthemysteriesofladies’dress?Thisisadividedskirt.”
Thenhesawthatitwasindeedsoarranged,andthathisdaughterwascladinasortofloose,extremelylongknickerbockers.
“Itwillbesoconvenientformysea-boots,”sheexplained.
Herfathershookhisheadsadly.“Yourdearmotherwouldnothavelikedit,Clara,”saidhe.
Foramomenttheconspiracywasuponthepointofcollapsing.
Therewassomethinginthegentlenessofhisrebuke,andinhisappealtohermother,whichbroughtthetearstohereyes,andinanotherinstantshewouldhavebeenkneelingbesidehimwitheverythingconfessed,whenthedoorflewopenandhersisterIdacameboundingintotheroom.
Sheworeashortgreyskirt,likethatofMrs.Westmacott,andshehelditupineachhandanddancedaboutamongthefurniture.
“IfeelquitetheGaietygirl!”shecried.“Howdeliciousitmustbetobeuponthestage!Youcan’tthinkhownicethisdressis,papa.Onefeelssofreeinit.Andisn’tClaracharming?”
“Gotoyourroomthisinstantandtakeitoff!”thunderedtheDoctor.“Icallithighlyimproper,andnodaughterofmineshallwearit.”
“Papa!Improper!Why,itistheexactmodelofMrs.Westmacott’s.”
“Isayitisimproper.Andyoursalso,Clara!Yourconductisreallyoutrageous.Youdrivemeoutofthehouse.Iamgoingtomyclubintown.
Ihavenocomfortorpeaceofmindinmyownhouse.Iwillstanditnolonger.
Imaybelateto-night—IshallgototheBritishMedicalmeeting.
ButwhenIreturnIshallhopetofindthatyouhavereconsideredyourconduct,andthatyouhaveshakenyourselfclearoftheperniciousinfluenceswhichhaverecentlymadesuchanalterationinyourconduct.”
Heseizedhishat,slammedthedining-roomdoor,andafewminuteslatertheyheardthecrashofthebigfrontgate.
“Victory,Clara,victory!”criedIda,stillpirouettingaroundthefurniture.“Didyouhearwhathesaid?Perniciousinfluences!Don’tyouunderstand,Clara?Whydoyousittheresopaleandglum?Whydon’tyougetupanddance?”
“Oh,Ishallbesogladwhenitisover,Ida.Idohatetogivehimpain.Surelyhehaslearnednowthatitisveryunpleasanttospendone’slifewithreformers.”
“Hehasalmostlearnedit,Clara.Justonemorelittlelesson.Wemustnotriskallatthislastmoment.”
“Whatwouldyoudo,Ida?Oh,don’tdoanythingtoodreadful.Ifeelthatwehavegonetoofaralready.”
“Oh,wecandoitverynicely.Youseewearebothengagedandthatmakesitveryeasy.
Haroldwilldowhatyouaskhim,especiallyasyouhavetoldhimthereasonwhy,andmyCharleswilldoitwithoutevenwantingtoknowthereason.
NowyouknowwhatMrs.Westmacottthinksaboutthereserveofyoungladies.
Mereprudery,affectation,andarelicofthedarkagesoftheZenana.Thosewereherwords,weretheynot?”
“Whatthen?”
“Well,nowwemustputitinpractice.Wearereducingallherotherviewstopractice,andwemustnotshirkthisone.
“Butwhatwouldyoudo?Oh,don’tlooksowicked,Ida!
Youlooklikesomeevillittlefairy,withyourgoldenhairanddancing,mischievouseyes.
Iknowthatyouaregoingtoproposesomethingdreadful!”
“Wemustgivealittlesupperto-night.”
“We?Asupper!”
“Whynot?Younggentlemengivesuppers.Whynotyoungladies?”
“Butwhomshallweinvite?”
“Why,HaroldandCharlesofcourse.”
“AndtheAdmiralandMrs.HayDenver?”
“Oh,no.Thatwouldbeveryold-fashioned.Wemustkeepupwiththetimes,Clara.”
“Butwhatcanwegivethemforsupper?”
apictureofthecountryside
“Oh,somethingwithanice,fast,rollicking,late-at-night-kindofflavortoit.Letmesee!Champagne,ofcourse—andoysters.Oysterswilldo.
Inthenovels,allthenaughtypeopletakechampagneandoysters.Besides,theywon’tneedanycooking.Howisyourpocket-money,Clara?”
“Ihavethreepounds.”
“AndIhaveone.Fourpounds.Ihavenoideahowmuchchampagnecosts.Haveyou?”
“Nottheslightest.”
“Howmanyoystersdoesamaneat?”
“Ican’timagine.”
“I’llwriteandaskCharles.No,Iwon’t.I’llaskJane.Ringforher,Clara.Shehasbeenacook,andissuretoknow.”
Jane,onbeingcross-questioned,refusedtocommitherselfbeyondthestatementthatitdependeduponthegentleman,andalsoupontheoysters.
Theunitedexperienceofthekitchen,however,testifiedthatthreedozenwasafairprovision.
“Thenweshallhaveeightdozenaltogether,”saidIda,jottingdownallherrequirementsuponasheetofpaper.“Andtwopintsofchampagne.
Andsomebrownbread,andvinegar,andpepper.That’sall,Ithink.
Itisnotsoverydifficulttogiveasupperafterall,isit,Clara?”
“Idon’tlikeit,Ida.Itseemstometobesoveryindelicate.”
“Butitisneededtoclinchthematter.No,no,thereisnodrawingbacknow,Clara,orweshallruineverything.Papaissuretocomebackbythe9:45.Hewillreachthedoorat10.Wemusthaveeverythingreadyforhim.
Now,justsitdownatonce,andaskHaroldtocomeatnineo’clock,andIshalldothesametoCharles.”
Thetwoinvitationsweredispatched,receivedandaccepted.
Haroldwasalreadyaconfidant,andheunderstoodthatthiswassomefurtherdevelopmentoftheplot.
AstoCharles,hewassoaccustomedtofeminineeccentricity,inthepersonofhisaunt,thattheonlythingwhichcouldsurprisehimwouldbearigidobservanceofetiquette.
Atnineo’clocktheyenteredthedining-roomofNumber2,tofindthemasterofthehouseabsent,ared-shadedlamp,asnowycloth,apleasantlittlefeast,andthetwowhomtheywouldhavechosen,astheircompanions.
Amerrierpartynevermet,andthehouserangwiththeirlaughterandtheirchatter.
“Itisthreeminutestoten,”criedClara,suddenly,glancingattheclock.
“Goodgracious!Soitis!Nowforourlittletableau!”Idapushedthechampagnebottlesobtrusivelyforward,inthedirectionofthedoor,andscatteredoystershellsoverthecloth.
“Haveyouyourpipe,Charles?”
“Mypipe!Yes.”
“Thenpleasesmokeit.Nowdon’targueaboutit,butdoit,foryouwillruintheeffectotherwise.”
Thelargemandrewoutaredcase,andextractedagreatyellowmeerschaum,outofwhich,amomentlater,hewaspuffingthickwreathsofsmoke.
Haroldhadlitacigar,andboththegirlshadcigarettes.
“Thatlooksveryniceandemancipated,”saidIda,glancinground.“NowIshalllieonthissofa.So!
Now,Charles,justsithere,andthrowyourarmcarelesslyoverthebackofthesofa.No,don’tstopsmoking.Ilikeit.
Clara,dear,putyourfeetuponthecoal-scuttle,anddotrytolookalittledissipated.
Iwishwecouldcrownourselveswithflowers.
Therearesomelettucesonthesideboard.Ohdear,hereheis!Ihearhiskey.”
Shebegantosinginherhigh,freshvoicealittlesnatchfromaFrenchsong,withaswingingtrala-lachorus.
TheDoctorhadwalkedhomefromthestationinapeaceableandrelentingframeofmind,feelingthat,perhaps,hehadsaidtoomuchinthemorning,thathisdaughtershadforyearsbeenmodelsineveryway,andthat,iftherehadbeenanychangeoflate,itwas,astheysaidthemselves,onaccountoftheiranxietytofollowhisadviceandtoimitateMrs.Westmacott.
Hecouldseeclearlyenoughnowthatthatadvicewasunwise,andthataworldpeopledwithMrs.Westmacottswouldnotbeahappyorasoothingone.
Itwashewhowas,himself,toblame,andhewasgrievedbythethoughtthatperhapshishotwordshadtroubledandsaddenedhistwogirls.
Thisfear,however,wassoondissipated.
AsheenteredhishallheheardthevoiceofIdaupliftedinarollickingditty,andaverystrongsmelloftobaccowasbornetohisnostrils.
Hethrewopenthedining-roomdoor,andstoodaghastatthescenewhichmethiseyes.
Theroomwasfullofthebluewreathsofsmoke,andthelamp-lightshonethroughthethinhazeupongold-toppedbottles,plates,napkins,andalitterofoystershellsandcigarettes.
Ida,flushedandexcited,wasreclininguponthesettee,awine-glassatherelbow,andacigarettebetweenherfingers,whileCharlesWestmacottsatbesideher,withhisarmthrownovertheheadofthesofa,withthesuggestionofacaress.
Ontheothersideoftheroom,Clarawaslounginginanarm-chair,withHaroldbesideher,bothsmoking,andbothwithwine-glassesbesidethem.
TheDoctorstoodspeechlessinthedoorway,staringattheBacchanalianscene.
“Comein,papa!Do!”criedIda.“Won’tyouhaveaglassofchampagne?”
“Prayexcuseme,”saidherfather,coldly,“IfeelthatIamintruding.
Ididnotknowthatyouwereentertaining.
Perhapsyouwillkindlyletmeknowwhenyouhavefinished.Youwillfindmeinmystudy.”
Heignoredthetwoyoungmencompletely,and,closingthedoor,retired,deeplyhurtandmortified,tohisroom.
Aquarterofanhourafterwardsheheardthedoorslam,andhistwodaughterscametoannouncethattheguestsweregone.
“Guests!Whoseguests?”hecriedangrily.“Whatisthemeaningofthisexhibition?”
“Wehavebeengivingalittlesupper,papa.Theywereourguests.”
“Oh,indeed!”TheDoctorlaughedsarcastically.
“Youthinkitright,then,toentertainyoungbachelorslateatnight,to,smokeanddrinkwiththem,to——Oh,thatIshouldeverhavelivedtoblushformyowndaughters!
IthankGodthatyourdearmotherneversawtheday.”
“Dearestpapa,”criedClara,throwingherarmsabouthim.“Donotbeangrywithus.Ifyouunderstoodall,youwouldseethatthereisnoharminit.”
“Noharm,miss!Whoisthebestjudgeofthat?”
“Mrs.Westmacott,”suggestedIda,slyly.
TheDoctorsprangfromhischair.“ConfoundMrs.Westmacott!”
hecried,strikingfrenziedlyintotheairwithhishands.
“AmItohearofnothingbutthiswoman?Isshetoconfrontmeateveryturn?Iwillendureitnolonger.”
“Butitwasyourwish,papa.”
“ThenIwilltellyounowwhatmysecondandwiserwishis,andweshallseeifyouwillobeyitasyouhavethefirst.”
“Ofcoursewewill,papa.”
“Thenmywishis,thatyoushouldforgettheseodiousnotionswhichyouhaveimbibed,thatyoushoulddressandactasyouusedtodo,beforeeveryousawthiswoman,andthat,infuture,youconfineyourintercoursewithhertosuchcivilitiesasarenecessarybetweenneighbors.”
“WearetogiveupMrs.Westmacott?”
“Orgiveupme.”
“Oh,deardad,howcanyousayanythingsocruel?”
criedIda,burrowinghertowsygoldenhairintoherfather’sshirtfront,whileClarapressedhercheekagainsthiswhisker.
“Ofcourseweshallgiveherup,ifyoupreferit.”
“Ofcourseweshall,papa.”
TheDoctorpattedthetwocaressingheads.
“Thesearemyowntwogirlsagain,”hecried.“Ithasbeenmyfaultasmuchasyours.
Ihavebeenastray,andyouhavefollowedmeinmyerror.
ItwasonlybyseeingyourmistakethatIhavebecomeconsciousofmyown.
Letussetitaside,andneithersaynorthinkanythingmoreaboutit.”
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