The Old Adam: A Story of Adventure

h the house. Restraint had gradually ceased to mark the relations of the sisters. Constance, in particular, hid nothing from Sophia, who was made aware of the minor and major defects of Amy and all the other creakings of the household machine. Meals were eaten off the ordinary tablecloths, and on the days for 'turning out' the parlour, Constance assumed, with a little laugh, that Sophia would excuse Amy's apron, which she had not had time to

cking-chair; and Sophia on the spot, but not in the chair, occupied by John Baines in the forties, and in the seventies and later by Samuel Povey. Constance had been alarmed by that frigidity. "I shall have a return of my sciatica!" she had exclaimed, and Sophia was startled by the apprehension in her tone. Before evening the sciatica had indeed revisited Constance's sciatic nerve, and Sophia for the first time gained an idea of what a pulsating sciatica can do in the way of torturing its victim. Constance, in addition to the sciatica, had caught

ning she had arisen

t exhausted by the torments of a sleepless night. Sophia, though she had her

imming with sympathy. "I shall ma

l do it," sa

nd after being satisfied that there was no instant need for a renewal o

sionately, according to the general habit of people owning dogs. But she loved Fossette. And, moreover, her love for Fossette had been lately sharpened by the ridicule which Bursley had showered upon that strange beast. Happily for Sophia's amour propre, there was no means of getting Fossette shaved in Bursley, and thus Fossette was daily growing less comic to the Burs

d, and entere

aucer, while Fossette stood wistfully, an am

" said Sophia, with

g, m'm," sai

against Amy on account of the open door of the previous day. Sophia thought that, after such a sin, the least Amy could do was to show contrition and amiability and an anxiety to please: which things Amy had not shown. Amy had a grievance against Sophia

ach other like

ant to make some tea at once for Mrs. Povey,

as Sophia's list slippers which had finally

out. Sophia got the smallest tea-pot, and, as the tea-leaves had been left in it, she washed out the teapot also, with exaggerated noise and meticulousness.

t had come to Fossette's turn. She was waiting for the water to boil. The s

is to spare, m

lly made. If Amy had not been a mature woman of over forty she would have

ever that the Amazon in her was aroused. Constance's eager trembling pleasure in the tea touched her de

the watch-case on the chest of drawers (the Swiss clock had long since ceased to work), p

can do?" Sop

l should write on Saturdays, and Constance on Sundays. Sophia knew that Constance set store by this letter, becoming more and more preoccupied about Cyril as the end of the week approached. Since Sophia's arrival Cyril's letter had not failed to come, but once it had been naught save a scribbled line o

the bell. Constance ra

Sophia left the bedroo

e banisters, "do you not

s I can, m'm." The voi

he waited there, hesitant, not exactly on the watch, not exactly unwilling to assist at an interview between Amy and Amy's mistress; inde

p to the second storey, where she 'belonged.' She stood in silence by the bed, showing no sympathy with Constance, no curiosity as t

for the fraction of a s

th in her voice weakened by f

een any, I should have brought 'em up. Postman went past twenty minutes agone.

ve, and was pulli

oice sharply. I

te of herself obeyed the impli

at any rate while I'm here," said Sophia, icily. "You know

r--" Am

" Sophia said angrily.

cowed, in addition

icence to be rude. But that the relations between them were such as to allow the bullying of Constance by an Amy downright insolent-this had shocked and wounded Sophia, who suddenly had a

f such goings-on! And you let her talk

she knew that there was no letter. Ordinarily the failure of Cyril's letter would not have made her cry, but weakness

Constance murmured. "She takes libert

ia repeated the w

low it," said Constance. "I ought t

ret mind, "I do hope you won't think I'm meddlesome, but truly it was t

Constance, seeing before her in the woma

l of experience of s

have," Const

nts don't understand kindness and forbearance. And this sort of

onstance said again, wit

phia that Sophia was not meddlesome, gave force to her utterance. Amy's allusion t

d Constance about Amy and the dogs, and about Amy's rudeness in the kitchen. "I should never have DREAMT of mentioning s

r the actual misdeeds of her servant. The sisters were now on a plane of intimacy where such apologies would have been s

apprehensive, and rather too consciously defiant. At the same time they were drawn very

e Constance said, thinki

s been delaye

doubt! If you knew the p

ith little sighs, to fa

e entire house. Constance got up for tea and managed to walk to the drawing-room. And when Sophia, a

notice! And

did sh

arped on the too great profusion of mistresses in that house. "After all, it's just

f her to give up s

y Amy's defection. "When she takes a thing into her head she simpl

ing, as Amy was passing through the parlour on her way

answered Am

s firm. She had apparently recon

a, with cheerful amicableness, pleased in spite of herself with t

m'm," said Amy, with dignity,

was a

ow best…. Goo

night,

thought Sophia, "but hop

disturbed by the prospective dissolution of a bond which dated from the seventies. And both were decided that there was no alternative to the dissolution. Outsiders knew merely that Mrs. Povey's old servant was leaving. Outsiders mere

our letter?" Sophia d

entered the bedro

s out of joint and life unworth living. Even the presence of Sophia did not bring her much comfort. Immediately Sophia left the room Constance's sciatica began to return, and in a severe form. She had regretted this, less for the pain than because she had just assured Sophia, quite honestly, that she was not suffering; Sophia had been sceptical. After t

ing what the future held for her. She had a widowed mother in the picturesque village of Sneyd, where the mortal and immortal welfare of every inhabitant was watched over by God's vicegerent, the busy Countess of Chell; she possessed about two hundred pounds of her own; her mother for years had been begging Amy to share her home free of expense. But nevertheless Amy's mind w

feebly calling her, and found the convalescent still in bed. The truth could not be concealed.

th," Sophia could not help saying, "

that the pain had only recurred since their

low!" she

She felt that this was

agent destructive of moral fibre was further increased. Constance had no force at all to resist its activity. The

s moving anxiously around

leg was going to

as Constance was a little eas

r Stirling that your mistress

s,

is his

ite, with Dr. Harrop, but latterly

gs on, and run up there and ask

ught I heard missis cry out." She was not effusive. She was be

t that woman I like," s

my was indeed holdin

s. In his rich Scotch accent he could discuss with equal ability the flavour of whisky or of a sermon, and he had more than sufficient tact never to discuss either whiskies or sermons in the wrong place. He had made a speech (responding for the learned professions) at the annual dinner of the Society for the Prosecution of Felons, and this

t cured her for a moment, just as though her malady had been toothache and he a den

l its difficulty and urgency, so he seemed, in his mind, to be discovering wondrous ways of dealing with it; these mysterious discoveries seemed to give him confidence, and his confidence was communicated to the patie

eturned in thirteen minutes with a hypodermic syringe, wi

nstance, breathing gra

her roguishly from u

e," he said. "It might

nce insisted, anxious that he should live

e habit. It's ruined many a respectable family. But if I hadn't had a certain amount

ll the doctor!" Constance

as thereby established. On this second visit, he and Sophia soon grew rather friendly. When she conducted him downstairs again he stopped chatting wit

ter thirty years! Her fear, and Constance's, that the town would be murmurous with gossip was ludicrously unfounded. The effect of time was such that even Mr. Critchlow appeared to have forgotten even that she had been indirectly responsible for her father's death. She had nearly forgotten it herself; when she happened to think of it she felt no shame, no remorse, seeing the death as purely accidental, and not altogether unfortunate. On two points only was the town inquisitive: as to her husband, and as to the precise figure at which she had sold the pension. The town knew that she was probably not a widow, for she had been obliged to tel

eading Zola's 'Do

backwards, and r

eplied. "'L

ed at the prospect of a talk. He was even ple

untry. Yet he had never supposed that residence in England involved a knowledge of English literature. Sophia had read practically nothing since 1870; for her the latest author was Cherbuliez. Moreover, her impression of Zola was that

the siege of Paris?" he

es

he com

he comm

ight before last, I said to myself that you must have been through a lot of all

u know I was in the siege o

Mrs. Povey in 1871, after it was over. It's one of her possessions, t

e had despatched during the early years of her exile. She responded as well as she could to his eagerness for personal details concerning

ken it all very qui

ot without pride. "But

ht. Chirac himself was now nothing but a faint shadow. Still, were the estimate of those events true or false, she was a woman who had been through them, and Dr. Stir

n," he said at last;

else I am to do for my

aid he. "It isn't a q

question of?" Sophi

something about Mrs. Povey's constitution now, an

e day before yesterday, when she sat in that draught. She was bette

doctor looked at h

of worries?" exclaimed Sophia.

" the doc

sn't know what worr

the doctor, hi

receive her usual Sunday letter from Cyri

, Cyril!" mus

icularly nice boy,"

've see

id not know her own nephew? She went back to the subject of her sister. "Sh

she?" He spoke still lower. "Betwe

lad you t

tress here. One can see these things coming on, but it's

ldn't go on while I was in the house. I didn't suspect it at first-but when I fo

spect anything at first. When she's well and bright Mrs. Povey could

k about it?" sai

r rose, smoothing his waistcoat. "What does she bother with servants at all for?" he burst out. "She's perfectly free. She hasn't got a care

cisely what I say to myself; precisely! I was thinking it over

some seaside place, and live in a hotel, and e

ng wha

h! Can ye imagine anybody living in Bursley, for pleasure? And especially in St. Luke's Square, right in the thi

phia repeated her own phr

t I clear out and enjoy myself if I

red, feeling that she herself was

on't say it would be cured, but it might be, by a complete change and throwing off all these ridiculous worries. Not only does she

impressed, "you are quite right.

fter living here all her life! But she's got to break herself of her attachment. It's her duty to do so.

d with every person who could not perceive, or would not subscribe

be the same woman. You'd see. Wouldn't I do it, if I could? Strathpeffer. She'd soon forget her sciatica. I don't know what Mrs. Povey's annua

iled in calm amusement. "I ex

ng a bell. If a waiter gives notice, it's some one else who has

ter," murmu

tly, sticking out his hand. "

this to my sister?" So

does really think it's quite impossible. She wouldn't even hear o

of that," said So

ible distortion of her handsome, worn face, and he said to himself: "She's been through a thing or two," and: "She'll have to mind her p's and q's." Sophia was pleased because he admired her, and because with her he dropped his

and then, lowering the gas, she went upstairs to he

te a long chat with the

, isn't he? What did he

about Paris and so

ve he's a ra

twenty years yet. She did not suspect that she had been tried and found guilty of sinful attachments, and of being in a rut, and of lacking the elements of ordinary sagacity. It h

I

came the sound of a phonograph singing an invitation to God to save its gracious queen. This phonograph was a wonderful novelty, and filled the Sun nightly. For a few evenings it had interested the sisters, in spite of themselves, but they had soon sickened of it and loathed it. Sophia became more and more obsessed by the monstr

d the letter to Constance, Sophia thought: "If she was my servant she would ha

er trembling. "Here it

her spectacles and r

He's coming down! That

ay as

tter to Sophia

ay mi

R MO

am coming down to Bu

shall get to Knype at 5

and as I was coming d

idn't worry. Love to y

urs

a line," said Con

? To-

st post with it. Otherwise he won

ng the

ng down? I shall have to put in a little word to that young man. I wonder Constance is so blind. She is quite satisfied no

tify or excuse Cyril. She remembered separately almost every instance of his carelessness in her regard. "Hope I

writing at once. And Amy had

on Wednesday," she said

deal to Amy. Amy wondered how she would be able to look M

Sophia, and said, as though defending herself against an accus

a murmured

l yet again, and Amy w

l was rung for a fourth

come back yet. But I t

ong time

u want?" So

speak to her,"

n or eight times, Amy at length

, "let me examine tho

g what sheets, of all the various an

s," Constance added

which she had real difficulty in concealing. "Is the woman absolutely mad?" she asked herself. The spectacle was ludicrous: or it seemed so to Sophia, whose career had not embraced much experience of mothers. It was not as if the manifestations of Constance's anxiety were dignified or original or splendid. They were just silly, ordinary fussinesses; they had no sense in them. Sophia was very careful to make no observation.

to do?" Sophia asked

ther engraving opposite the fireplace. "He said the effect would be ver

her son. She explained that it upset her to do s

st five. The idea had visited her suddenly. She tho

Constanc

rain, and Cyril was not among them. A porter said that there was not supposed to be any connection between the Loop Line trains and the main line expres

front-door to her,

d last moment.

at it was useless to wait for the second trai

at a shame!" thum

t beneath her calm she was furious a

ng out a minu

Hadn't we better have tea?

ong. I want to

telegram. Then, partially eased, she returned

neck-chain, which was clasped at the throat, and fell in double to her waist, where it was caught in her belt. This chain interested Cyril. He referred to it once or twice, and then he said: "Just let me have a LOOK at that chain," and put out his hand

it only cost thirty francs, you kn

ter another pause he asked: "How

said. "It's alway

red mysterio

was benevolent, and showed a particular benevolence towards his mother, apparently exerting himself to answer her questions with fullness and heartiness, as though

dog, that is! … All the same

ette laughed at,"

mateur of dogs; "she is very fine." Even then he

t towards him. Her leniency could be perceived in her eyes, which followed hi

d-looking," said Cyril, q

ou when he was at school. These last few years he's begun to be like you again.

med Sophia. "Well, I shoul

was!" Consta

that cake cutting into. I think I could have eaten a b

rang up, sei

told him. "He doesn't really want any, C

ter, don't cut it; I really c

h humour of that sort. She cut three slices

eally couldn't!

. "I'm waiting! How much lon

ophia. When she was roused, they bot

te happy. The circumstances of Cyril's arrival had disturbed her; they had in fact wounded her, though she would scarcely admit the wound. In the morning she had received a brief letter from Cyril to say that he had not been able to come, and vaguely promising, or half-promising, to run down at a later date. That letter had the cardinal defects of all Cyril's relations with his

ding it. "He'll be here this evening!" And

ill come same

d rushed out just before tea on the previ

say to him?" C

o come. After all, you're more important than any business, Constance! A

tossed her

ne sort of an obstacle it must have been, if a single telegram from Sophia could overcome it…! And Sophia, too, was secretive. She had gone out and had telegraphed, and had not breathed a word until she got the reply, sixteen hours later. She was secretive, and Cyril was secretive. They re

zzled look on Cyril's face, afterwards an ineffectively concealed conspiratorial look on both their faces. They had 'something between them,' from which she, the mother, was shut out! Was it not natural that she should be wounded? She was far too proud to mention the telegrams. And as neither Cyril nor Sophia mentioned them, the c

pstairs to the drawing-room, she asked him,

s it a s

. "Oh, you've changed it! Wha

be better like that

r. I believe it is better, though," he added. "It might

rewed up his shoulders, as if to i

was teasing her, she said: "Get away with you!" and pretended to box his ea

"There's no getting over that." And he presse

tty indeed. (It soothed Constance that Sophia's opinion coincided with hers.) He said that that waltz was the worst of the lot. When he had finished with the piano, Constance informed him about Amy. "Oh! She told me," he sa

nstance had yawned, he threw a

ve got an appointmen

en o'clock. I must go.

the more vivaciously. It wa

d it's my only chance." And as Constance did not brighten he went on: "Business h

nce knew only that she allowed him three hundred a year, and paid his local tailo

" said Constance. "You could have had a room to yourselves. I

you to-morrow. I shall take the key out of the door

vided her with two hot-water bottles a

Sometimes for hours she would absolutely forget Paris. Thoughts of Paris were disconcerting; for either Paris or Bursley must surely be unreal! As she sat waiting on the sofa Paris kept coming into her mind. Certainly it was astonishing that she should be just as preo

eps outside, and a key was put into

startled, and also some

ks." He came in, smoki

that about!" he murmur

ore inserting it in t

wanted to talk to you about your mother

dropped into his mother's rocking-chair, which h

eal meaning of your telegram. What was it?" He

s a fearful disappointment to your mother that you didn't come yesterday. And

rom your telegram there was something seriously wrong. An

lize the situation, and she l

ur mother, youn

ou mustn't talk like that. I write to her every week

ay sometimes," Sop

said doubtfull

rs? And if one doesn't come, she's very upset indeed-can't

k by her boldness

of her! A fello

e more attentive, even to write to her twice a week? You aren't going to tell me you're so busy as

her smile

t yourself in your

obliged to you for telling me. How was I to know?" He threw th

as your business to know." But she was pleased with the way in which he had accepted her criti

said dreamily, as if to

he r

wever, did

to be," she went on, and gave him a full

w and looking down at her. "Stirling said that, did he? I should ha

er in the

don't

her d

lways be

"she's been here a g

impatience in his voice against this ne

ould you say to her coming to

hat he was genuinely shocked. "I don't

hy

oman. I really thought she was quite all right down here. She wouldn't like Lon

ing she sai

ter tone. "Why don't you and she keep house

noise on the staircase, and the stairc

The Champs Elysees be

nds--. Is that

down to see why he remained so long in the parlour. She was astounded to find Sophia with him. There they were, a

asleep, Sophia," she said wea

idn't seem to feel like

pened to

k innocent. And Constance glanced f

lanation-forced him to leave at once. He intimated that there had been dang

spered to Sophia when they were alon

y were made to feel that they had so much to learn, so much to get accustomed to; like passengers who join a ship at a port of call, they felt that the business lay before them of creating a niche for themselves in a hostile and haughty society. The two ladies produced a fairly favourable impression at the outset by reason of their two dogs. It is not every one who has the courage to bring dogs into an expensive private hotel; to bring one dog indicates that you are not accustomed to deny yourself small pleasures for the sake of a few extra shillings; to bring two indicates that you have no fear of hotel-managers and that you are in the habit of regarding your own whim as nature's law. The shorter and stouter of the two ladies did not impose herself with much force on the co

the hotel by the exercise of unabashed curiosity on the personnel, that the two ladies had engaged two bedrooms, Nos. 17 and 18, and the sumptuous private parlour with a balcony on the first floor, styled "C" in the nomenclature of rooms. This fact definitely established the position

used to the world and its ways. The other continued to be imperial. She ordered half-a-bottle of wine and drank two glasses. She stared about her quite self-unconsciously, whereas the little woman divided her glances be

t. It was Maria Critchlow who got Constance out of her difficulty by giving her particulars of a reliable servant who was about to leave a situation in which she had stayed for eight years. Constance did not imagine that a servant recommended by Maria Critchlow would suit her, but, being in a quandary, she arranged to see the servant, and both she and Sophia were very pleased with the girl-Rose Bennion by name. The mischief was that Rose would not be free until about a month after Amy had left. Rose would have left her old situation, but she had a fancy to go and spend a fortnight with a married sister at Manchester bef

. And then-going for a holiday in April! Constance had never been for a holiday except in the month of August. No! The project was beset with difficulties and dangers which could not be overcome nor provided against. For example, "We can't come back to a dirty house," said Constance. "And we can't have a strange servant coming here before us." To which Sophia had replied: "Then what SHALL you do?" And Constance, after prodigious reflection on the frightful pass to which destiny had brought her, had said that

had a reassuring sound to her ears, and for sciatica its waters and climate were admitted to be the best in England. Gradually Constance permitted herself to be embarked on this perilous enterprise of shutting up the house for twenty-five days. She imparted the information to Amy, who was astounded. Then she commenced upon her domestic preparations. She wrapped Samuel's Family Bible in brown paper; she put Cyril's straw-framed copy of Sir Edwin Landseer away in a d

e food was excellent; the attendance in the bedrooms was excellent (and Sophia knew how difficult of attainment was excellent bedroom attendance); and to the eye the interior of the Rutland presented a spectacle far richer than the Pension Frensham could show. The standard of comfort was higher. The guests had a more distinguished appearance. It is true that the prices were much higher. Sophia was humbled. She had enough sense to adjust her perspective. Further, she found herself ignorant of many matters which by the other guests were taken for granted and used as a basis for conversation. Prolonged residence in Paris would not justify this ignorance; i

l times, but Sophia quietened her by sheer force of individuality. Constance had one advantage over Sophia. She knew Buxton and its neighbourho

of habit. They discovered what can be learnt of other people's needlework in a hotel on a wet day. They performed co-operative outings with fellow-guests. They invited fellow-guests into their sitting-room. When there was an entertainment they did not avoid it. Sophia was determined to do everything that could with propriety be done, partly as an outlet for her own energy (which since she left Paris had been accumulating), but more on Constance's account. She remembered all that Dr. Stirling had said, and the heartiness of her own agreement with his opinions. It was a great day when, under tuition of an

She would have decided to do so had it not been that she hesitated to subject Sophia to the inconvenience of a house upside down. The matter was on her mind, always. Always she was restlessly anticipating the day when they would leave. She had carelessly left her heart behind in St. Luke's Square. She had never stayed in a hotel before,

xpressed regret for any inconvenience which might possibly be caused; she was polite. But the monstrousness of it! Constance felt that this actually and truly was the deepest depth of her calam

had an immense partiality for Cyril; she thought him the most charming young man she had ever known; she knew him to be industrious and clever; but in his relations with his mother there was a hardness, a touch of callousness. She explained it vaguely by saying that 'they did not get on well together'; which was s

nutes late for lunch, full of vigour, with two happy dogs. Constance was moodily awaiting her in the dining-room. Constance could not eat. But Sophia ate, and she poured out cheerfulness and energy as from a source inexhaustible. After lunch it began to rain. Constance said she thought she should retire directly to the sitting-room. "I'm coming too," said So

en thinking," said Sophi

ng some wonderful solution to co

ursley. The house won't run away, and it's costing not

Constance, with an inf

nsity of her dislike

tl

h quick deprecation. "There are ple

my mind," said Constance. "What wit

t matter abo

and slightly hurt. "I didn't leave things as if we w

ll. I think you ought to go about more. It would do you good-all the good in the world. And there is no reason why you shouldn't go

aghast, recoiling from the pro

we could go to, and live very comfortably among nice English people." She thought of the resorts she had visite

g abroad would suit

my dear." She smiled encouragingly. But Constanc

m one of your stay-at-homes. I'm not like you. We ca

tation. She knew that she had a str

everal places I should like to visit-Torquay, Tunbridge Wells. I've always under-stood that Tu

Luke's Square," said Constance, ignoring all tha

us and resolute air; but still kindly, as though

Constance," she said, "if y

xclaimed Const

hia insisted, observing tha

e," Constance said, gaining confidence in

you are just a little apt to let yourself be a slave to that house of

ed up some embroidery, adjusting her spectacles and coughing. When she sat down she said: "No one could take things ea

u bother now?"

place like that."

raising her head and gazing at Constance again, "an

ere. And I'm sure i

d with that dirt! And

rk," Constance sharply retorted. In spite of herself she resented any cr

y in that cellar-kitchen, for one

It's all very well for you, Sophia, to talk like that. But I know Bursley perhaps better than you do.

ay it isn't. But you would be better

up, dropping her work. "Who?

hia, "the doctor

that Bursley is one of the healthiest climates

n that dark house." If Sophia had sufficiently reflected she wou

ed. "Well, if it's of any interest to

u you ought to go away

ned it," Constance

me he did a good deal

nd to tell you

Constance

Her blood being stirred by Constance's peculiar inflection of the phrase 'my dark house,' her judgment was slightl

think it's my duty to talk to you seriously, and

ught: "It isn't yet three months that we've been togeth

ate because you worry over trifles. A change would do you a tremendous amount of good. It's just what you need. Really, you must admit, Constance, that the ide

ps together and bent

u say?" Sophia g

e Bursley, black as it

d to detect tears i

Constance," sh

fter things. It's no use. Here we are pitching money about in this place. It's perfectly sinful. Drives, carriages, extras! A shilling a day extra for each dog. I never heard of such goings-on. And I'd

e as my guest," said Sophia, lofti

the money I grudge. Oh no, we won't

oldly. "I've only been talking

er despairingly, "I wish you wo

Sophia, aghast. "Well,

ust, and quite unlike her usual self! And Sophia encouraged in her breast the feeling of injustice suffered. But a voice kept saying to her: "You've made a mess of this. You've not conquered this time. You're beaten. And the

min

e had merely stuck to her idea like a mule! How difficult and painful wo

en, and Constance stumbled, as it were blind

ing. "You mustn't kill me … I'm like that-you can't alter me. I'm lik

are of a lump

t's all right. I quite unders

th at intervals, raised her

s ashamed, both for herself and for Constance. Assuredly it had not been such a scene as women of their age would want to go through often. It was humiliating. She wished that it could have been blotted out as thoug