Chapter1
Itbeganin
en
aWoman’sClubinLondononen
aFebruaryafternoon—anuncomfortableclub,og
andamiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,der
whohadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshoppe
shopandhadlunchedatherclub,tog
tookupTheTimesfromthebordet
tableinthesmoking-room,andkørte
runningherlistlesseyedowntheAgonyColumnså
sawthis:.ToThosewhoAppreciateWistaria
og
andSunshine.SmallmediaevalItalian
Slot
CastleontheshoresoftheMiddelhavet
MediterraneantobeLetFurnishedforthemonthofApril
April.Necessaryservantsremain.
Z,
Kasse
Box1000,TheTimes.Thatwasits
opfattelse
conception;yet,asinthe
tilfælde
caseofmanyanother,theconceiverwasunawareofitatthemoment.So
helt
entirelyunawarewasMrs.WilkinsthatherApril
Aprilforthatyearhadthenog
andtherebeensettledforherthatshedroppedthenewspapermed
withagesturethatwasbåde
bothirritatedandresigned,andgik
wentovertothewindowog
andstareddrearilyoutatthedrippinggade
street.Notforherweremediaevalcastles,
selv
eventhosethatarespeciallybeskrevet
describedassmall.Notforhertheshoresin
April
ApriloftheMediterranean,andthewistariaog
andsunshine.Suchdelightswere
kun
onlyfortherich.Yettheadvertisementhadbeenaddressedto
personer
personswhoappreciatethesethings,sothatithadbeen,anyhow,addressedtootohende
her,forshecertainlyappreciateddem
them;morethananybodyknew;
mere
morethanshehadevertold.Men
Butshewaspoor.Inthe
hele
wholeworldshepossessedofherveryegen
ownonlyninetypounds,savedfromår
yeartoyear,putbyomhyggeligt
carefullypoundbypound,outofherdresstilskud
allowance.Shehadscrapedthis
sum
sumtogetheratthesuggestionofherhusbandasaskjold
shieldandrefugeagainstaregnfuld
rainyday.Herdressallowance,
givet
givenherbyherfather,was£100et
ayear,sothatMrs.Wilkins’støj
clotheswerewhatherhusband,opfordrer
urginghertosave,calledmodestog
andbecoming,andheracquaintancetoeachother,når
whentheyspokeofheratall,hvilket
whichwasseldomforshewasmeget
verynegligible,calledaperfectsyn
sight.Mr.
Wilkins,asolicitor,
opfordret
encouragedthrift,exceptthatbranchofitwhichkom
gotintohisfood.Hedidnot
kaldte
callthatthrift,hecalleditdårlig
badhousekeeping.Butforthethriftwhich,like
møl
moth,penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’støj
clothesandspoiltthem,hehavde
hadmuchpraise.“Youneverknow,”he
sagde
said,“whentherewillbeen
arainyday,andyoukan
maybeverygladtofinde
findyouhaveanest-egg.Ja
Indeedwebothmay.”Looking
ud
outoftheclubwindowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasaneconomicalklub
club,butconvenientforHampstead,hvor
whereshelived,andforShoolbred’s,hvor
wheresheshopped—Mrs.Wilkins,havingstood
der
theresometimeverydrearily,hermind’søje
eyeontheMediterraneaninApril
April,andthewistaria,andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherige
rich,whileherbodilyeyeså
watchedthereallyextremelyhorriblesootyrainfalde
fallingsteadilyonthehurryingumbrellasog
andsplashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedwhethermåske
perhapsthiswasnottheregnfulde
rainydayMellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsoofte
oftenencouragedhertopreparefor,og
andwhethertogetoutofet sådant
suchaclimateandintothelille
smallmediaevalcastlewasn’tperhapswhatProvidence
Providencehadallalongintendedhertogøre
dowithhersavings.Partofhersavings,of
selvfølgelig
course;perhapsquiteasmall
del
part.Thecastle,beingmediaeval,
kunne
mightalsobedilapidated,anddilapidationsweresikkert
surelycheap.Shewouldn’tintheleast
noget imod
mindafewofthem,fordi
becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidationswhichwereallerede
alreadythere;onthecontrary—by
reducere
reducingthepriceyouhadtobetale
paytheyreallypaidyou.Men
Butwhatnonsensetothinkofit...Sheturned
væk
awayfromthewindowwiththesamme
samegestureofmingledirritationog
andresignationwithwhichshehadlaidned
downTheTimes,andcrossedtheroommod
towardsthedoorwiththehensigt
intentionofgettinghermackintoshog
andumbrellaandfightinghervej
wayintooneoftheovercrowdedomnibusesog
andgoingtoShoolbred’sonhervej
wayhomeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultmed
withfishandlikedonlysoles,undtagen
exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,akvinde
womansheknewbysightasogså
alsolivinginHampsteadandtilhører
belongingtotheclub,sittingatthebordet
tableinthemiddleoftheroomonwhichthenewspapersog
andmagazineswerekept,absorbed,inherturn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkins
havde
hadneveryetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,whotilhørte
belongedtooneoftheforskellige
variouschurchsets,andwhoanalysed,classified,dividedog
andregisteredthepoor;whereasshe
og
andMellersh,whentheydidgik
goout,wenttothepartiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadder
thereweremany.Mellershhada
søster
sisterwhohadmarriedoneofthemog
andlivedupontheHeath
Heath,andbecauseofthisalliance
allianceMrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacirkel
circlewhichwashighlyunnaturaltohende
her,andshehadlearnedtofrygte
dreadpictures.Shehadto
sige
saythingsaboutthem,andshedidn’tvidste
knowwhattosay.She
plejede
usedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”andfølte
feelthatitwasnotnok
enough.Butnobodyminded.
Nobody
lyttede
listened.NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.
Shewas
den
thekindofpersonwhoisnotbemærket
noticedatparties.Herclothes,infestedbythrift,
gjorde
madeherpracticallyinvisible;her
ansigt
facewasnon-arresting;herconversationwas
tilbageholdende
reluctant;shewasshy.
And
hvis
ifone’sclothesandfaceog
andconversationareallnegligible,tænkte
thoughtMrs.Wilkins,whorecognisedherdisabilities,hvad
what,atparties,isthereleftofen
one?Alsoshewasalways
med
withWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingmand
man,whogaveaparty,blot
merelybycomingtoit,en
agreatair.Wilkinswas
meget
veryrespectable.Hewasknowntobe
højt
highlythoughtofbyhissenior
seniorpartners.Hissister’scircle
beundrede
admiredhim.Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentson
kunst
artandartists.Hewaspithy;
hewas
forsigtig
prudent;heneversaida
ord
wordtoomuch,nor,onden
theotherhand,didheeversagde
sayawordtoolittle.Heproducedthe
indtryk
impressionofkeepingcopiesofalt
everythinghesaid;andhewasso
åbenbart
obviouslyreliablethatitoftenhappenedthatfolk
peoplewhomethimatdisse
thesepartiesbecamediscontentedwiththeiregne
ownsolicitors,andafteraperiode
periodofrestlessnessextricatedthemselvesog
andwenttoWilkins.NaturallyMrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.
“She,”
sagde
saidhissister,withsomethingherselfofden
thejudicial,thedigested,andden
thefinalinhermanner,“shouldstayathome.”Men
ButWilkinscouldnotleavehiskone
wifeathome.Hewas
en
afamilysolicitor,andallsuchhar
havewivesandshowthem.Med
Withhisintheweekhegik
wenttoparties,andwithhisonSundayshegik
wenttochurch.Beingstill
ret
fairlyyoung—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomhehavde
hadnotyetacquiredinhispraksis
practiceasufficientnumber,hekunne
couldnotaffordtomisschurch,og
anditwastherethatMrs.Wilkinsblev
becamefamiliar,thoughneverthroughwords,med
withMrs.Arbuthnot.Shesawhermarshalling
de
thechildrenofthepoorintopews.Shewould
kom
comeinattheheadoftheprocessionfromtheSundaySchoolpræcis
exactlyfiveminutesbeforethekoret
choir,andgetherboysog
andgirlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,og
anddownontheirlittlekneesintheirindledende
preliminaryprayer,andupagainontheirfødder
feetjustas,totheswellingorgel
organ,thevestrydooropened,og
andthechoirandclergy,store
bigwiththelitaniesandcommandmentstheywereøjeblikket
presentlytorollout,emerged.She
havde
hadasadface,yetshewastydeligvis
evidentlyefficient.Thecombinationusedto
gør
makeMrs.Wilkinswonder,forshehadbeentoldbyMellersh,ondayswhenshehadkun
onlybeenabletogetplaice,thathvis
ifonewereefficientonewouldn’tbedeprimeret
depressed,andthatifonegør
doesone’sjobwellonebliver
becomesautomaticallybrightandbrisk.Om
AboutMrs.Arbuthnottherewasintet
nothingbrightandbrisk,thoughmeget
muchinherwaywiththeSundaySchoolbørn
childrenthatwasautomatic;but
da
whenMrs.Wilkins,turningfromden
thewindow,caughtsightofherinden
theclubshewasnotbeingautomatisk
automaticatall,butwaslookingfixedlyatonedel
portionofthefirstpageofDen
TheTimes,holdingthepaperhelt
quitestill,hereyesnotmoving.Shewas
bare
juststaring;andherface,asusual,wasthe
ansigt
faceofapatientandskuffet
disappointedMadonna.Obeyinganimpulseshe
undrede
wonderedatevenwhileobeyingit,Mrs.Wilkins,thegenert
shyandthereluctant,insteadoffortsætte
proceedingasshehadintendedtothecloakroomog
andfromthencetoSchoolbred’sinsearchofMellersh’sfisk
fish,stoppedatthetableog
andsatdownexactlyoppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomshehavde
hadneveryetspokeninherliv
life.Itwasoneofthoselong,
smalle
narrowrefectorytables,sothattheywereret
quiteclosetoeachother.Mrs.
Arbuthnot,
dog
however,didnotlookup.She
fortsatte
continuedtogaze,witheyesthatseemedtobedrømme
dreaming,atonespotonlyofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkins
så
watchedheraminute,tryingtoscrewupmod
couragetospeaktoher.She
ville
wantedtoaskherifshehavde
hadseentheadvertisement.Shedidnot
vidste
knowwhyshewantedtospørge
askherthis,butsheønskede
wantedto.Howstupidnottobe
kunne
abletospeaktoher.She
så
lookedsokind.Shelookedso
ulykkelig
unhappy.Whycouldn’ttwounhappy
mennesker
peoplerefresheachotherontheirvej
waythroughthisdustybusinessoflifebyen
alittletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheyfølte
felt,whattheywouldhavelide
liked,whattheystilltriedtohåbe
hope?Andshecouldnothelp
tænke
thinkingthatMrs.Arbuthnot,too,waslæste
readingthatverysameadvertisement.Hereyeswereon
den
theverypartofthepaper.Was
hun
she,too,picturingwhatitville
wouldbelike—thecolour,theduften
fragrance,thelight,thesoftlappingofthehavet
seaamonglittlehotrocks?Farve
Colour,fragrance,light,sea;insteadofShaftesbury
Avenue
Avenue,andthewetomnibuses,og
andthefishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,og
andtheTubetoHampstead,og
anddinner,andto-morrowthesamme
sameandthedayafterthesamme
sameandalwaysthesame...Pludselig
SuddenlyMrs.Wilkinsfoundherselfleaningover
acrossthetable.“Areyoureading
om
aboutthemediaevalcastleanddet
thewistaria?”sheheardherself
spørge
asking.NaturallyMrs.Arbuthnotwas
overrasket
surprised;butshewasnothalfsomuch
overrasket
surprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforspørge
asking.Mrs.
Arbuthnothadnot
endnu
yettoherknowledgeseteyesonden
theshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfiguresad
sittingoppositeher,withitslille
smallfreckledfaceandbiggrå
greyeyesalmostdisappearingunderasmashed-downwet-weatherhat,og
andshegazedatheraøjeblik
momentwithoutanswering.Shewasreading
om
aboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria,eller
orratherhadreadaboutitti
tenminutesbefore,andsincethenhavde
hadbeenlostindreams—oflys
light,ofcolour,offragrance,ofthesoftlappingofthehavet
seaamonglittlehotrocks...“Whydoyou
spørger
askmethat?”shesaidinher
alvorlig
gravevoice,forhertrainingofog
andbythepoorhadmadeheralvorlig
graveandpatient.Mrs.
Wilkinsflushed
og
andlookedexcessivelyshyandfrightened.“Oh,
kun
onlybecauseIsawitogså
too,andIthoughtperhaps—Itænkte
thoughtsomehow—”shestammered.
WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,her
sind
mindbeingusedtogettingfolk
peopleintolistsanddivisions,fromvane
habitconsidered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,under
underwhatheading,supposingshefå
hadtoclassifyher,shekunne
couldmostproperlybeput.“AndIknowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,who,like
alle
alltheshy,onceshewasbegyndt
startedplungedon,frighteningherselftomere
moreandmorespeechbytherene
sheersoundofwhatshehavde
hadsaidlastinherears.“EverySunday—I
ser
seeyoueverySundayinchurch—”.“Inchurch?”
echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Andthis
virker
seemssuchawonderfulthing—thisreklame
advertisementaboutthewistaria—and—”.Mrs.
Wilkins,
der
whomusthavebeenatmindst
leastthirty,brokeoffandwriggledinherstol
chairwiththemovementofen
anawkwardandembarrassedschoolgirl.“It
virker
seemssowonderful,”shewentoninen
akindofburst,“and—itissuchen
amiserableday...”Og
AndthenshesatlookingatMrs.Arbuthnotmed
withtheeyesofanimprisonedhund
dog.“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,
hvis
whoselifewasspentinhjælpe
helpingandalleviating,“needsadvice.”She
derfor
accordinglypreparedherselfpatientlytogive
giveit.“Ifyouseemeinchurch,”she
sagde
said,kindlyandattentively,“Ivel
supposeyouliveinHampsteadtoo?”“Ohyes,”
sagde
saidMrs.Wilkins.Andshe
gentog
repeated,herheadonitslongtynde
thinneckdroopingalittleasiftherecollectionofHampsteadbøjede
bowedher,“Ohyes.”“Where?”
spurgte
askedMrs.Arbuthnot,who,whenråd
advicewasneeded,naturallyfirstfortsatte
proceededtocollectthefacts.Men
ButMrs.Wilkins,layingherhånden
handsoftlyandcaressinglyonthedel
partofTheTimeswheretheadvertisementwas,asthoughthemeretrykte
printedwordsofitweredyrebare
precious,onlysaid,“Perhapsthat’sderfor
whythisseemssowonderful.”“No—I
synes
thinkthat’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,glemme
forgettingfactsandfaintlysighing.“Thenyouwere
læste
readingit?”“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyes
går
goingdreamyagain.“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”
murmuredMrs.Wilkins.
“Wonderful,”
sagde
saidMrs.Arbuthnot.Herface,
der
whichhadlitup,fadedintotålmodighed
patienceagain.“Verywonderful,”she
sagde
said.“Butit’snouse
spilde
wastingone’stimethinkingofsuchthings.”“Oh,
men
butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,surprisingsvar
reply;surprisingbecauseitwasso
meget
muchunliketherestofher—thecharacterlessfrakke
coatandskirt,thecrumpledhat
hat,theundecidedwispofhår
hairstragglingout.“Andjust
det
theconsideringofthemisværd
worthwhileinitself—suchaforandring
changefromHampstead—andsometimesIbelieve—Ivirkelig
reallydobelieve—ifoneconsidershårdt
hardenoughonegetsthings.”Mrs.
Arbuthnot
observerede
observedherpatiently.Inwhat
kategori
categorywouldshe,supposingshehadtil
to,puther?“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaning
fremad
forwardalittle,“youwillfortælle
tellmeyourname.Ifwearetobefriends”—shesmiledhergravesmile—“asI
håber
hopeweare,wehadbetterbegynde
beginatthebeginning.”“Ohyes—howkindofyou.
I’mMrs.Wilkins,”
sagde
saidMrs.Wilkins.“Idon’texpect,”she
tilføjede
added,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnotsagde
saidnothing,“thatitconveysanythingtoyou.Nogle gange
Sometimesit—itdoesn’tseemtoformidle
conveyanythingtomeeither.But”—she
kiggede
lookedroundwithamovementofsøge
seekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”Shedidnot
lide
likehername.Itwasamean,
lille
smallname,withakindoffacetioustwist
twist,shethought,aboutitsende
endliketheupwardcurveofapugdog’shale
tail.Thereitwas,however.
Der
Therewasnodoinganythingwithdet
it.WilkinsshewasandWilkinsshe
ville
wouldremain;andthoughher
mand
husbandencouragedhertogiveitonalle
alloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinsshekun
onlydidthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forshetroede
thoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthemåde
wayChatsworthonthegate-postsofen
avillaemphasisesthevilla.Da
Whenfirsthesuggestedsheskulle
shouldaddMellershshehadobjectedfortheovenstående
abovereason,andafterapause—Mellershwasmeget
muchtooprudenttospeakundtagen
exceptafterapause,duringwhichpresumablyhewastog
takingacarefulmentalcopyofhiscomingobservation—hesaid,meget
muchdispleased,“ButIamnoten
avilla,”andlookedatherashelookswhohåber
hopes,forperhapsthehundredthgang
time,thathemaynothar
havemarriedafool.Of
selvfølgelig
coursehewasnotavilla
villa,Mrs.Wilkinsassuredhim;she
havde
hadneversupposedhewas;she
havde
hadnotdreamedofmeaning...shewasonly
bare
justthinking...The
mere
moresheexplainedthemoreearnestblev
becameMellersh’shope,familiartohimbydette
thistime,forhehadthenbeenen
ahusbandfortwoyears,thathemightnotbynogen
anychancehavemarriedafool;og
andtheyhadaprolongedskænderi
quarrel,ifthatcanbecalledaskænderi
quarrelwhichisconductedwithværdig
dignifiedsilenceononesideog
andearnestapologyontheanden
other,astowhetherorikke
noMrs.Wilkinshadintendedtoantyde
suggestthatMr.Wilkinswasavilla
villa.“Ibelieve,”shehad
tænkt
thoughtwhenitwasatvar
lastover—ittookalongwhile—“thatnogen
anybodywouldquarrelaboutanythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeingsammen
togetherforasingledayforto
twowholeyears.Whatwe
begge
bothneedisaholiday.”“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,
forsøger
tryingtothrowsomelightonherself,“isen
asolicitor.He—”
Shecast
om
aboutforsomethingshecouldsige
sayelucidatoryofMellersh,andfandt
found:“He’sveryhandsome.”
“Well,”
sagde
saidMrs.Arbuthnotkindly,“thatmå
mustbeagreatpleasuretoyou.”“Why?”
spurgte
askedMrs.Wilkins.“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,
en
alittletakenaback,forkonstant
constantintercoursewiththepoorhadaccustomedhertofå
haveherpronouncementsacceptedwithoutspørgsmål
question,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isagiftsom
likeanyother,andifitisproperlyused—”.Shetrailedoffinto
stilhed
silence.Mrs.Wilkins’sgreatgreyeyeswerefixedonher,
og
anditseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotthatmåske
perhapsshewasbecomingcrystallisedintoavane
habitofexposition,andofexpositionafterthemåde
mannerofnursemaids,throughhavinganpublikum
audiencethatcouldn’tbutagree,thatville
wouldbeafraid,ifitønskede
wished,tointerrupt,thatdidn’tknow,thatwas,infaktisk
fact,athermercy.ButMrs.Wilkinswasnot
lyttede
listening;forjustthen,absurdasit
virkede
seemed,apicturehadflashedover
acrossherbrain,andtherewereto
twofiguresinitsittingsammen
togetherunderagreattrailingwistariathatstrakte
stretchedacrossthebranchesofatræ
treeshedidn’tknow,anditwasherselfog
andMrs.Arbuthnot—shesawthem—sheså
sawthem.Andbehindthem,brightinsunshine,were
gamle
oldgreywalls—themediaevalcastle—sheså
sawit—theywerethere...She
derfor
thereforestaredatMrs.Arbuthnotog
anddidnothearaord
wordshesaid.AndMrs.Arbuthnot
stirrede
staredtooatMrs.Wilkins,anholdt
arrestedbytheexpressiononheransigt
face,whichwassweptbythebegejstring
excitementofwhatshesaw,og
andwasasluminousandtremulousunder
underitaswaterinsollys
sunlightwhenitisruffledbyen
agustofwind.At
dette
thismoment,ifshehadbeenaten
aparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhave
havebeenlookedatwithinteresse
interest.Theystaredateachother;
Mrs.Arbuthnot
overraskede
surprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkinswiththeeyesofsomeoneder
whohashadarevelation.Of
selvfølgelig
course.Thatwashowit
kunne
couldbedone.Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’t
råd
affordit,andwouldn’tbestand
able,evenifshecouldråd
affordit,togothereallalene
alone;butsheandMrs.Arbuthnot
sammen
together...Sheleaned
over
acrossthetable.“Whydon’twe
prøver
tryandgetit?”she
hviskede
whispered.Mrs.
Arbuthnotbecameeven
mere
morewide-eyed.“Getit?”
she
gentog
repeated.“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,
stadig
stillasthoughshewerebange
afraidofbeingoverheard.“Not
bare
justsithereandsayHvor
Howwonderful,andthengohjem
hometoHampsteadwithouthavinglagt
putoutafinger—gohomebare
justasusualandseeaboutthedinnerog
andthefishjustaswe’vebeendoingforyearsog
andyearsandwillgoondoingforyearsog
andyears.Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingtotherootsofher
hår
hair,forthesoundofwhatshewassagde
saying,ofwhatwascomingpouringud
out,frightenedher,andyetshecouldn’tstoppe
stop,“Iseenoendtoit.Der
Thereisnoendtodet
it.Sothatthereoughttobe
en
abreak,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.Why,it
ville
wouldreallybebeingunselfishtogoawayog
andbehappyforalittle,becauseweville
wouldcomebacksomuchnicer.You
ser
see,afterabiteverybodyneedsen
aholiday.”“But—howdoyou
mener
mean,getit?”askedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Takeit,”
sagde
saidMrs.Wilkins.“Takeit?”