She must ask Isaac. For she was determined2 to go home and challenge her husband. She felt buoyed3 up by indignation and the consciousness of innocence4....
And then she felt an odd little doubt whether her innocence was quite so manifest as she supposed?
That doubt grew to uncomfortable proportions.
For two years she had been meeting Mr. Brumley as confidently as though they had been invisible beings, and now she had to rack her brains for just what might be mistaken, what might be misconstrued. There was nothing, she told herself, nothing, it was all as open as the day, and still her mind groped about for some forgotten circumstance, something gone almost out of memory that would bear misinterpretation.... How should she begin? "Isaac," she would say, "I am being followed about London." Suppose he denied his complicity! How could he deny his complicity?
The cab ran in through the gates of her home and stopped at the door. Snagsby came hurrying down the steps with a face of consternation5. "Sir Isaac, my lady, has come home in a very sad state indeed."
Beyond Snagsby in the hall she came upon a lost-looking round-eyed Florence.
"Daddy's ill again," said Florence.
"You run to the nursery," said Lady Harman.
"I thought I might help," said Florence. "I don't want to play with the others."
"No, run away to the nursery."
"I want to see the ossygen let out," said Florence petulantly6 to her mother's unsympathetic back. "I never see the ossygen let out. Mum—my!..."
Lady Harman found her husband on the couch in his bedroom. He was propped7 up in a sitting position with every available cushion and pillow. His coat and waistcoat and collar had been taken off, and his shirt and vest torn open. The nearest doctor, Almsworth, was in attendance, but oxygen had not arrived, and Sir Isaac with an expression of bitter malignity8 upon his face was fighting desperately9 for breath. If anything his malignity deepened at the sight of his wife. "Damned climate," he gasped10. "Wouldn't have come back—except for your foolery."
It seemed to help him to say that. He took a deep inhalation, pressed his lips tightly together, and nodded at her to confirm his words.
"If he's fanciful," said Almsworth. "If in any way your presence irritates him——"
"Let her stay," said Sir Isaac. "It—pleases her...."
7
And now every other interest in life was dominated, and every other issue postponed12 by the immense urgencies of Sir Isaac's illness. It had entered upon a new phase. It was manifest that he could no longer live in England, that he must go to some warm and kindly13 climate. There and with due precautions and observances Almsworth assured Lady Harman he might survive for many years—"an invalid14, of course, but a capable one."
For some time the business of the International Stores had been preparing itself for this withdrawal15. Sir Isaac had been entrusting16 his managers with increased responsibility and making things ready for the flotation of a company that would take the whole network of enterprises off his hands. Charterson was associated with him in this, and everything was sufficiently17 definite to be managed from any continental18 resort to which his doctors chose to send him. They chose to send him to Santa Margherita on the Ligurian coast near Rapallo and Porto Fino.
It was old Bergener of Marienbad who chose this place. Sir Isaac had wanted to go to Marienbad, his first resort abroad; he had a lively and indeed an exaggerated memory of his Kur there; his growing disposition19 to distrust had turned him against his London specialist, and he had caused Lady Harman to send gigantic telegrams of inquiry20 to old Bergener before he would be content. But Bergener would not have him at Marienbad; it wasn't the place, it was the wrong time of year, there was the very thing for them at the Regency Hotel at Santa Margherita, an entire dépendance in a beautiful garden right on the sea, admirably furnished and adapted in every way to Sir Isaac's peculiar21 needs. There, declared Doctor Bergener, with a proper attendant, due precaution, occasional oxygen and no excitement he would live indefinitely, that is to say eight or ten years. And attracted by the eight or ten years, which was three more than the London specialist offered, Sir Isaac finally gave in and consented to be taken to Santa Margherita.
He was to go as soon as possible, and he went in a special train and with an immense elaboration of attendance and comforts. They took with them a young doctor their specialist at Marienbad had recommended, a bright young Bavarian with a perfectly22 square blond head, an incurable23 frock coat, the manners of the less kindly type of hotel-porter and luggage which apparently24 consisted entirely25 of apparatus26, an arsenal27 of strange-shaped shining black cases. He joined them in London and went right through with them. From Genoa at his request they obtained the services of a trained nurse, an amiable28 fluent-shaped woman who knew only Italian and German. For reasons that he declined to give, but which apparently had something to do with the suffrage29 agitation30, he would have nothing to do with an English trained nurse. They had also a stenographer31 and typist for Sir Isaac's correspondence, and Lady Harman had a secretary, a young lady with glasses named Summersly Satchell who obviously reserved opinions of a harshly intellectual kind and had previously32 been in the service of the late Lady Mary Justin. She established unfriendly relations with the young doctor at an early date by attempting, he said, to learn German from him. Then there was a maid for Lady Harman, an assistant maid, and a valet-attendant for Sir Isaac. The rest of the service in the dépendance was supplied by the hotel management.
It took some weeks to assemble this expedition and transport it to its place of exile. Arrangements had to be made for closing the Putney house and establishing the children with Mrs. Harman at Black Strand33. There was an exceptional amount of packing up to do, for this time Lady Harman felt she was not coming back—it might be for years. They were going out to warmth and sunlight for the rest of Sir Isaac's life.
He was entering upon the last phase in the slow disorganization of his secretions34 and the progressive hardening of his arterial tissues that had become his essential history. His appearance had altered much in the last few months; he had become visibly smaller, his face in particular had become sharp and little-featured. It was more and more necessary for him to sit up in order to breathe with comfort, he slept sitting up; and his senses were affected35, he complained of strange tastes in his food, quarrelled with the cook and had fits of sickness. Sometimes, latterly, he had complained of strange sounds, like air whistling in water-pipes, he said, that had no existence outside his ears. Moreover, he was steadily36 more irritable37 and more suspicious and less able to control himself when angry. A long-hidden vein38 of vile39 and abusive language, hidden, perhaps, since the days of Mr. Gambard's college at Ealing, came to the surface....
For some days after his seizure40 Lady Harman was glad to find in the stress of his necessities an excuse for disregarding altogether the crisis in the hostels41 and the perplexing problem of her relations to Mr. Brumley. She wrote two brief notes to the latter gentleman breaking appointments and pleading pressure of business. Then, at first during intervals43 of sleeplessness44 at night, and presently during the day, the danger and ugliness of her outlook began to trouble her. She was still, she perceived, being watched, but whether that was because her husband had failed to change whatever orders he had given, or because he was still keeping himself minutely informed of her movements, she could not tell. She was now constantly with him, and except for small spiteful outbreaks and occasional intervals of still and silent malignity, he tolerated and utilized45 her attentions. It was clear his jealousy46 of her rankled47, a jealousy that made him even resentful at her health and ready to complain of any brightness of eye or vigour48 of movement. They had drifted far apart from the possibility of any real discussion of the hostels since that talk in the twilit study. To re-open that now or to complain of the shadowing pursuer who dogged her steps abroad would have been to precipitate49 Mr. Brumley's dismissal.
Even at the cost of letting things drift at the hostels for a time she wished to avoid that question. She would not see him, but she would not shut the door upon him. So far as the detective was concerned she could avoid discussion by pretending to be unaware50 of his existence, and as for the hostels—the hostels each day were left until the morrow.
She had learnt many things since the days of her first rebellion, and she knew now that this matter of the man friend and nothing else in the world is the central issue in the emancipation51 of women. The difficulty of him is latent in every other restriction52 of which women complain. The complete emancipation of women will come with complete emancipation of humanity from jealousy—and no sooner. All other emancipations are shams53 until a woman may go about as freely with this man as with that, and nothing remains54 for emancipation when she can. In the innocence of her first revolt this question of friendship had seemed to Lady Harman the simplest, most reasonable of minor55 concessions56, but that was simply because Mr. Brumley hadn't in those days been talking of love to her, nor she been peeping through that once locked door. Now she perceived how entirely Sir Isaac was by his standards justified57.
And after all that was recognized she remained indisposed to give up Mr. Brumley.
Yet her sense of evil things happening in the hostels was a deepening distress58. It troubled her so much that she took the disagreeable step of asking Mrs. Pembrose to meet her at the Bloomsbury Hostel42 and talk out the expulsions. She found that lady alertly defensive59, entrenched60 behind expert knowledge and pretension61 generally. Her little blue eyes seemed harder than ever, the metallic62 resonance63 in her voice more marked, the lisp stronger. "Of course, Lady Harman, if you were to have some practical experience of control——" and "Three times I have given these girls every opportunity—every opportunity."
"It seems so hard to drive these girls out," repeated Lady Harman. "They're such human creatures."
"You have to think of the ones who remain. You must—think of the Institution as a Whole."
"I wonder," said Lady Harman, peering down into profundities64 for a moment. Below the great truth glimmered65 and vanished that Institutions were made for man and not man for Institutions.
"You see," she went on, rather to herself than to Mrs. Pembrose, "we shall be away now for a long time."
Mrs. Pembrose betrayed no excesses of grief.
"That way spells utter disorganization," said Mrs. Pembrose.
"But I wish something could be done to lessen67 the harshness—to save the pride—of such a girl as Alice Burnet. Practically you tell her she isn't fit to associate with—the other girls."
"She's had her choice and warning after warning."
"I daresay she's—stiff. Oh!—she's difficult. But—being expelled is bitter."
"I've not expelled her—technically."
"She thinks she's expelled...."
"You'd rather perhaps, Lady Harman, that I was expelled."
The dark lady lifted her eyes to the little bridling68 figure in front of her for a moment and dropped them again. She had had an unspeakable thought, that Mrs. Pembrose wasn't a gentlewoman, and that this sort of thing was a business for the gentle and for nobody else in the world. "I'm only anxious not to hurt anyone if I can help it," said Lady Harman.
She went on with her attempt to find some way of compromise with Mrs. Pembrose that should save the spirit of the new malcontents. She was much too concerned on account of the things that lay ahead of them to care for her own pride with Mrs. Pembrose. But that good lady had all the meagre inflexibilities of her class and at last Lady Harman ceased.
She came out into the great hall of the handsome staircase, ushered69 by Mrs. Pembrose as a guest is ushered by a host. She looked at the spacious70 proportion of the architecture and thought of the hopes and imaginations she had allowed to centre upon this place. It was to have been a glowing home of happy people, and over it all brooded the chill stillness of rules and regulations and methodical suppressions and tactful discouragement. It was an Institution, it had the empty orderliness of an Institution, Mrs. Pembrose had just called it an Institution, and so Susan Burnet had prophesied71 it would become five years or more ago. It was a dream subjugated72 to reality.
So it seemed to Lady Harman must all dreams be subjugated to reality, and the tossing spring greenery of the square, the sunshine, the tumult73 of sparrows and the confused sound of distant traffic, framed as it was in the hard dark outline of the entrance door, was as near as the promise of joy could ever come to her. "Caught and spoilt," that seemed to be the very essential of her life; just as it was of these Hostels, all the hopes, the imaginings, the sweet large anticipations74, the generosities75, and stirring warm desires....
Perhaps Lady Harman had been a little overworking with her preparations for exile. Because as these unhappy thoughts passed through her mind she realized that she was likely to weep. It was extremely undesirable76 that Mrs. Pembrose should see her weeping.
But Mrs. Pembrose did see her weeping, saw her dark eyes swimming with uncontrollable tears, watched her walk past her and out, without a word or a gesture of farewell.
A kind of perplexity came upon the soul of Mrs. Pembrose. She watched the tall figure descend77 to her car and enter it and dispose itself gracefully78 and depart....
"Hysterical," whispered Mrs. Pembrose at last and was greatly comforted.
"Childish," said Mrs. Pembrose sipping79 further consolation80 for an unwonted spiritual discomfort81.
"Besides," said Mrs. Pembrose, "what else can one do?"
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1
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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petulantly
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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9
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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10
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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11
cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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12
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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13
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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14
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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15
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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16
entrusting
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的现在分词 ) | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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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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incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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24
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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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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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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28
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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suffrage
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| n.投票，选举权，参政权 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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stenographer
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| n.速记员 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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34
secretions
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| n.分泌（物）( secretion的名词复数 ) | |
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35
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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37
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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40
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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41
hostels
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| n.旅舍，招待所( hostel的名词复数 )；青年宿舍 | |
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hostel
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| n.（学生）宿舍，招待所 | |
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43
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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44
sleeplessness
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| n.失眠，警觉 | |
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utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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47
rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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emancipation
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| n.（从束缚、支配下）解放 | |
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restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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53
shams
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| 假象( sham的名词复数 )； 假货； 虚假的行为（或感情、言语等）； 假装…的人 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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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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56
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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57
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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58
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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60
entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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61
pretension
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| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
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62
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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63
resonance
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| n.洪亮；共鸣；共振 | |
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profundities
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| n.深奥，深刻，深厚( profundity的名词复数 )；堂奥 | |
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glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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67
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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68
bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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69
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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71
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
subjugated
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| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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74
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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75
generosities
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| n.慷慨( generosity的名词复数 )；大方；宽容；慷慨或宽容的行为 | |
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76
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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77
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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78
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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79
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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80
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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81
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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