‘Of childhood in the later stage, when it is worked and confined and exhorted. For its weakness the burden is great.’
‘James has his own power of throwing things off,’ said Luce.
‘Of course all my children are tragic figures,’ said Eleanor.
Chapter 8
‘Two for Mother, and four for Father,’ said Faith, disturbing the letters at the breakfast table. ‘And three for Ridley.’
‘And how many for you?’ said Paul.
‘Seven, Father,’ said Faith, in an unobtrusive manner.
‘And were they less worthy of mention?’
‘Well, there was no need to speak of them, Father.’
‘Why not as much as the others?’
‘Well, one does not want to draw attention to one’s own things, when they are more than other people’s.’
‘I did not know that,’ said Hope.
‘Faith had a fair method of attracting the general interest,’ said Ridley.
‘They are only to do with oneself, after all,’ went on Faith, as if her brother had not spoken.
‘I wish I had more than two letters,’ said Hope. ‘It makes it seem as if only two people were thinking of me.’
‘It was very nice of seven people to be thinking of me,’ said Faith, in a light tone.
‘It is even better to be the sort of person to be in their thoughts.’
‘I did not mean to suggest that, Mother.’
‘Well, it was not necessary, dear.’
‘Faith is an inveterate correspondent,’ said Ridley.
‘Letter writing is not a vice,’ said his father.
‘I think in this case it has become a habit. And people are obliged to write letters in answer to those they receive.’
‘I see. It is a good idea to put oneself in their thoughts,’ said Hope.
Faith looked down at her letters, as if she would like to make a protest concerning them, but was silent.
‘Faith keeps up with everyone who has crossed her path,’ said Ridley.
‘I see no reason for dropping people, when once I have known them,’ said his sister.
‘I can’t understand people’s not seeing those reasons,’ said Hope.
‘I never lose my interest in anyone I have known.’
‘I like to hear about them, and the different ways in which they have gone downhill.’
‘They have not always done that, Mother.’
‘Then I think I correspond with them. Two people write to me, to every seven to you. That shows the proportion.’
‘I think Faith’s correspondents are often a good way down the hill, when she first meets them,’ said Ridley, laughing.
‘I see no reason for only being interested in fortunate people,’ said his sister.
‘You are not good at seeing reasons, dear,’ said Hope.
‘I like people for their personal qualities.’
‘If they have many of those, they are not objects for letters,’ said Paul. ‘They would have their own way about them.’
‘I suppose Faith won’t tell us who her correspondents are,’ said Hope.
‘Well, I see no point in doing that. It is not quite the sort of atmosphere in which I should choose to reveal them,’
‘I am sure they would be very uncomfortable, dear,’ said Hope.
‘What is that letter, Ridley?’ said Faith, looking past her stepmother. ‘You look as if you had had bad news.’
Ridley kept his eyes on the letter and did not speak. His parents turned their eyes on him, and he remained as still as if he were on the stage. Something about him suggested that he felt he was on it.
‘Mrs Cranmer,’ he said, partly rising from the table, ‘may I ask you for a moment of your time?’
‘You may have it all. I cannot do anything with it until I know the subject of that letter.’
‘I would willingly postpone your knowing.’
‘But do not do so, dear.’
Ridley sat down again and appeared to be lost in thought, and his father rose and read the letter over his shoulder.
MY DEAR RIDLEY,
I must depend on you to fulfil your word. I am so sick a man that when this reaches you, I shall be a dead one, unless a cable has come to you earlier. There is no need to hasten hard news to innocent people, and the word of my death can come to my family through you. All to be told will follow by a later mail. I have written this letter with my own hand. I know you will serve my wife to the limit of your power. And I will end to you, as you are to be to me,
Your friend,
FULBERT SULLIVAN.
The family stood in silence. Paul was sunk in thought. Faith put her handkerchief to her eyes. Hope rose with an almost energetic movement.
‘Well, someone has to be the first to speak. And I can see you expect it to be me. I am the one whose feelings don’t have to be too deep for words.’
‘We can’t help having the feelings, Mother,’ said Faith.
‘What have you to do, Ridley?’ said Paul.
‘To go to Mrs Sullivan, Father, to go to Eleanor Sullivan, and break to her the truth. And from my heart do I wish that this cup might pass from me.’
Faith looked at her brother with open eyes.
‘I must not delay,’ went on Ridley, as if unconscious of his last words. ‘I can only make the blow as swift and merciful as possible. I can only do my best.’
‘Do you think that perhaps a woman might do it better?’ said Faith.
Ridley turned and looked into her face.
‘It was not so that Fulbert left it. And it is not so that it shall be. I do not break my faith with the dead.’
‘I only made the suggestion for what it was worth.’
‘And Ridley has told you what that was, dear,’ said Hope.
Ridley looked at his stepmother as if he thought she misused the occasion.
‘Of course all the best in people will come out now,’ she said. ‘It is true that the accompaniments of grief are the worst part. I am always uneasy when people show the best that is in them. I am not talking about Ridley’s best, as that is indispensable, but on the whole I prefer people’s dear, faulty, familiar selves.’
Faith looked up as if she hardly saw herself in these last words.
‘It is something that we don’t seem to be drawn closer,’ went on Hope. ‘That is what is done by the most distressing things. I am glad we don’t feel it to that extent.’
‘There seems no urgency to break the news,’ said Paul. ‘But Ridley will have to get it behind.’
‘I can hardly face the family, Father, with this between us. Even my lawyer’s training in inscrutability does not prepare me for that.’
‘You will tell me if I can be of any use to you, Ridley,’ said Faith, in a gentle tone, after a moment’s communing with herself.
‘Faith’s best seems to improve with every moment,’ said Hope. ‘And Ridley has only to use his as it is. He will have to decide when to do it.’
‘That was not left to me, Mrs Cranmer. If it had been, I fear I might have taken some way out. As it is — ‘ Ridley straightened his shoulders and made his way from the house.
‘Ridley’s best is rather unfitted for daily life,’ said Hope. ‘This is the first time I have seen it in thirty years. It might be better to have one that came in oftener. But I suppose it is meant for an emergency.’
‘We must hope it will do its work on this occasion,’ said Faith. ‘After all, Mr Sullivan depended on it.’
‘I am sure it will,’ said Hope. ‘You see that my best is as good as yours.’
‘Are we not rather running this idea to death, Mother?’
‘My best is better than yours. It is never used for people’s embarrassment. My worst is used for that. I am right not to like the best in people. Why should I, when it is put to a mean purpose? And I believe it generally is.’
‘I hope my worse side did not creep out for the moment,’ said Faith, in a lighter tone.