CHAPTER VII

WhenAnnawokenextmorningshehadaconfusedideathatsomethingannoyinghadhappenedtheeveningbefore,butshehadsleptsoheavilythatshecouldnotatoncerecollectwhatitwas.Then,thesunonherfacewakingherupmorethoroughly,sherememberedthatSusiehadstayedupstairswithHiltontillsuppertime,hadthencomedown,glancedwithunutterabledisgustattherawham,coldsausage,eggs,andtepidcoffeeofwhichtheeveningmealwascomposed,refusedtoeat,refusedtospeak,refusedutterlytosmile,andafterwardsinthedrawing-roomhadannouncedherfixedintentionofreturningtoEnglandthenextday. Annahadprotestedandarguedinvainnothingcouldshakethissuddendetermination.ToallherexpostulationsandentreatiesSusierepliedthatshehadneveryetdweltamongsavagesandshewasnotgoingtobeginnowsoAnnawasforcedtoconcludethatHiltonhadbeenmakingascene,andknowingtheeffectofHilton'sscenesshegaveupattemptingtopersuade,buttoldherwithoutwardfirmnessandinwardquakingsthatsheherselfcouldnotpossiblygotoo. Susiehadbeenveryangryatthis,andstillmoreangryatthereasonAnnagave,whichwasthat,havinginvitedtheparsonandhiswifetodinneronSaturday,shecouldnotbreakherengagement.Susietoldherthatasshewouldneverseeeitherofthemagain—forsurelyshewouldneveragainwanttocometothisplace?—itwasabsurdtocaretwopencewhattheythoughtofher.Whatonearthdiditmatteriftwoinhabitantsofthedesertwereoffendedornotoffendedonceshewasontheothersideofthesea?Andwhatdiditmatteratallhowshetreatedthem?Sheheapedsuchepithetsasabsurd,stupid,andidioticonAnna'shead,butAnnawasnottobemoved.ShethreatenedtotakeMissLeechandLettyawaywithher,andleaveAnnaapreytothecriticismsofMrs.Grundy,andAnnasaidshecouldnotpreventherdoingsoifshechose.Susiebecamemoreandmoreexcited,moreandmoreDobbs,goadedbytherecollectionofwhatshehadgonethroughwithHilton,andAnna,asusualundersuchcircumstances,grewverysilent.LettysatlisteninginanagonyoffrightlestthiscupofnewexperienceswereabouttobedashedprematurelyfromhereagerlipsandMissLeechdiscreetlylefttheroom,thoughnotintheleastknowingwheretogo,finallyseekingtodriveawaythenervousfearsthatassailedherinherlonely,creakingbedroom,whereratsweregnawingatthewoodwork,bythinkinghardofMr.Jessup,whoonthisoccasionprovedtobebutabrokenreed,pittedagainstthesternrealityofrats. Theendofit,afterSusiehadpouredoutthecustomaryreproachesofgrossingratitudeandforgetfulnessofallshehaddoneforAnnaforfifteenlongyears,wasthatMissLeechandLettyweretostayonasoriginallyintended,andcomehomewithAnnatowardstheendoftheholidays,andSusiewouldleavewithHiltontheverynextday. Anna'sattempttomakeitupwhenshesaidgood-nightwasrepulsedwithenergy.Annawasforeverdoingaggravatingthings,andthenwantingtomakeitupbutmakingsupwithouthavinggiveninaninchseemedtoSusiesingularlyunsatisfactoryceremonies.Oh,theseEstcourtsandtheirobstinacy!Shemarchedofftobedinhighindignation,anindignationnotbyanymeansallowedtocoolbyHiltonduringtheprocessofundressingandAnna,wornout,fellasleepthemomentshelaydown,andwokeup,asshehadpicturedherselfdoinginthatoddwoodenbed,withthemorningsunshiningfullonherface. Itwasabrightandlovelyday,andonthesideofthehousewhereshesleptshecouldnothearthewind,whichwasstillblowingfromthenorth-west.Sheopenedoneofherthreebigwindowsandletthecoldairrushintoherroom,wherethecuriousperfumeofthebakedevergreenwreathsfestoonedroundthewallsandlooking-glassanddressing-table,joinedtotheheatfromthestove,producedaheavyatmospherethatmadehergasp.Somebodymustalreadyhavebeeninherroom,forthestovehadbeenlitagain,andshecouldseethepeatblazinginsideitsopendoor.Butoutside,whatadivinecoldnessandpurity!Sheleanedout,drinkingitininlongbreaths,thewarmMarchsunshiningonherhead.Thegarden,amereuncared-forpieceofroughgrasswithbigtrees,wasradiantwithrain-dropsthestripofseawasadeepbluenow,withcrestsoffoamtheislandcoastoppositewasashadowystreakstretchedacrossthefeetofthesun.Oh,itwasbeautifultostandatthatopenwindowinthefreshness,listeningtotherobinonthebarelilacbushafewyardsaway,tothequarrellingoftheimpudentsparrowsonthepathbelow,tothewindinthebranchesofthetrees,toallthehappymorningsoundsofnature.Ajoyousfeelingtookpossessionofherheart,asuddenoverpoweringdelightinwhatarecalledcommonthings—mereearth,sky,sun,andwind.Howlovelylifewasonsuchamorning,insuchaclean,rain-washed,wind-scouredworld.Thewetsmellofthegardencameuptoher,awhiffofmarshysmellfromthewater,alongbreathfromthepinesintheforestontheothersideofthehouse.HowhadsheeverbreathedatEstcourt?Howhadsheescapedsuffocationwithoutthislife-givingsmellofseaandforest?ShelookeddownwithdelightatthewildnessofthegardenafterthetrimEstcourtlawns,whatareliefthiswas.Thiswasallliberty,freedomfromconventionality,absoluteprivacythatwasaneverlastingclipping,andtrimming,andraking,aperpetualstumblingupongardenersateverystep,forSusiewouldnotbeoutdonebyhergreaterneighboursinthesematters.WhatwasHillStreetlookinglikethisfineMarchmorning?Alltheblindsdown,allthepeopleinbed—howfaraway,howshadowyitwasastreetinhabitedbysleepyghosts,withphantommilkmenrattlingspectralcansbeneaththeirwindows.Whatadreamthatlifeliveduptothreedaysagoseemedinthismorninglightofreality.Whiteclouds,likethecloudsinRaphael'sbackgrounds,werefloatingsohighoverheadthattheycouldnotbehurriedbythewindablackcatsatinapatchofsunshineonthepathwashingitselfsomebodyopenedalowerwindow,andtherewasanoiseofsweeping,presentlymadeindistinguishablebythechoralesungbythesweeper,nodoubtMarie,inapious,GoodFridaymood