Chapter V

issLey,”repliedMissGlover,ratherseverely. “Isit?”retortedMissLey.“IalwaysthoughtitwasanarrangementtoprovideworkforthejudgesintheDivorceCourt.” TothisMissGloververyproperlymadenoanswer. “Doyouthinkthey’llbehappytogether?” “Ithinkitveryimprobable,”saidMissLey. “Well,don’tyouthinkit’syourduty—excusemymentioningit,MissLey—todosomething?” “MydearMissGlover,Idon’tthinkthey’llbemoreunhappythanmostmarriedcouplesandone’sgreatestdutyinthisworldistoleavepeoplealone.” “ThereIcannotagreewithyou,”saidMissGlover,bridling.“Ifdutywasnotmoredifficultthanthattherewouldbenocreditindoingit.” “Ah,mydear,yourideaofahappylifeisalwaystodothedisagreeablething:mineistogathertheroses—withgloveson,sothatthethornsshouldnotprickme.” “That’snotthewaytowinthebattle,MissLey.Wemustallfight.” “MydearMissGlover!”saidBertha’saunt. Shefancieditalittleimpertinentforawomantwentyyearsyoungerthanherselftoexhorthertoleadabetterlife.Butthepictureofthatpoor,ill-dressedcreaturefightingwithadevil,cloven-footed,betailedandbehorned,wasaspitifulasitwascomicandwithdifficultyMissLeyrepressedanimpulsetoargueandtostartlealittleherestimablefriend. ButatthatmomentDr.Ramsaycamein.Heshookhandswithbothladies. “IthoughtI’dlookintoseehowBerthawas,”hesaid. “PoorMr.Craddockhasanotheradversary,”remarkedMissLey.“MissGloverthinksIoughttotaketheaffairseriously.” “Ido,indeed,”saidMissGlover. “EversinceIwasayounggirl,”saidMissLey,“I’vebeentryingnottotakethingsseriously,andI’mafraidnowI’mhopelesslyfrivolous.” ThecontrastbetweenthisassertionandMissLey’sprimmannerwasreallyfunny,butMissGloversawonlysomethingquiteincomprehensible. “Afterall,”addedMissLey,“ninemarriagesoutoftenaremoreorlessunsatisfactory.YousayyoungBrandertonwouldhavebeenmoresuitablebutreallyastringofancestorsisnoparticularassistancetomatrimonialfelicity,andotherwiseIseenomarkeddifferencebetweenhimandEdwardCraddock.Mr.BrandertonhasbeentoEtonandOxford,butheconcealsthefactwithverygreatsuccess.Practicallyhe’sjustasmuchagentleman-farmerasMr.Craddockbutonefamilyisworkingitselfupandtheotherisworkingitselfdown.TheBrandertonsrepresentthepastandtheCraddocksthefutureandthoughIdetestreformandprogress,sofarasmatrimonyisconcernedIprefermyselfthemanwhofoundsafamilytothemanwhoendsit.But,goodHeavens!you’remakingmesententious.” ItwascurioushowoppositionwasmakingMissLeyalmostachampionofEdwardCraddock. “Well,”saidthedoctor,inhisheavyway,“I’minfavourofeveryonestickingtohisownclass.Nowadays,whoeveramanishewantstobethenextthingbetterthelabourerapesthetradesman,thetradesmanapestheprofessionalman.” “Andtheprofessionalmanisworstofall,deardoctor,”saidMissLey,“forheapesthenoblelord,whoseldomaffordsaveryadmirableexample.Andtheamusingthingisthateachsetthinksitselfquiteasgoodasthoseabove,whileharbouringprofoundcontemptforallbelow.Infacttheonlymembersofsocietywhoholdthemselvesinproperestimationaretheservants.Ialwaysthinkthatthedomesticsofgentlemen’shousesinSouthKensingtonareseveraldegreeslessodiousthantheirmasters.” ThiswasnotasubjectwhichMissGloverorDr.Ramsaycoulddiscuss,andtherewasamomentarypause. “Whatsinglepointcanyoubringinfavourofthismarriage?”askedthedoctor,suddenly. MissLeylookedathimasifshewerethinking,then,withadrysmile:“Mydeardoctor,Mr.Craddockissomatteroffact—themoonwillneverrousehimtopoeticecstasies.” “MissLey!”saidtheparson’ssister,inatoneofentreaty. MissLeyglancedfromonetotheother.“Doyouwantmyseriousopinion?”sheasked,rathermoregravelythanusual.“Thegirlloveshim,mydeardoctor.Marriage,afterall,issuchariskthatonlypassionmakesitworthwhile.” MissGloverlookedupuneasilyatthewordpassion. “Yes,IknowwhatyouallthinkinEngland,”saidMissLey,catchingtheglanceanditsmeaning.“Youexpectpeopletomarryfromeveryreasonexcepttheproper,one—andthatistheinstinctofreproduction.” “MissLey!”exclaimedMissGlover,blushing. “Oh,you’reoldenoughtotakeasensible