So that Mrs. Baines was duly apprised1 of the signboard before her arrival. The letter written by her to Constance after receiving Samuel's letter, which was merely the amiable2 epistle of a son-in- law anxious to be a little more than correct, contained no reference to the signboard. This silence, however, did not in the least allay3 Constance's apprehensions4 as to what might occur when her mother and Samuel met beneath the signboard itself. It was therefore with a fearful as well as an eager, loving heart that Constance opened her side-door and ran down the steps when the waggonette stopped in King Street on the Thursday morning of the great visit of the sisters. But a surprise awaited her. Aunt Harriet had not come. Mrs. Baines explained, as she soundly kissed her daughter, that at the last moment Aunt Harriet had not felt well enough to undertake the journey. She sent her fondest love, and cake. Her pains had recurred5. It was these mysterious pains which had prevented the sisters from coming to Bursley earlier. The word "cancer"--the continual terror of stout6 women--had been on their lips, without having been actually uttered; then there was a surcease, and each was glad that she had refrained from the dread7 syllables8. In view of the recurrence9, it was not unnatural10 that Mrs. Baines's vigorous cheerfulness should be somewhat forced.
"What is it, do you think?" Constance inquired.
Mrs. Baines pushed her lips out and raised her eyebrows--a gesture which meant that the pains might mean God knew what.
"I hope she'll be all right alone," observed Constance. "Of course," said Mrs. Baines, quickly. "But you don't suppose I was going to disappoint you, do you?" she added, looking round as if to defy the fates in general.
This speech, and its tone, gave intense pleasure to Constance; and, laden11 with parcels, they mounted the stairs together, very content with each other, very happy in the discovery that they were still mother and daughter, very intimate in an inarticulate way.
Constance had imagined long, detailed12, absorbing, and highly novel conversations between herself and her mother upon this their first meeting after her marriage. But alone in the bedroom, and with a clear half-hour to dinner, they neither of them seemed to have a great deal to impart.
Mrs. Baines slowly removed her light mantle13 and laid it with precautions on the white damask counterpane. Then, fingering her weeds, she glanced about the chamber14. Nothing was changed. Though Constance had, previous to her marriage, envisaged15 certain alterations16, she had determined17 to postpone18 them, feeling that one revolutionist in a house was enough.
"Well, my chick, you all right?" said Mrs. Baines, with hearty19 and direct energy, gazing straight into her daughter's eyes.
Constance perceived that the question was universal in its comprehensiveness, the one unique expression that the mother would give to her maternal20 concern and curiosity, and that it condensed into six words as much interest as would have overflowed21 into a whole day of the chatter22 of some mothers. She met the candid23 glance, flushing.
"Oh YES!" she answered with ecstatic fervour. "Perfectly24!"
And Mrs. Baines nodded, as if dismissing THAT. "You're stouter," said she, curtly25. "If you aren't careful you'll be as big as any of us."
"Oh, mother!"
The interview fell to a lower plane of emotion. It even fell as far as Maggie. What chiefly preoccupied26 Constance was a subtle change in her mother. She found her mother fussy27 in trifles. Her manner of laying down her mantle, of smoothing out her gloves, and her anxiety that her bonnet28 should not come to harm, were rather trying, were perhaps, in the very slightest degree, pitiable. It was nothing; it was barely perceptible, and yet it was enough to alter Constance's mental attitude to her mother. "Poor dear!" thought Constance. "I'm afraid she's not what she was." Incredible that her mother could have age in less than six weeks! Constance did not allow for the chemistry that had been going on in herself.
The encounter between Mrs. Baines and her son-in-law was of the most satisfactory nature. He was waiting in the parlour for her to descend29. He made himself exceedingly agreeable, kissing her, and flattering her by his evidently sincere desire to please. He explained that he had kept an eye open for the waggonette, but had been called away. His "Dear me!" on learning about Aunt Harriet lacked nothing in conviction, though both women knew that his affection for Aunt Harriet would never get the better of his reason. To Constance, her husband's behaviour was marvellously perfect. She had not suspected him to be such a man of the world. And her eyes said to her mother, quite unconsciously: "You see, after all, you didn't rate Sam as high as you ought to have done. Now you see your mistake."
As they sat waiting for dinner, Constance and Mrs. Baines on the sofa, and Samuel on the edge of the nearest rocking-chair, a small scuffling noise was heard outside the door which gave on the kitchen steps, the door yielded to pressure, and Fan rushed importantly in, deranging30 mats. Fan's nose had been hinting to her that she was behind the times, not up-to-date in the affairs of the household, and she had hurried from the kitchen to make inquiries31. It occurred to her en route that she had been washed that morning. The spectacle of Mrs. Baines stopped her. She stood, with her legs slightly out-stretched, her nose lifted, her ears raking forward, her bright eyes blinking, and her tail undecided. "I was sure I'd never smelt32 anything like that before," she was saying to herself, as she stared at Mrs. Baines.
And Mrs. Baines, staring at Fan, had a similar though not the same sentiment. The silence was terrible. Constance took on the mien33 of a culprit, and Sam had obviously lost his easy bearing of a man of the world. Mrs. Baines was merely thunderstruck.
A dog!
Suddenly Fan's tail began to wag more quickly; and then, having looked in vain for encouragement to her master and mistress, she gave one mighty34 spring and alighted in Mrs. Baines's lap. It was an aim she could not have missed. Constance emitted an "Oh, FAN!" of shocked terror, and Samuel betrayed his nervous tension by an involuntary movement. But Fan had settled down into that titanic35 lap as into heaven. It was a greater flattery than Mr. Povey's.
"So your name's Fan!" murmured Mrs. Baines, stroking the animal. "You are a dear!"
"Yes, isn't she?" said Constance, with inconceivable rapidity.
The danger was past. Thus, without any explanation, Fan became an accepted fact.
The next moment Maggie served the Yorkshire pudding.
"Well, Maggie," said Mrs. Baines. "So you are going to get married this time? When is it?"
"Sunday, ma'am."
"And you leave here on Saturday?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well, I must have a talk with you before I go."
During the dinner, not a word as to the signboard! Several times the conversation curved towards that signboard in the most alarming fashion, but invariably it curved away again, like a train from another train when two trains are simultaneously36 leaving a station. Constance had frights, so serious as to destroy her anxiety about the cookery. In the end she comprehended that her mother had adopted a silently disapproving37 attitude. Fan was socially very useful throughout the repast.
After dinner Constance was on pins lest Samuel should light a cigar. She had not requested him not to do so, for though she was entirely38 sure of his affection, she had already learned that a husband is possessed39 by a demon40 of contrariety which often forces him to violate his higher feelings. However, Samuel did not light a cigar. He went off to superintend the shutting-up of the shop, while Mrs. Baines chatted with Maggie and gave her L5 for a wedding present. Then Mr. Critchlow called to offer his salutations.
A little before tea Mrs. Baines announced that she would go out for a short walk by herself.
"Where has she gone to?" smiled Samuel, superiorly, as with Constance at the window he watched her turn down King Street towards the church.
"I expect she has gone to look at father's grave," said Constance.
"Oh!" muttered Samuel, apologetically.
Constance was mistaken. Before reaching the church, Mrs. Baines deviated41 to the right, got into Brougham Street and thence, by Acre Lane, into Oldcastle Street, whose steep she climbed. Now, Oldcastle Street ends at the top of St. Luke's Square, and from the corner Mrs. Baines had an excellent view of the signboard. It being Thursday afternoon, scarce a soul was about. She returned to her daughter's by the same extraordinary route, and said not a word on entering. But she was markedly cheerful.
The waggonette came after tea, and Mrs. Baines made her final preparations to depart. The visit had proved a wonderful success; it would have been utterly42 perfect if Samuel had not marred43 it at the very door of the waggonette. Somehow, he contrived44 to be talking of Christmas. Only a person of Samuel's native clumsiness would have mentioned Christmas in July.
"You know you'll spend Christmas with us!" said he into the waggonette.
"Indeed I shan't!" replied Mrs. Baines. "Aunt Harriet and I will expect you at Axe45. We've already settled that."
Mr. Povey bridled46. "Oh no!" he protested, hurt by this summariness.
Having had no relatives, except his cousin the confectioner, for many years, he had dreamt of at last establishing a family Christmas under his own roof, and the dream was dear to him.
Mrs. Baines said nothing. "We couldn't possibly leave the shop," said Mr. Povey.
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Baines retorted, putting her lips together. "Christmas Day is on a Monday."
The waggonette in starting jerked her head towards the door and set all her curls shaking. No white in those curls yet, scarcely a touch of grey!
"I shall take good care we don't go there anyway," Mr. Povey mumbled47, in his heat, half to himself and half to Constance.
He had stained the brightness of the day.
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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envisaged
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| 想像，设想( envisage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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deranging
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| v.疯狂的，神经错乱的( deranged的过去分词 )；混乱的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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titanic
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| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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deviated
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| v.偏离，越轨( deviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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46
bridled
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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