“I wonder who she’ll ask to meet us,” he said.
“D’you want to go?” asked Bertha.
“Why, don’t you? We’ve got no engagement, have we?”
“Have you ever dined there before?” said Bertha.
“No. I’ve been to tennis-parties and that sort of thing, but I’ve hardly set foot inside their house.”
“Well, I think it’s an impertinence of her to ask you now.”
Edward opened his mouth wide: “What on earth d’you mean?”
“Oh, don’t you see?” cried his wife, “they’re merely asking you because you’re my husband. It’s humiliating.”
“Nonsense!” replied Edward, laughing. “And if they are, what do I care?—I’m not so thin-skinned as that. Mrs. Branderton was very nice to me the other Sunday; it would be funny if we didn’t accept.”
“Did you think she was nice? Didn’t you see that she was patronising you as if you were a groom2. It made me boil with rage. I could hardly hold my tongue.”
Edward laughed again. “I never noticed anything. It’s just your fancy, Bertha.”
“Then I shall go by myself,” he replied, laughing.
Bertha turned white; it was as if she had received a sudden blow; but he was laughing, of course he did not mean what he said. She hurriedly agreed to all he asked.
“Of course if you want to go, Eddie, I’ll come too.... It was only for your sake that I did not wish to.”
“We must be neighbourly. I want to be friends with everybody.”
She sat on the side of his chair, putting her arm round his neck. Edward patted her hand and she looked at him with eyes full of eager love, she bent4 down and kissed his hair. How foolish had been her sudden thought that he did not love her!
But Bertha had another reason for not wishing to go to Mrs. Branderton. She knew Edward would be bitterly criticised, and the thought made her wretched; they would talk of his appearance and manner, and wonder how they got on together. Bertha understood well enough the position Edward occupied in Leanham; the Brandertons and their like, knowing him all his life, had treated him as a mere1 acquaintance: for them he had been a person to whom you are civil, and that is all. This was the first occasion upon which he had been dealt with entirely5 as an equal; it was his introduction into what Mrs. Branderton was pleased to call the upper ten of Leanham. It did indeed make Bertha’s blood boil; and it cut her to the heart to think that for years he had been used in so infamous6 a fashion: he did not seem to mind.
“If I were he,” she said, “I’d rather die than go. They’ve ignored him always, and now they take him up as a favour to me.”
But Edward appeared to have no pride; of course his character was charming, and he could bear ill will to no one. He neither resented the former neglect of the Brandertons nor their present impertinence.
“I wish I could make him understand.”
Bertha passed the intervening week in a tremor7 of anxiety. She divined who the other guests would be. Would they laugh at him? Of course not openly; Mrs. Branderton, the least charitable of them all, prided herself upon her breeding; but Edward was shy, and among strangers awkward. To Bertha this was a charm rather than a defect; his half-bashful candour touched her, and she compared it favourably8 with the foolish worldliness of the imaginary man-about-town, whose dissipations she always opposed to her husband’s virtues9. But she knew that a spiteful tongue would find another name for what she called a delightful11 naïveté.
When at last the great day arrived, and they trundled off in the old-fashioned brougham, Bertha was thoroughly12 prepared to take mortal offence at the merest shadow of a slight offered to her husband. The Lord Chief Justice himself could not have been more careful of a company promoter’s fair name than was Mrs. Craddock of her husband’s susceptibilities; Edward, like the financier, treated the affair with indifference13.
Mrs. Branderton had routed out the whole countryside for her show of gentlefolk. They had come from Blackstable and Tercanbury and Faversley, and from the seats and mansions14 which surrounded those places. Mrs. Mayston Ryle was there in a wonderful jete-black wig15, and a voluminous dress of violet silk. Lady Wagget was there.
“Merely the widow of a city knight16, my dear,” said the hostess to Bertha, “but if she isn’t distinguished17, she’s good; so one mustn’t be too hard upon her.”
General Hancock arrived with two fuzzy-haired daughters, who were dreadfully plain, but pretended not to know it. They had walked; and while the soldier toddled18 in, blowing like a grampus, the girls (whose united ages made the respectable total of sixty-five years) stayed behind to remove their boots and put on the shoes which they had brought in a bag. Then, in a little while, came the Dean, meek19 and somewhat talkative; Mr. Glover had been invited for his sake, and of course Charles’ sister could not be omitted. She was looking almost festive20 in very shiny black satin.
“Poor dear,” said Mrs. Branderton to another guest, “it’s her only dinner dress; I’ve seen it for years. I’d willingly give her one of my old ones, only I’m afraid I should offend her by offering it. People in that class are so ridiculously sensitive.”
Mr. Atthill Bacot was announced; he had once contested the seat, and ever after been regarded as an authority upon the nation’s affairs. Mr. James Lycett and Mr. Molson came next, both red-faced squires21 with dogmatic opinions; they were alike as two peas, and it had been the local joke for thirty years that no one but their wives could tell them apart. Mrs. Lycett was thin and quiet and staid, wearing two little strips of lace on her hair to represent a cap; Mrs. Molson was so insignificant22 that no one had ever noticed what she was like. It was one of Mrs. Branderton’s representative gatherings23; moral excellence24 was joined to perfect gentility and the result could not fail to edify25. She was herself in high spirits and her cracked voice rang high and shrill26. She was conscious of a successful costume; she really had much taste, and her frock would have looked charming on a woman half her age. Thinking also that it was part of woman’s duty to be amiable27, Mrs. Branderton smiled and ogled28 at the old gentlemen in a way that quite alarmed them, and Mr. Atthill Bacot really thought she had designs upon his virtue10.
The dinner just missed being eatable. Mrs. Branderton was a woman of fashion and disdained29 the solid fare of a country dinner-party—thick soup, fried soles, mutton cutlets, roast mutton, pheasant, Charlotte russe, and jellies. (The earlier dishes are variable according to season, but the Charlotte russe and the jelly are inevitable30.) No, Mrs. Branderton said she must be a little more “distangay” than that, and provided her guests with clear soup, entrees31 from the Stores, a fluffy32 sweet which looked pretty and tasted horrid. The feast was extremely elegant, but it was not filling, which is unpleasant to elderly squires with large appetites.
“I never get enough to eat at the Brandertons,” said Mr. Atthill Bacot, indignantly.
“Well, I know the old woman,” replied Mr. Molson. Mrs. Branderton was the same age as himself, but he was rather a dog, and thought himself quite young enough to flirt33 with the least plain of the two Miss Hancocks. “I know her well, and I make a point of drinking a glass of sherry with a couple of eggs beaten up in it before I come.”
“The wines are positively34 immoral,” said Mrs. Mayston Ryle, who prided herself on her palate. “I’m always inclined to bring with me a flask35 with a little good whisky in it.”
But if the food was not heavy the conversation was. It is an axiom of narration36 that truth should coincide with probability, and the realist is perpetually hampered37 by the wild exaggeration of actual facts; a verbatim report of the conversation at Mrs. Branderton’s dinner-party would read like a shrieking38 caricature. The anecdote39 reigned40 supreme41. Mrs. Mayston Ryle was a specialist in the clerical anecdote; she successively related the story of Bishop42 Thorold and his white hands, the story of Bishop Wilberforce and the bloody43 shovel44. (This somewhat shocked the ladies, but Mrs. Mayston Ryle could not spoil her point by the omission45 of a swear word.) The Dean gave an anecdote about himself, to which Mrs. Mayston Ryle retorted with one about the Archbishop of Canterbury and the tedious curate. Mr. Arthill Bacot gave political anecdotes46, Mr. Gladstone and the table of the House of Commons, Dizzy and the agricultural labourer. The climax47 came when General Hancock gave his celebrated48 stories about the Duke of Wellington. Edward laughed heartily49 at them all.
Bertha’s eyes were constantly upon her husband. She detested50 the thoughts that ran through her head, for that they should come to her at all was disparaging51 to him; but still she was horribly anxious. Was he not perfect, and handsome, and adorable? Why should she tremble before the opinion of a dozen stupid people? But she could not help it. However much she despised her neighbours, she could not prevent herself from being miserably52 affected53 by their judgment54. And what did Edward feel? Was he as nervous as she? She could not bear the thought that he should suffer pain. It was an immense relief when Mrs. Branderton rose from the table. Bertha looked at Arthur holding open the door; she would have given anything to ask him to look after Edward, but dared not. She was terrified lest, to his humiliation55, those old squires should pointedly56 ignore him.
On reaching the drawing-room Miss Glover found herself by Bertha’s side, a little separated from the others, and the accident seemed designed by higher powers to give her an opportunity for the amends57 which she felt it her duty to make Mrs. Craddock for her former disparagement58 of Edward. She had been thinking the matter over, and considered an apology distinctly needful. But Miss Glover suffered terribly from nervousness, and the idea of broaching59 so delicate a subject caused her indescribable torture; yet the very unpleasantness of it reassured60 her, if speech was so disagreeable, it must obviously be her duty. But the words stuck in her throat, and she began talking of the weather. She reproached herself for cowardice61; she set her teeth and grew scarlet62.
“What on earth for?” Bertha opened her eyes wide and looked at the poor woman with astonishment64.
“I feel I’ve been unjust to your husband. I thought he wasn’t a proper match for you, and I said things about him which I shouldn’t even have thought. I’m very sorry. He’s one of the best and kindest men I’ve ever seen, and I’m very glad you married him, and I’m sure you’ll be very happy.”
Tears came to Bertha’s eyes as she laughed; she felt inclined to throw her arms round the grim Miss Glover’s neck, for such a speech at that moment was very comforting.
“Of course I know you didn’t mean what you said.”
“Oh yes, I did, I’m sorry to say,” replied Miss Glover, who could allow no extenuation65 to her own crime.
“I’d quite forgotten all about it; and I believe you’ll soon be as madly in love with Edward as I am.”
“My dear Bertha,” replied Miss Glover, who never jested, “with your husband? You must be joking.”
But Mrs. Branderton interrupted them with her high voice.
“Bertha, dear, I want to talk to you.” Bertha, smiling, sat down beside her, and Mrs. Branderton proceeded in undertones.
“I must tell you, every one has been saying you’re the handsomest couple in the county, and we all think your husband is so nice.”
“He laughed at all your jokes,” replied Bertha.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Branderton, looking upwards66 and sideways like a canary, “he has such a merry disposition67. But I’ve always liked him, dear. I was telling Mrs. Mayston Ryle that I’ve known him intimately ever since he was born. I thought it would please you to know that we all think your husband is nice.”
“I’m very much pleased. I hope Edward will be equally satisfied with all of you.”
The Craddock’s carriage came early, and Bertha offered to drive the Glovers home.
“I wonder if that lady has swallowed a poker,” said Mr. Molson, as soon as the drawing-room door was closed.
The two Miss Hancocks went into shrieks68 of laughter at this sally, and even the Dean smiled gently.
“Where did she get her diamonds from?” said the elder Miss Hancock. “I thought they were as poor as church mice.”
“The diamonds and the pictures are the only things they have left,” said Mrs. Branderton; “her family always refused to sell them; though, of course, it’s absurd for people in that position to have such jewels.”
“He’s a remarkably69 nice fellow,” said Mrs. Mayston Ryle in her deep, authoritative70 voice; “but I agree with Mr. Molson, she’s distinctly inclined to give herself airs.”
“The Leys for generations have been as proud as turkey-cocks,” added Mrs. Branderton.
“I shouldn’t have thought Mrs. Craddock had much to be proud of now, at all events,” said the elder Miss Hancock; she had no ancestors herself, and thought people who had were snobs71.
“Perhaps she was a little nervous,” said Lady Waggett, who, though not distinguished, was good. “I know when I was a bride I used to be all of a tremble when I went to dinner-parties.”
“Nonsense,” said Mrs. Mayston Ryle. “She was extremely self-possessed; I don’t think it looks well for a young woman to have so much assurance. And I think she ought to be told that it’s hardly well bred for a young married woman to leave a house before anybody else as if she were royalty72, when there are present women of a certain age and of a position undoubtedly73 not inferior to her own.”
“Oh, they’re so newly married they like to be alone, poor things,” said Lady Waggett. “I know I used to when I was first married to Sir Samuel.”
“My dear Lady Waggett,” answered Mrs. Mayston Ryle in tones of thunder, “the cases are not similar; Mrs. Craddock was a Miss Ley, and really should know something of the usages of good society.”
“Well, what do you think she said to me?” said Mrs. Branderton, waving her thin arms. “I was telling her that we were all so pleased with her husband—I thought it would comfort her a little, poor thing—and she said she hoped he would be equally satisfied with us.”
Mrs. Mayston Ryle for a moment was stupefied, but soon recovered.
“How very amusing,” she cried, rising from her chair. “Ha! ha! She hopes Mr. Edward Craddock will be satisfied with Mrs. Mayston Ryle.”
The two Miss Hancocks said “Ha! ha!” in chorus. Then, the great lady’s carriage being announced, she bade the assembly good-night, and swept out with a great rustling74 of her violet silk. The party might now really be looked upon as concluded, and the others obediently flocked off.
When they had put the Glovers down, Bertha nestled close to her husband.
“I’m so glad it’s all over,” she whispered; “I’m only happy when I’m alone with you.”
“It was a jolly evening, wasn’t it,” he said. “I thought they were all ripping.”
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it, dear; I was afraid you’d be bored.”
“Good heavens, that’s the last thing I should be. It does one good to hear conversation like that now and then—it brightens one up.”
Bertha started a little.
“Old Bacot is a very well informed man, isn’t he? I shouldn’t wonder if he was right in thinking that the government would go out at the end of their six years.”
“He always leads one to believe that he’s in the Prime Minister’s confidence,” said Bertha.
“And the General is a funny old chap,” added Edward. “That was a good story he told about the Duke of Wellington.”
Somehow this remark had a curious effect upon Bertha; she could not restrain herself, but burst suddenly into shrieks of hysterical75 laughter. Her husband, thinking she was laughing at the anecdote, burst also into peal76 upon peal.
“And the story about the Bishop’s gaiters!” cried Edward, shouting with merriment.
The more he laughed, the more hysterical became Bertha; and as they drove through the silent night they screamed and yelled and shook with uncontrollable mirth.
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1
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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toddled
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| v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的过去式和过去分词 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步 | |
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19
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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edify
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| v.陶冶；教化；启发 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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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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ogled
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disdained
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| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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entrees
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| n.入场权( entree的名词复数 )；主菜 | |
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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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48
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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49
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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50
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
disparaging
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| adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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52
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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54
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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55
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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56
pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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57
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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58
disparagement
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| n.轻视，轻蔑 | |
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59
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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60
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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61
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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65
extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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66
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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67
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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68
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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69
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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70
authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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71
snobs
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| （谄上傲下的）势利小人( snob的名词复数 )； 自高自大者，自命不凡者 | |
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72
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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73
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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74
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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75
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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76
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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