The Duke and Duchess with their children and personal servants reached Gatherum Castle the day before the first crowd of visitors was expected. It was on a lovely autumn afternoon, and the Duke, who had endeavoured to make himself pleasant during the journey, had suggested that as soon as the heat would allow them they would saunter about the grounds and see what was being done. They could dine late, at half-past eight or nine, so that they might be walking from seven to eight. But the Duchess when she reached the Castle declined to fall into this arrangement. The journey had been hot and dusty and she was a little cross. They reached the place about five, and then she declared that she would have a cup of tea and lie down; she was too tired to walk; and the sun, she said, was still scorchingly hot. He then asked that the children might go with him; but the two little girls were weary and travel-worn, and the two boys, the elder of whom was home from Eton and the younger from some minor1 Eton, were already out about the place after their own pleasures. So the Duke started for his walk alone.
The Duchess certainly did not wish to have to inspect the works in conjunction with her husband. She knew how much there was that she ought still to do herself, how many things that she herself ought to see. But she could neither do anything nor see anything to any purpose under his wing. As to lying down, that she knew to be quite out of the question. She had already found out that the life which she had adopted was one of incessant2 work. But she was neither weak nor idle. She was quite prepared to work,—if only she might work after her own fashion and with companions chosen by herself. Had not her husband been so perverse3, she would have travelled down with Mrs. Finn, whose coming was now postponed4 for two days, and Locock would have been with her. The Duke had given directions which made it necessary that Locock's coming should be postponed for a day, and this was another grievance5. She was put out a good deal, and began to speculate whether her husband was doing it on purpose to torment6 her. Nevertheless, as soon as she knew that he was out of the way, she went to her work. She could not go out among the tents and lawns and conservatories7, as she would probably meet him. But she gave orders as to bedchambers, saw to the adornments of the reception-rooms, had an eye to the banners and martial8 trophies9 suspended in the vast hall, and the busts10 and statues which adorned11 the corners, looked in on the plate which was being prepared for the great dining-room, and superintended the moving about of chairs, sofas, and tables generally. "You may take it as certain, Mrs. Pritchard," she said to the housekeeper12, "that there will never be less than forty for the next two months."
"Forty to sleep, my lady?" To Pritchard the Duchess had for many years been Lady Glencora, and she perhaps understood that her mistress liked the old appellation13.
"Yes, forty to sleep, and forty to eat, and forty to drink. But that's nothing. Forty to push through twenty-four hours every day! Do you think you've got everything that you want?"
"It depends, my lady, how long each of 'em stays."
"One night! No,—say two nights on an average."
"That makes shifting the beds very often;—doesn't it, my lady?"
"Send up to Puddick's for sheets to-morrow. Why wasn't that thought of before?"
"It was, my lady,—and I think we shall do. We've got the steam-washery put up."
"Towels!" suggested the Duchess.
"Oh yes, my lady. Puddick's did send a great many things;—a whole waggon14 load there was come from the station. But the tablecloths15 ain't, none of 'em, long enough for the big table." The Duchess's face fell. "Of course there must be two. On them very long tables, my lady, there always is two."
"Why didn't you tell me, so that I could have had them made? It's impossible,—impossible that one brain should think of it all. Are you sure you've got enough hands in the kitchen?"
"Well, my lady;—we couldn't do with more; and they ain't an atom of use,—only just in the way,—if you don't know something about 'em. I suppose Mr. Millepois will be down soon." This name, which Mrs. Pritchard called Milleypoise, indicated a French cook who was as yet unknown at the Castle.
"He'll be here to-night."
"I wish he could have been here a day or two sooner, my lady, so as just to see about him."
"And how should we have got our dinner in town? He won't make any difficulties. The confectioner did come?"
"Yes, my lady; and to tell the truth out at once, he was that drunk last night that—; oh, dear, we didn't know what to do with him."
"I don't mind that before the affair begins. I don't suppose he'll get tipsy while he has to work for all these people. You've plenty of eggs?"
These questions went on so rapidly that in addition to the asking of them the Duchess was able to go through all the rooms before she dressed for dinner, and in every room she saw something to speak of, noting either perfection or imperfection. In the meantime the Duke had gone out alone. It was still hot, but he had made up his mind that he would enjoy his first holiday out of town by walking about his own grounds, and he would not allow the heat to interrupt him. He went out through the vast hall, and the huge front door, which was so huge and so grand that it was very seldom used. But it was now open by chance, owing to some incident of this festival time, and he passed through it and stood upon the grand terrace, with the well-known and much-lauded portico16 over head. Up to the terrace, though it was very high, there ran a road, constructed upon arches, so that grand guests could drive almost into the house. The Duke, who was never grand himself, as he stood there looking at the far-stretching view before him, could not remember that he had ever but once before placed himself on that spot. Of what use had been the portico, and the marbles, and the huge pile of stone,—of what use the enormous hall just behind him, cutting the house in two, declaring aloud by its own aspect and proportions that it had been built altogether for show and in no degree for use or comfort? And now as he stood there he could already see that men were at work about the place, that ground had been moved here, and grass laid down there, and a new gravel17 road constructed in another place. Was it not possible that his friends should be entertained without all these changes in the gardens? Then he perceived the tents, and descending18 from the terrace and turning to the left towards the end of the house he came upon a new conservatory19. The exotics with which it was to be filled were at this moment being brought in on great barrows. He stood for a moment and looked, but said not a word to the men. They gazed at him but evidently did not know him. How should they know him,—him, who was so seldom there, and who when there never showed himself about the place? Then he went farther afield from the house and came across more and more men. A great ha-ha fence had been made, enclosing on three sides a large flat and turfed parallelogram of ground, taken out of the park and open at one end to the gardens, containing, as he thought, about an acre. "What are you doing this for?" he said to one of the labourers. The man stared at him, and at first seemed hardly inclined to make him an answer. "It be for the quality to shoot their bows and harrows," he said at last, as he continued the easy task of patting with his spade the completed work. He evidently regarded this stranger as an intruder who was not entitled to ask questions, even if he were permitted to wander about the grounds.
From one place he went on to another and found changes, and new erections, and some device for throwing away money everywhere. It angered him to think that there was so little of simplicity20 left in the world that a man could not entertain his friends without such a fuss as this. His mind applied21 itself frequently to the consideration of the money, not that he grudged22 the loss of it, but the spending of it in such a cause. And then perhaps there occurred to him an idea that all this should not have been done without a word of consent from himself. Had she come to him with some scheme for changing everything about the place, making him think that the alterations23 were a matter of taste or of mere24 personal pleasure, he would probably have given his assent25 at once, thinking nothing of the money. But all this was sheer display. Then he walked up and saw the flag waving over the Castle, indicating that he, the Lord Lieutenant26 of the County, was present there on his own soil. That was right. That was as it should be, because the flag was waving in compliance27 with an acknowledged ordinance28. Of all that properly belonged to his rank and station he could be very proud, and would allow no diminution29 of that outward respect to which they were entitled. Were they to be trenched on by his fault in his person, the rights of others to their enjoyment30 would be endangered, and the benefits accruing31 to his country from established marks of reverence32 would be imperilled. But here was an assumed and preposterous33 grandeur34 that was as much within the reach of some rich swindler or of some prosperous haberdasher as of himself,—having, too, a look of raw newness about it which was very distasteful to him. And then, too, he knew that nothing of all this would have been done unless he had become Prime Minister. Why on earth should a man's grounds be knocked about because he becomes Prime Minister? He walked on arguing this within his own bosom35, till he had worked himself almost up to anger. It was clear that he must henceforth take things more into his own hands, or he would be made to be absurd before the world. Indifference36 he knew he could bear. Harsh criticism he thought he could endure. But to ridicule37 he was aware that he was pervious. Suppose the papers were to say of him that he built a new conservatory and made an archery ground for the sake of maintaining the Coalition38!
When he got back to the house he found his wife alone in the small room in which they intended to dine. After all her labours she was now reclining for the few minutes her husband's absence might allow her, knowing that after dinner there were a score of letters for her to write. "I don't think," said she, "I was ever so tired in my life."
"It isn't such a very long journey after all."
"But it's a very big house, and I've been, I think, into every room since I have been here, and I've moved most of the furniture in the drawing-rooms with my own hand, and I've counted the pounds of butter, and inspected the sheets and tablecloths."
"Was that necessary, Glencora?"
"If I had gone to bed instead, the world, I suppose, would have gone on, and Sir Orlando Drought would still have led the House of Commons;—but things should be looked after, I suppose."
"There are people to do it. You are like Martha, troubling yourself with many things."
"I always felt that Martha was very ill-used. If there were no Marthas there would never be anything fit to eat. But it's odd how sure a wife is to be scolded. If I did nothing at all, that wouldn't please a busy, hard-working man like you."
"I don't know that I have scolded,—not as yet."
"Are you going to begin?"
"Not to scold, my dear. Looking back, can you remember that I ever scolded you?"
"I can remember a great many times when you ought."
"But to tell you the truth, I don't like all that you have done here. I cannot see that it was necessary."
"People make changes in their gardens without necessity sometimes."
"But these changes are made because of your guests. Had they been made to gratify your own taste I would have said nothing,—although even in that case I think you might have told me what you proposed to do."
"What;—when you are so burdened with work that you do not know how to turn?"
"I am never so burdened that I cannot turn to you. But, as you know, that is not what I complain of. If it were done for yourself, though it were the wildest vagary39, I would learn to like it. But it distresses40 me to think that what might have been good enough for our friends before should be thought to be insufficient41 because of the office I hold. There is a—a—a—I was almost going to say vulgarity about it which distresses me."
"Vulgarity!" she exclaimed, jumping up from her sofa.
"I retract42 the word. I would not for the world say anything that should annoy you;—but pray, pray do not go on with it." Then again he left her.
Vulgarity! There was no other word in the language so hard to bear as that. He had, indeed, been careful to say that he did not accuse her of vulgarity,—but nevertheless the accusation43 had been made. Could you call your friend a liar44 more plainly than by saying to him that you would not say that he lied? They dined together, the two boys, also, dining with them, but very little was said at dinner. The horrid45 word was clinging to the lady's ears, and the remembrance of having uttered the word was heavy on the man's conscience. He had told himself very plainly that the thing was vulgar, but he had not meant to use the word. When uttered it came even upon himself as a surprise. But it had been uttered; and, let what apology there may be made, a word uttered cannot be retracted46. As he looked across the table at his wife, he saw that the word had been taken in deep dudgeon.
She escaped, to the writing of her letters she said, almost before the meal was done. "Vulgarity!" She uttered the word aloud to herself, as she sat herself down in the little room up-stairs which she had assigned to herself for her own use. But though she was very angry with him, she did not, even in her own mind, contradict him. Perhaps it was vulgar. But why shouldn't she be vulgar, if she could most surely get what she wanted by vulgarity? What was the meaning of the word vulgarity? Of course she was prepared to do things,—was daily doing things,—which would have been odious47 to her had not her husband been a public man. She submitted, without unwillingness48, to constant contact with disagreeable people. She lavished49 her smiles,—so she now said to herself,—on butchers and tinkers. What she said, what she read, what she wrote, what she did, whither she went, to whom she was kind and to whom unkind,—was it not all said and done and arranged with reference to his and her own popularity? When a man wants to be Prime Minister he has to submit to vulgarity, and must give up his ambition if the task be too disagreeable to him. The Duchess thought that that had been understood, at any rate ever since the days of Coriolanus. "The old Duke kept out of it," she said to herself, "and chose to live in the other way. He had his choice. He wants it to be done. And when I do it for him because he can't do it for himself, he calls it by an ugly name!" Then it occurred to her that the world tells lies every day,—telling on the whole much more lies than truth,—but that the world has wisely agreed that the world shall not be accused of lying. One doesn't venture to express open disbelief even of one's wife; and with the world at large a word spoken, whether lie or not, is presumed to be true of course,—because spoken. Jones has said it, and therefore Smith,—who has known the lie to be a lie,—has asserted his assured belief, lying again. But in this way the world is able to live pleasantly. How was she to live pleasantly if her husband accused her of vulgarity? Of course it was all vulgar, but why should he tell her so? She did not do it from any pleasure that she got from it.
The letters remained long unwritten, and then there came a moment in which she resolved that they should not be written. The work was very hard, and what good would come from it? Why should she make her hands dirty, so that even her husband accused her of vulgarity? Would it not be better to give it all up, and be a great woman, une grande dame50, of another kind,—difficult of access, sparing of her favours, aristocratic to the backbone,—a very Duchess of duchesses? The role would be one very easy to play. It required rank, money, and a little manner,—and these she possessed51. The old Duke had done it with ease, without the slightest trouble to himself, and had been treated almost like a god because he had secluded52 himself. She could make the change even yet,—and as her husband told her that she was vulgar, she thought she would make it.
But at last, before she had abandoned her desk and paper, there had come to her another thought. Nothing to her was so distasteful as failure. She had known that there would be difficulties, and had assured herself that she would be firm and brave in overcoming them. Was not this accusation of vulgarity simply one of the difficulties which she had to overcome? Was her courage already gone from her? Was she so weak that a single word should knock her over,—and a word evidently repented53 of as soon as uttered? Vulgar! Well;—let her be vulgar as long as she gained her object. There had been no penalty of everlasting54 punishment denounced against vulgarity. And then a higher idea touched her, not without effect,—an idea which she could not analyse, but which was hardly on that account the less effective. She did believe thoroughly55 in her husband, to the extent of thinking him the fittest man in all the country to be its Prime Minister. His fame was dear to her. Her nature was loyal; and though she might, perhaps, in her younger days have been able to lean upon him with a more loving heart had he been other than he was, brighter, more gay, given to pleasures, and fond of trifles, still, she could recognise merits with which her sympathy was imperfect. It was good that he should be England's Prime Minister, and therefore she would do all she could to keep him in that place. The vulgarity was a necessary essential. He might not acknowledge this,—might even, if the choice were left to him, refuse to be Prime Minister on such terms. But she need not, therefore, give way. Having in this way thought it all out, she took up her pen and completed the batch56 of letters before she allowed herself to go to bed.
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1
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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2
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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3
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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4
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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5
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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6
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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7
conservatories
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| n.（培植植物的）温室，暖房( conservatory的名词复数 ) | |
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8
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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9
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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10
busts
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| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
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11
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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12
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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13
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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14
waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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15
tablecloths
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| n.桌布，台布( tablecloth的名词复数 ) | |
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16
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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17
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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18
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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19
conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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20
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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21
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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22
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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23
alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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24
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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25
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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26
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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27
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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28
ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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29
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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30
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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31
accruing
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| v.增加( accrue的现在分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
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32
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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33
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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34
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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35
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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36
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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37
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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38
coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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39
vagary
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| n.妄想，不可测之事，异想天开 | |
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40
distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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41
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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42
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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43
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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44
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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45
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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46
retracted
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| v.撤回或撤消( retract的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝执行或遵守；缩回；拉回 | |
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47
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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48
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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49
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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51
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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52
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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53
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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55
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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56
batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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