Parents and Children (17 page)

‘I am thankful to be at home,' said Susan. ‘We can never be at ease except with each other. No one would understand our life, who had not lived it. A past without parents or a background is as rare as being brought up in an orphanage.'

‘Is that rare?' said Priscilla. ‘The papers always say how many thousands of inmates are admitted every year. It shows how few people behave as well as Sir Jesse.'

‘That is why we have to contribute to such institutions,' said Lester.

‘Do you?' said Priscilla, astonished. ‘How you prevent the left hand from knowing what the right hand doeth!'

‘Not I myself,' said Lester, opening his eyes. ‘I never spend money without saying so.'

‘We are the last people to support orphanages,' said Susan. ‘They are fortunate in not having had to support us.'

‘I suppose Sir Jesse has been father and mother to us,' said Lester, as if the thought amused him; ‘though no one would think it, who saw him pass us without a word.'

‘Family life seldom gets to that,' said Priscilla, ‘or not with both the father and the mother.'

‘We have never lisped our prayers at our mother's knee,' said Susan. ‘What can be expected of us?'

‘Hard work and reasonable success,' said Lester, in an almost wondering tone.

‘Criminals are always told to look back on the time when they did that,' said Priscilla. ‘It does not seem to be an auspicious beginning.'

‘Our parents were friends of Sir Jesse's,' said Lester. ‘And they lived in South America. I do not want to know more about them.'

‘It seems to stamp them,' said Priscilla. ‘I should not dare to ask. If it were anything that could be borne, Sir Jesse would have told us. And he would not mind our bearing a certain amount.'

‘He seems to avoid contact with their children,' said Susan. ‘We should never forgive ourselves, if we exerted any untoward influence on him. I wonder he allows us to mix with each other.'

Lester raised his eyes at this train of thought.

‘It is the cheapest way of disposing of us,' he said. ‘He gives us a house and a little money, and we provide the rest.'

‘You would not think we had such large appetites, to look at us,' said Susan.

‘I should have thought we were rather hungry-looking,' said Priscilla. ‘As though we hardly knew where our next meal was coming from. And we do know. From Sir Jesse and our own hard earnings.'

‘Well, Mrs Morris,' said Lester, ‘I hope Morris is better.'

The housekeeper closed her eyes and kept them closed, while she placed the teapot with her usual precision.

‘He must have a very good appetite.'

‘What makes you say that, sir?' said Mrs Morris, performing an action that seemed unnatural to her, and looking at the speaker.

‘You cook so much for him, that you have no time for us.'

‘I hope to give you your usual dinner, sir.'

‘If we have this tea and our usual dinner, Morris must be very bad.'

‘He could not eat what I cooked, sir,' said Mrs Morris, arranging the table for those who could.

‘Would he like anything special?' said Priscilla.

‘He is not used to having what he fancies, miss.'

‘There he is, going down the path,' said Susan.

‘He can get about, miss.'

‘He is going to the inn.'

Mrs Morris just cast a glance after her husband, as if his errand meant too little to warrant attention.

‘Not used to having what he fancies!' said Susan, as the door closed. ‘He gets more and more used to it.'

‘Well, it means we can do the same,' said her sister.

‘I am glad Morris has his own life,' said Lester, gravely.

‘Lester talks quite like a man to Mrs Morris,' said Priscilla.

‘Mr and Mrs Cranmer,' said Mrs Morris.

‘Well, my dears,' said Hope. ‘Are you expecting friends to tea, or is this your ordinary standard?' Her tone had a slight difference from the one she used to the Sullivans.

‘It is Susan's first day at home,' said Paul, whose tone was always the same.

‘I do respect the power to spend on things that did not meet the eye of outsiders. I don't believe they are even glad we have come on them in their luxury. And I should think it such a happy coincidence.'

‘We are glad you are to share it,' said Lester.

‘And now you do not pretend that you take it as a matter of course. I can't tell you what I think of you. I almost wish Faith were here; Paul will never appreciate the position.'

‘Did she know you were coming?' said Lester, simply.

‘What insight you have into our family life! No, I did not tell her.'

‘I expect she is just as happy at home.'

‘No, she likes nothing better than a little change, and she really needed it. But I needed it more, because compared to her as a companion I am a Cleopatra in my infinite variety. How few people would dare to say that!'

‘How many of us think it of ourselves?' said Paul.

‘Do not be foolish, Paul. Very few of us.'

‘Very few,' said Priscilla.

‘Have you been to the big house to say good-bye to Fulbert?' said Hope.

‘No, his going makes no difference to us,' said Susan. ‘We see none of them but Sir Jesse and the two elder boys.'

‘Has Sir Jesse been to see you lately?'

‘He came this afternoon.'

‘And you were not going to mention it! I should take the first opportunity of bringing it in. Why did he come to see you? I must ask, Paul. They don't mind my knowing, and it would never occur to them to tell me.'

‘Partly because a visit was due,' said Priscilla, ‘and partly to hint that we might be more economical.'

‘Even more than we are,' said Lester, seriously.

‘Well, there is always something that can be cut off,' said Hope. ‘But I wonder how Sir Jesse knew.'

‘He didn't; he only hoped so,' said Priscilla. ‘And when he saw the cottage, he thought he was wrong and took his leave.'

‘But what about the tea? Did you expect him to stay?'

‘To tea here?' said Lester.

‘Yes.'

‘And have it with us? Sir Jesse?'

‘Yes. Is it impossible?'

‘All things are possible,' said Susan. ‘It is unthinkable.'

‘We thought Mrs Morris could not cook tonight, because Morris is ill,' said Lester.

‘Thank you so much; I am glad you do not always live like this. I don't like to think I am a stingy housekeeper. I am mean in so many matters; all the others, I think; and I hoped I made an exception of little, material things. The larger ones just can't be helped.'

‘They never can,' said Lester, gravely.

‘Sir Jesse said that he would miss his son,' said Priscilla. ‘It seemed odd that he should have ordinary human feelings.'

‘I shall have to do my best for him,' said Paul. ‘He must have men about him, and he will not suffer his grandsons.'

‘He does too much for them,' said Susan. ‘Even what he does for us, makes him think we are on a different level.'

‘Well, the things he does, giving us a cottage and a small allowance, keeps us on one,' said Priscilla. ‘But isn't it wonderful that he does it?'

‘Sometimes I feel I am an able-bodied man, accepting help
from another,' said Lester, expecting and meeting sympathy for this trick of his imagination.

‘We are told that giving has the advantage over receiving,' said Paul.

‘We should have to be told,' said Priscilla. ‘Whoever said it, must have thought so.'

‘You don't find it so in your experience?'

‘We never give,' said Lester. ‘It would not be fair on Sir Jesse.'

‘I always feel that being here is a lesson,' said Hope.

‘In rising above disadvantages, do you mean?' said Susan.

‘Well, dear, I suppose I did. But I also meant in depending on your own qualities.'

‘We are not going to disclaim them,' said Priscilla. ‘It would be less awkward to mention them.'

‘Do mention them, dear,' said Hope. ‘I don't think anyone else has done so.'

‘Intellect, individuality, our own kind of charm,' said Priscilla, with her lips grave.

Her sister laughed.

‘Why is it amusing?' said Hope. ‘I call it almost solemn. I feel inclined to rise. And now anyone could just rattle them off.'

‘We could all have done so,' said Paul.

‘I am glad you are a gentler creature than I am, Paul. I should hate you to be as hard as a woman. A husband ought to have some masculine qualities.'

‘We are quite content,' said Lester.

‘I see you are,' said Hope; ‘and though I can't understand it, it makes me appreciate my easier lot.'

‘I should have thought it was more difficult,' said Lester.

‘I don't know whether to be annoyed or flattered by that. I like to feel I am in a hard place, but somehow any kind of difficulty seems a humiliation.'

‘I believe you look down on us,' said Susan.

‘Well, one does despise poverty and dependence,' said Hope, in a sharper tone. ‘You did not speak in praise of them yourselves. But I pity them too, and I never feel that pity is such a dreadful thing. It is absurd to say it is the same as contempt. It even leads to kindness, and contempt never does that.'

‘People even pity themselves,' said Priscilla. ‘So the two feelings must be quite separate. People call contempt pity. That is how the confusion arises.'

‘What is that parcel, Priscilla?' said Lester.

‘Oh, I had forgotten. Sir Jesse brought it this afternoon. It is a photograph of our mother. He said he came across it. It seems strange to think of Sir Jesse going through his odds and ends. One would think that sort of thing would be done for him. It must be one of those wrong ideas that the poor get about the rich. I did not dare to open it by myself.'

‘No, of course not,' said Lester, looking at the parcel as if he would hesitate under any circumstances.

‘What are you afraid of?' said Hope. ‘I know it is an insensitive question, but nothing brings out my better qualities today. If your first meeting with your mother fails to do so, nothing can be done.'

‘It seems strange that most people know their mothers from the first,' said Priscilla.

‘Now we shall be able to trace our odd physiognomy to its source,' said Susan.

‘We shall have to,' said her sister.

‘I don't mind what she is like,' said Lester.

‘We see the strong feeling of the son for the mother coming out,' said Hope.

‘I am sure Lester is not a man who would ever be ashamed of his mother,' said Priscilla.

‘I have always thought it silly to say that photographs seem to be looking at us,' said Susan. ‘But it does seem that this one would have the impulse.'

‘I am glad it sees us with the condoning eyes of a mother,' said Priscilla, holding the photograph out of her own sight.

‘I am sure her ugly ducklings are swans to her, dears,' said Hope.

‘She is tall,' said Lester.

‘I don't know why,' said Hope, ‘but I suddenly feel inclined to cry.'

‘And as plain as we are,' said Susan. ‘Or not quite.'

‘No, not as plain,' said Lester.

‘Of course a mother is always beautiful to her son,' said Hope. ‘There was no reason for Lester to be afraid. It was different for his sisters.'

‘It is a good face and a good head,' said Paul.

‘I do congratulate you all,' said Hope. ‘And her as well, of course. I have never seen such a family.'

‘I wonder why she made a friend of Sir Jesse,' said Lester.

‘Is that the only thing you know against her?'said Paul, laughing.

‘It is all we know about her,' said Susan. ‘Perhaps she felt he would be a friend to her children.'

‘We see where Susan gets her practical side,' said Priscilla. ‘From Mother. This is the first homecoming when she has been here to welcome her.'

‘So Sir Jesse did not bring a photograph of your father,' said Paul.

‘I am rather glad,' said Priscilla. ‘These family reunions are rather a strain.'

‘We must have the photograph framed,' said Susan.

‘Don't go yet, Paul,' said Priscilla. ‘Sit down here by Mother.'

‘I feel ashamed that the meeting has been witnessed by our idly curious eyes,' said Hope.

‘I think you ought to share Mother with us, Lester,' said Priscilla. ‘Mothers are not quite indifferent to their daughters. Perhaps Mother would not change me for all the sons in the world.'

‘How much does a frame cost?' said her brother.

‘There is Mother coming out.'

‘It depends on the quality,' said Susan.

‘In both of you,' said Priscilla. ‘But ought the first economy we make after we have known Mother, to be on her? Though of course mothers do not like their children to spend their money on them.'

‘I will subscribe to the frame,' said Lester, who could not always take this course with the family expenses.

‘There are Ridley and Faith,' said Susan. ‘How did they know you were here?'

‘Just what Mother would have said!' said Priscilla.

‘Something must have told them,' said Hope. ‘It was not me.'

‘We guessed you would be here,' said Faith, as she entered with
her brother. ‘We thought we might as well walk home together.'

‘Need you have walked home at all, dear?' said Hope.

There was a pause.

‘We have had tea,' said Faith, as if they would not impose this demand on the house.

‘I hope we are not intruding,' said Ridley, with a smile for his suggestion.

‘I hope not, dear,' said Hope.

‘Have you been turning out old albums?' said Faith, looking at the table. ‘I think the old-fashioned photographs are often so interesting.'