CHAPTER I

afeelingthatself-controlwouldhavegreatlyhelped,itbegantofindtheetiquetteofChristianbehaviour,whichinsistedonitsgoingonbeingsilentwhileshemoreandmoreletherselfgo,irksome.TheBishopwantedthingsinvain.Threetimeshehadtoseehimselfoffaloneatthestationandnotbemetwhenhecameback.Buttons,becausetheywerenottightenedonintime,burstfromhisgaiters,anddiditinremoteplaceslikerailwaycarriages.Letterswereunanswered,importantones.Engagements,vitalones,throughlackofreminderswentunkept.Atlastitbecameplain,whensheseemednoteventowishtoanswerwhenspokentoortomovewhencalled,thatthisapathyandcreepingawaytohidecouldnotfurtherbeendured.Againstalltradition,againsteveryhomeprinciple,theyletayoungunmarrieddaughterloose.WithoffendedreluctancetheysenthertoLondontoacelebrityinteeth—afterallitwasnotasifshehadbeengoingjusttoenjoyherself—"Andyourauntwillpleaseforgiveus,"saidtheBishop,"fortakingherinthismannerunawares." Theaunt,aseriousstronglady,wasengagedforpoliticalmeetingsinthenorth,andhadgoneawaytothemthatverymorning,leavingaletterandherhouseatIngeborg'sdisposalforsolongasthedentistneededher.Thedentist,beingthebestthatmoneycouldbuy,hardlyneededheratall.Hepouncedunerringlyandatonceontherighttoothandpulleditout.Therewerenostoppings,nodelays,nopain,andnoaunt.Neverwasalifemorebeautifullycleared.IngeborgwentawaydownHarleyStreetfree,andwithtenpoundsinherpocket.Fortherestofthisoneday,foranhourortwoto-morrowmorningbeforesettingoutforPaddingtonandhome,shecoulddoexactlyassheliked. "Why,there'snothingtopreventmegoinganywherethisevening,"shethought,stoppingdeadasthefullgloryofthesituationslowlydawnedonher."Why,Icouldgooutsomewherereallygrandtodinner,justaspeopledoIexpectinallthebooksI'mnotletread,andthenIcouldgototheplay—nobodycouldpreventme.Why,Icouldgotoamusic-hallifIchose,andstillnobodycouldpreventme!" Audaciousimaginingsthatmadeherlaugh—shehadnotlaughedforweeks—dartedinandoutofherbusybrain.Shesawherselfinhermouse-coloureddressreducingwaitersinmarbleandgiltplacestorespectandslaverybyshowingthemhertenpounds.Shebuiltupluridfabricsofpossibledaringdeeds,andsmiledatthereflectionofherselfinshopwindowsasshepassed,atthesobriety,theirreproachablenessofthesheathcontainingthesemoltenimaginings.Why,shemighthireacar—justtelephone,andthereyouwerewithitroundinfiveminutes,andgooffinthetwilighttoRichmondParkorWindsor.S