The Old Adam: A Story of Adventure

ore than once called the world to witness that she would never have a young dog again, because, as she said, she could not be always running about after them, and they ate the stuffing out of the furniture. But her last dog had lived too long; a dog can do worse things than eat furniture; and, in her natural reaction against age in dogs, and also in the hope of postponing as long as possible the inevitable sorrow and upset

tchlow entered without any formalities, as usual. He did not seem to have changed. He had the same quantity of white hair, he wore the same long white apron, and his v

issis!"

, Amy," said Constance,

him for her!" sa

tted. Spot glanced sh

n the paper about Sophi

or her i

cried Constance.

dly, and read: "'We understand that Mrs. Sophia Scales, proprietress of the famous Pension Frensham in the Rue Lord Byron, Paris'-it's that famous that nobody in th' Five Towns has ever heard of it-'is about to pay a visit to her native town, Bursley, after an absence of over thirty

people find out thing

don't know," sa

to the new editor of the Signal, who had soon been made aware of Cr

appeared just to-d

hy

know, I wis

missis," said Mr. Critchlow

eliberation. It was characteristic that he had shown no

it, and put him in a corner of the sofa. She the

going by tram to K

decided the fate of nations. She hated such observations from Amy, who unfortuna

rsion. To make her first appearance before Sophia in the best mantle she had-this would have been a sad mistake of tactics! Not only would it have led to an anti-climax on Sunday, but it would have given to Constance the air of being in awe of Sophia. Now Constance was in truth a little afraid of Sophia; in thirty years Sophia might have grown into anything, whereas Constance had remained just Constance. Paris was a great place; and it was immensely far off. And the mere sound of that limited company business was intimidating. Imagine Sophia having

iciously. "But supposing it was only three minutes late and the London train was prompt,

ce, firmly. "Please put all

y's suggestion, but it was so incontestab

aid Amy. "That won't mean

d who would say, with their stupid vacuity: "Going to meet your sister at Knype?" And then tiresome conversations woul

cious of a keen desire to look smart. She was reminded of the days when, in full fig for chapel, she would dash downstairs on a Sunday morning, and, assuming a pose for inspection at the threshold of the parlour, would demand of Samuel: "Shall I do?" Yes, she used to dash downstairs, like a child, and yet in those days she had thought herself so sedate and mature! She sighed, half with lancinating regret, and half in gentle disdain of that mercurial

era when Maria Insull used occasionally to sleep in the house. Cyril clung to his old room on his visits. Constance had an ample supply of solid and stately furniture, and the chamber destined for Sophia was lightened in every corner by the reflections of polished mahogany. It was also fairly impregnated with the odour of furniture paste-an odour of which no housewife need be ashamed. Further, it had been re-papered in a delicate blue, with one of the new 'art' patterns. It was a 'Baines' room. And Constance did not c

Maddack families since the year 1840, tempered by the latest novelties in antimacassars and cloths. In all Bursley there could have

wn bedroom, where Amy was patiently

erstand about tea?

How much oftener are you going to ask m

. "Come and fasten th

ilver. All was there. Amy could not go wrong. And crocuses were in the vases on the mantelpiece. Her 'garden,' in the phrase which used to cause Samuel to think how extraordinarily feminine she was! It was a long time since she had had a 'garden' on the mantelpiece. Her interest in her chronic sciatica and in her palpitations had grown at the expense of her interest in gardens. Often, when she had finished the complicated process

y, pointing to the rough apron in the corn

m?" Amy e

re enough, in the gutter, studying the indescribabilities of King Street. He had obvio

xclaimed Constance, tragi

see the like of tha

ommanded. "Come here a

ling. He was in a state exceedingly offensive to the eye and to the nose. He had effectively got rid of the smell of soap, which he loathed. Constance could have wept. It did really appear to her that nothing had gone righ

he scullery, that's all

herself. "Put that ap

when you open the doo

droom when you

bag and her umbrella and smoothing her gloves,

was descending King Street instead of crossing it into Wedgwood Street. And she caught Sp

tances, she should not be too obviously going to the station. Her feelings concerning t

with plans perfectly contrived for the avoidance of hurr

nd it, and Constance had a supreme tremor. The calmness of the platform was transformed into a melee. Little Constance found herself left on the fringe of a physically agitated crowd which was apparently trying to scale a precipice surmounted by windows and doors from whose apertures looked forth defenders of th

impression that the dog had forgotten an essential part of its attire and was outraging decency. The ball of hair which had been allowed to grow on the dog's tail, and the circles of hair which ornamented its ankles, only served to intensify the impression of indecency. A pink ribbon round its neck completed the outrage. The animal had absolutely the air of a decked trollop. A chain ran taut from the creature's neck into the middle of a small crowd

a, with apparently careless tranquillity, as s

noticed a twitching of her sister's lips. The twitching comforted Constance, proving to her that she was not alone in foolishness. Ther

Constance. It was all that

nt to his studio, and he saw me off at Eu

h joy. "Nothing could change Sophia." And at the back of that notion was a more general notion: "Nothing could change a Baines." It was true that Constance's Sophia had not changed. Powerful i

" said Sophia, pul

be aware what she did in bringing such a dog to a place wh

e dog. After all, it was not the dog's fault. Sophia had certainly mentioned a dog

were superlatively 'good' trunks; also that Sophia's clothes, though 'on the showy side,' were superlatively 'goo

ted in the details of feature. Seen at a distance, she might have passed for a woman of thirty, even for a girl, but seen across a narrow railway carriage she was a woman whom suffering had aged. Yet obviously her spirit was unbroken. Hear her tell a doubtful porter that of course she should take Fossette with her into the carriage! See her shut the carriage door with the expressed intention o

s getting my ticket, and said, 'Eh, Miss Baines, I haven't seen ye for over thirty years, but I know you're M

t a long w

es

e's been Mayor twice. He

Sophia. "But wa

tance. "Don't talk about queer

who have not seen each other for thirty years, and who are anxious to confide in each other, ought to discover no difficulty i

indow and had seen two camels and an elephant in a field close to th

r all, there can be only one middle.) It was on her tongue to say, in her 'tart' manner, that Fossette ought to be with the camels, but she refrained. Sophia hit on

oke!" sa

e!" Consta

worse," s

lightly piqued. "But they're doing

ty it was!" said Sophia. "I su

n, "The fact is, it is dirty. You can't imagine wh

ance pointed to a new station that was being bu

said she, accustomed to

hill, Bursley, Bleakrid

Longshaw. A 'Trafalga

Hanbridge seemed to h

se it will,"

ries of Bursley Park, as the train slackened for Bursley, with modesty. Sophia gazed, a

are in a cab. Amy was at the window; she held up Spot, who was in

Amy, officiously, to Sophia,

n. Constance trembled at Sophia's frigid and arrogant politeness. Certainly Sophia was not used to being addressed first by servants. But Amy was not quite the ordinary servant. She was much older than the ordinar

urmured to her, as if implying: "Have I not already told yo

the incoming poodle kindly; th

the pavement, and Amy was upstairs. For a momen

woman of fifty. And her lips twitched again

re of prudence to avoid breaking down, she bustled out to the cabman. A

ty generosity, and then there was quietness. Amy was already brewing the tea i

Constance voiced anxieties t

ite right with me,"

ophia's admiration for its prettiness. She hurr

erfunctory manner. For a bedroom fire, in seasons of no

a slight failure to rebut the

onstance

ank you,"

ly." She went down into the kitchen. "Amy," she said, "as soon

top bedr

es

any rate we've met, and I've got her here. She's very nice. No, she isn't a bit altered." She hesitated to admit that to her Sophia was the least in the world formidable. And so she said once more: "S

e found her looking at the blank wall bey

you had it bricked

nstance. "That

when they have tickling in a limb

Sop

ike herself: she had to be particular about her food. She tasted dainties for the sake of tasting, but it was a bird

gs playing in the dark corridor. Those dogs saved the situation, because they needed constant attention. When the dogs dozed, the sisters began to look through photograph albums, of which Constance had several, bound in plush or morocco. Nothing will sharpen the memory, evoke the past, raise the dead, rejuvenate the ageing, and cause both sighs and smiles, like a collection of photographs gathered together during long years of life. Constance had an astonishing menagerie of u

a low voice, glancing at upright Sophia over her spec

a widow," said she, with an air. "My husband left me

nder. "I thought ye were a widow. Mr. Peel-Swynnerton said he was told positiv

assed for a widow, ov

id Constance qu

e a widow,"

y was such a particular place. Doubtless, Gerald

that house) she saw the sisters sitting rather near to each other at the walnut oval table, Mrs. Scales very upright, and staring into the fire, and Mrs. Povey 'bunched up' and staring at the photograph alb

rs. Critchlow, m'

eight at night were a customary phenomenon of the household. Nevertheless, she trembled to think what outrageous thing

come up," she

nstantly produced them out of the darkness of the corridor. It was provid

the young, timid apprentice. Certainly since her marriage she had changed. As manager of other people's business she had not felt the necessity of being effusive to customers, but as proprietress, anxiety to succeed had dragged her out of her capable and mechanical indifference. It was

a stiff neck," said he, deliberately examining Sophia. Then with great care he

pression of joy. Mr. Critchlow had nev

ow would come in to-night. Nothing w

Constance, "that you were going to give

Constance. "No," he grate

young girl she had hated him. Repulsing the assistance of his wife, he arranged an armchair in front of the fire and meticulously put himself into it. Assuredly he was much older in a drawing-room th

hia. "I wouldn't

's equal for picking up ho

ve this Paris?" he demanded of Sophia, leaning ba

morning," s

oing with yeself sinc

ight in London,

London,

d I had an eve

's yer opinion o

have Cyril for a ne

he old man was

harply. "I'm not going to hea

mind was an uncomfortable feeling that Cyril, having taken a fancy to his brilliant aunt, had tried to charm her as he seldom or never tried to charm his mo

od-fruit cakes, coffee and hot milk, on a tray; and Sop

," said Amy, with

ve a little sigh; it was a sigh of relief. Mr. Critchlow had behaved himself. Now that he and Sophia had met, the worst was over. Had Constance kn

, he drew a thick bunch of papers, white

" he called, edging ro

st go ba

ut cake, while in her right hand, all seame

chlow--!" Cons

wardship to Sophia, under her father's will, and her mother's will, and her aunt's will, and it's n

lf-kittenish a

had already fully perceived that Mr. Critchlow must be managed with the tact which the capric

LONG ENOUGH?" he

ause. Maria C

hia," the old man went on, "nobody

check. She glanced hes

nto the parlour," said Constance, qu

n't hear of

m was needed for discussions between Sophia and her trustee, Constance's pride was piqued to supply that room. Further, Constance was glad to get Maria out of Sophia's sight. She was accustomed to Maria; with her it did not ma

certainly a widow. She thought that steps ought to be taken to ascertain, through Birkinshaws, if anything was known of Gerald Scales. But even that course was set with perils. Supposing that he still lived, an unspeakable villain (Constance could only think of h

to bed. There was no other way of r

going to

es

is Fo

me the dog might sleep in the kitchen with Spot, as they was such good

ought a dog with he

Constance could answer. She impli

dogs," said Maria. "Wh

ll it. It's a French dog, one of those French dogs." Amy w

ed, shutti

ria muttered. "

indicated that the first interview betw

really meant her to go home, or whether her mere absence from the drawing-room had contented him. So she departed. He came down the stairs

r when they did not speak. With a glance, they exchanged their ideas on the subject of Charles Critchlow and Maria, and learnt that their ideas were similar.

t bed?" as

tired," sai

r gas, before Constance, having tested the window-fastening, turned out

t your room is all r

u?" Soph

d flight, slowly. Cons

phia. "But why did you go to all

n the bedroom. Her tone implied that bedroom fires were a q

e you'll find everyth

sta

shall. Good

night,

both their minds was: "We couldn't keep on kissing every day." But there was a vast amount of qu

he listened intently, in great alarm. It was undoubtedly those dogs fighting, and fighting to the death. She

w voice above her. She

es

go down to the dogs; th

I'm so sorry she's

. The dogs did soon cease their altercation. This sho

I

. She could remember a winter morning when from the window she had watched the Square under virgin snow in the lamplight, and the Square had been vast, and the first wayfarer, crossing it diagonally and leaving behind him the irregular impress of his feet, had appeared to travel for hours over an interminable white waste before vanishing past Holl's shop in the direction of the Town Hall. She chiefly recalled the Square under snow; cold mornings

r millions of pounds would

the floor of the Square was littered with nondescript refuse. The whole scene, paltry, confined, and dull, reached for her the extreme of provinciality. It was what the French called, with a pregnant intonation, la province. This-being said, there was nothing else to say. Bursley, of course, was in the provinces; Bursley must, in the nature of things, be typically provincial. But in her mind it had always been differentiated from the common province; it had always had an air, a distinction, and especially St. Luke's Square! That illusion was now gone. Still, the alteration was not wholly in herself; it was not wholly subjective. The Square really had changed for the worse; it might not be smaller, but it had deteriorated. As a centre of commerce it had assuredly approached very near to death. On a Saturday morning thirty years ago it would have been covered with linen-roofed stalls, and chattering country-folk, and the stir of b

iness! And the-way they talk, and the way they think! I felt it first at Knype station. The Square is rather picturesque,

ad no home. To Constance

abominable stairs, and as to hygiene, simply mediaeval. She could not understand why Constance had remained in the house. Constance had plenty of money and might live where she liked, and in a good modern house. Yet she

mpathy between them. And at the bottom of Constance was something fine. At intervals Sophia discovered herself secretly patronizing Constance, but reflection would always cause her to cease from patronage and to examine her own defences. Constance, besides being the essence of kindness, was no fool. Constance could see through a pretence, an absurdity, as quickly as any one. Constance did honestly appear to Sophia to be superior to any Frenchwoman that she had ever encountered. She saw supreme in Constance that quality which she had recognized in the porters at Newhaven on landing-the quality of an honest and naive goodwill, of powerful sim

always with Constance! To be always in th

history. She sighed when she thought of the innumerable interviews with Mardon, the endless formalities required by the English and the French law and by the particularity of the Syndicate. She had been through all that. She had actually been through it and it was over. She had bought the Pension for a song and sold it for great riches. She had developed from a nobody into the desired of Syndicates. And after long, long, monotonous, strenuous years of possession the day had come, the emotional moment had come, when she had yielded up the keys

to spare your feelings and to reassure you, so neat and prim. And the French shops, so exquisitely arranged! Even a butcher's shop in Paris was a pleasure to the eye, whereas the butcher's shop in Wedgwood Street, which she remembered of old, and which she had glimpsed from the cab-what a bloody shambles! She longed for Paris again. She longed to stretch her lungs in Paris. These people in Bursley did not suspect what Paris was. They did not appreciate and they never would appreciate the marvels that she had accomplished in a theatre of marvels. They probably never realized that the whole of the rest of the world was not more or less like Bursley.

ney as she had herself acquired. Never could she spend her income! She did not know how to spend it. She lacked nothing that was procurable. She had no desires except the direct desire for happiness. If thirty thousand pounds or so could have bought a son like Cyril, she would have bought one for herself. She

not please Sophia. It disquieted her. She could not see herself l

y. And she stood on the step of the front-door while Fossette made

ines. The tips of the ribs were also of gold. It was this detail which staggered Constance. Frankly, this development of luxury had been unknown and unsuspected in the Square. That the tips of the ribs should match the handle … that did truly beat everything! Sophia said calmly that th

Sophia would have to be introduced to the town sooner or later, it might as well be sooner.