an unsocial socialist-第25章

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enjoyed　herself　as　best　she　could　with　such　of　the　older　or　more
sensible　men　as　were　not　intolerant　of　girls。

At　best　the　year　was　the　least　happy　she　had　ever　spent。　She
repeatedly　alarmed　her　mother　by　broaching　projects　of　becoming　a
hospital　nurse；　a　public　singer；　or　an　actress。　These　projects
led　to　some　desultory　studies。　In　order　to　qualify　herself　as　a
nurse　she　read　a　handbook　of　physiology；　which　Mrs。　Wylie　thought
so　improper　a　subject　for　a　young　lady　that　she　went　in　tears　to
beg　Mrs。　Jansenius　to　remonstrate　with　her　unruly　girl。　Mrs。
Jansenius；　better　advised；　was　of　opinion　that　the　more　a　woman
knew　the　more　wisely　she　was　likely　to　act；　and　that　Agatha　would
soon　drop　the　physiology　of　her　own　accord。　This　proved　true。
Agatha；　having　finished　her　book　by　dint　of　extensive　skipping；
proceeded　to　study　pathology　from　a　volume　of　clinical　lectures。
Finding　her　own　sensations　exactly　like　those　described　in　the
book　as　symptoms　of　the　direst　diseases；　she　put　it　by　in　alarm；
and　took　up　a　novel；　which　was　free　from　the　fault　she　had　found
in　the　lectures；　inasmuch　as　none　of　the　emotions　it　described　in
the　least　resembled　any　she　had　ever　experienced。

After　a　brief　interval；　she　consulted　a　fashionable　teacher　of
singing　as　to　whether　her　voice　was　strong　enough　for　the
operatic　stage。　He　recommended　her　to　study　with　him　for　six
years；　assuring　her　that　at　the　end　of　that　periodif　she
followed　his　directionsshe　should　be　the　greatest　singer　in　the
world。　To　this　there　was；　in　her　mind；　the　conclusive　objection
that　in　six　years　she　should　be　an　old　woman。　So　she　resolved　to
try　privately　whether　she　could　not　get　on　more　quickly　by
herself。　Meanwhile；　with　a　view　to　the　drama　in　case　her　operatic
scheme　should　fail；　she　took　lessons　in　elocution　and　gymnastics。
Practice　in　these　improved　her　health　and　spirits　so　much　that
her　previous　aspirations　seemed　too　limited。　She　tried　her　hand
at　all　the　arts　in　succession；　but　was　too　discouraged　by　the
weakness　of　her　first　attempts　to　persevere。　She　knew　that　as　a
general　rule　there　are　feeble　and　ridiculous　beginnings　to　all
excellence；　but　she　never　applied　general　rules　to　her　own　case；
still　thinking　of　herself　as　an　exception　to　them；　just　as　she
had　done　when　she　romanced　about　Smilash。　The　illusions　of
adolescence　were　thick　upon　her。

Meanwhile　her　progress　was　creating　anxieties　in　which　she　had　no
share。　Her　paroxysms　of　exhilaration；　followed　by　a　gnawing　sense
of　failure　and　uselessness；　were　known　to　her　mother　only　as
〃wildness〃　and　〃low　spirits；〃　to　be　combated　by　needlework　as　a
sedative；　or　beef　tea　as　a　stimulant。　Mrs。　Wylie　had　learnt　by
rote　that　the　whole　duty　of　a　lady　is　to　be　graceful；　charitable；
helpful；　modest；　and　disinterested　whilst　awaiting　passively
whatever　lot　these　virtues　may　induce。　But　she　had　learnt　by
experience　that　a　lady's　business　in　society　is　to　get　married；
and　that　virtues　and　accomplishments　alike　are　important　only　as
attractions　to　eligible　bachelors。　As　this　truth　is　shameful；
young　ladies　are　left　for　a　year　or　two　to　find　it　out　for
themselves；　it　is　seldom　explicitly　conveyed　to　them　at　their
entry　into　society。　Hence　they　often　throw　away　capital　bargains
in　their　first　season；　and　are　compelled　to　offer　themselves　at
greatly　reduced　prices　subsequently；when　their　attractions　begin
to　stale。　This　was　the　fate　which　Mrs。　Wylie；　warned　by　Mrs。
Jansenius；　feared　for　Agatha；　who；　time　after　time　when　a　callow
gentleman　of　wealth　and　position　was　introduced　to　her；　drove　him
brusquely　away　as　soon　as　he　ventured　to　hint　that　200

his　affections　were　concerned　in　their　acquaintanceship。　The
anxious　mother　had　to　console　herself　with　the　fact　that　her
daughter　drove　away　the　ineligible　as　ruthlessly　as　the　eligible；
formed　no　unworldly　attachments；　was　still　very　young；　and　would
grow　less　coy　as　she　advanced　in　years　and　in　what　Mrs。　Jansenius
called　sense。

But　as　the　seasons　went　by　it　remained　questionable　whether
Agatha　was　the　more　to　be　congratulated　on　having　begun　life
after　leaving　school　or　Henrietta　on　having　finished　it。



CHAPTER　XI

Brandon　Beeches；　in　the　Thames　valley；　was　the　seat　of　Sir
Charles　Brandon；　seventh　baronet　of　that　name。　He　had　lost　his
father　before　attaining　his　majority；　and　had　married　shortly
afterwards；　so　that　in　his　twenty…fifth　year　he　was　father　to
three　children。　He　was　a　little　worn；　in　spite　of　his　youth；　but
he　was　tall　and　agreeable；　had　a　winning　way　of　taking　a　kind　and
soothing　view　of　the　misfortunes　of　others；　could　tell　a　story
well；　liked　music　and　could　play　and　sing　a　little；　loved　the
arts　of　design　and　could　sketch　a　little　in　water　colors；　read
every　magazine　from　London　to　Paris　that　criticised　pictures；　had
travelled　a　little；　fished　a　little；　shot　a　little；　botanized　a
little；　wandered　restlessly　in　the　footsteps　of　women；　and
dissipated　his　energies　through　all　the　small　channels　that　his
wealth　opened　and　his　talents　made　easy　to　him。　He　had　no　large
knowledge　of　any　subject；　though　he　had　looked　into　many　just　far
enough　to　replace　absolute　unconsciousness　of　them　with
measurable　ignorance。　Never　having　enjoyed　the　sense　of
achievement；　he　was　troubled　with　unsatisfied　aspirations　that
filled　him　with　melancholy　and　convinced　him　that　he　was　a　born
artist。　His　wife　found　him　selfish；　peevish；　hankering　after
change；　and　prone　to　believe　that　he　was　attacked　by　dangerous
disease　when　he　was　only　catching　cold。

Lady　Brandon；　who　believed　that　he　understood　all　the　subjects　he
talked　about　because　she　did　not　understand　them　herself；　was　one
of　his　disappointments。　In　person　she　resembled　none　of　the　types
of　beauty　striven　after　by　the　painters　of　her　time；　but　she　had
charms　to　which　few　men　are　insensible。　She　was　tall；　soft；　and
stout；　with　ample　and　shapely　arms；　shoulders；　and　hips。　With　her
small　head；　little　ears；　pretty　lips；　and　roguish　eye；　she；　being
a　very　large　creature；　presented　an　immensity　of　half　womanly；
half　infantile　loveliness　which　smote　even　grave　men　with　a
desire　to　clasp　her　in　their　arms　and　kiss　her。　This　desire　had
scattered　the　desultory　intellectual　culture　of　Sir　Charles　at
first　sight。　His　imagination　invested　her　with　the　taste　for　the
fine　arts　which　ho　required　from　a　wife；　and　he　married　her　in
her　first　season；　only　to　discover　that　the　amativeness　in　her
temperament　was　so　little　and　languid　that　she　made　all　his
attempts　at　fondness　ridiculous；　and　robbed　the　caresses　for
which　he　had　longed　of　all　their　anticipated　ecstasy。
Intellectually　she　fell　still　further　short　of　his　hopes。　She
looked　upon　his　favorite　art　of　painting　as　a　pastime　for　amateur
and　a　branch　of　the　house…furnishing　trade　for　professional
artists。　When　he　was　discussing　it　among　his　friends；　she　would
offer　her　opinion　with　a　presumption　which　was　the　more　trying　as
she　frequently　blundered　upon　a　sound　conclusion　whilst　he　was
reasoning　his　way　to　a　hollow　one　with　his　utmost　subtlety　and
seriousness。　On　such　occasions　his　disgust　did　not　trouble　her　in
the　least；　she　triumphed　in　it。　She　had　concluded　that　marriage
was　a　greater　folly；　and　men　greater　fools；　than　she　had
supposed；　but　such　beliefs　rather　lightened　her　sense　of
responsibility　than　disappointed　her；　and；　as　she　had　plenty　of
money；　plenty　of　servants；　plenty　of　visitors；　and　plenty　of
exercise　on　horseback；　of　which　she　was　immoderately　fond；　her
time　passed　pleasantly　enough。　Comfort　seemed　to　her　the　natural
order　of　life；　trouble　always　surprised　her。　Her　husband's
friends；　who　mistrusted　every　future　hour；　and　found　matter　for
bitter　reflection　in　many　past　ones；　were　to　her　only　examples　of
the　power　of　sedentary　habits　and　excessive　reading　to　make　men
tripped　and　dull。

One　fine　May　morning；　as　she　cantered　along　the　avenue　at　Brandon
Beeches　on　a　powerful　bay　horse；　the　gates　at　the　end　opened　and
a　young　man　sped　through　them　on　a　bicycle。　He　was　of　slight
frame；　with　fine　dark　eyes　and　delicate　nostrils。　When　he
recognized　Lady　Brandon　he　waved　his　cap；　and　when　they　met　he
sprang　from　his　inanimate　steed；　at　which　the　bay　horse　shied。

〃Don't；　you　silly　beast！〃　she　cried；　whacking　the　animal　with　the
butt　of　her　whip。　〃Though　it's　natural　enough；　goodness　knows！
How　d'ye　do？　The　idea　of　anyone　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse
riding　on　a　wheel　like　that！〃　

〃But　I　am　not　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse；〃　he　said；
approaching　her　to　pat　the　bay；　having　placed　the　bicycle　against
a　tree。　〃Besides；　I　am　afraid　of　horses；　not　being　accustomed　to
them；　and　I　know　nothing　about　feeding　them。　My　steed　needs　no
food。　He　doesn't　bite　nor　kick。　He　never　goes　lame；　nor　sickens；
nor　dies；　nor　needs　a　groom；　nor〃

〃That's　all　bosh；〃　said　Lady　Brandon　impetuously。　〃It　stumbles；
and　gives　you　the　most　awful　tosses；　and　it　goes　lame　by　its
treadles　and　thingamejigs　coming　off；　and　it　wears　out；　and　is
twice　as　much　trouble　to　keep　clean　and　scrape　the　mud　off　as　a
horse；　and　all　sorts　of　things。　I　think　the　most　ridiculous　sight
in　the　world　is　a　man　on　a　bicycle；　working　away　with　his　feet　as
hard　as　he　possibly　can；　and　believing　that　his　horse　is　carrying
him　instead　of；　as　anyone　can　see；　he　carrying　the　horse。　You
needn't　tell　me　that　it　isn't　easier　to　walk　in　the　ordinary　way
than　to　drag　a　great　dead　iron　thing　along　with　you。　It's　not
good　sense。〃

〃Nevertheless　I　can　carry　it　a　hundred　miles　further　in　a　day
than　I　can　carry　myself　alone。　Such　are　the　marvels　of　machinery。
But　I　know　that　we　cut　a　very　poor　figure　beside　you　and　that
magnificent　creature　not　that　anyone　will　look　at　me　whilst　you
are　by　to　occupy　their　attention　so　much　more　worthily。〃

She　darted　a　glance　at　him　which　clouded　his　vision　and　made　his
heart　beat　more　strongly。　This　was　an　old　habit　of　hers。　She　kept
it　up　from　love　of　fun；　having　no　idea　of　the　effect　it　produced
on　more　ardent　temperaments　than　her　own。　He　continued　hastily：

〃Is　Sir　Charles　within　doors？〃

〃Oh；　it's　the　most　ridiculous　thing　I　ever　heard　of　in　my　life；〃
she　exclaimed。　〃A　man　that　lives　by　himself　in　a　place　down　by
the　Riverside　Road　like　a　toy　savings　bankdon't　you　know　the
things　I　mean？called　Sallust's　House；　says　there　is　a　right　of
way　through　our　new　pleasure　ground。　As　if　anyone　could　have　any
right　there　after　all　the　money　we　have　spent　fencing　it　on　three
sides；　and　building　up　the　wall　by　the　road；　and　levelling；　and
planting；　and　draining；　and　goodness　knows　what　else！　And　now　the
man　says　that　all　the　common　people　and　tramps　in　the
neighborhood　have　a　right　to　walk　across　it　because　they　are　too
lazy　to　go　round　by　the　road。　Sir　Charles　has　gone　to　see　the　man
about　it。　Of　course　he　wouldn't　do　as　I　wanted　him。〃

〃What　was　that？〃

〃Write　to　tell　the　man　to　mind　his　own　business；　and　to　say　that
the　first　person　we　found　attempting　to　trespass　on　our　property
should　be　given　to　the　police。〃

〃Then　I　shall　find　no　one　at　home。　I　beg　your　pardon　for　calling
it　so；　but　it　is　the　only　place　like　home　to　me。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　so　comfortable　since　we　built　the　billiard　room　and
took　away　those　nasty　hangings　in　the　hall。　I　was　ever　so　lon