Chapter1
Itbeganin
sebuah
aWoman’sClubinLondononsebuah
aFebruaryafternoon—anuncomfortableclub,dan
andamiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,whohadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshopdan
andhadlunchedatherclub,mengambil
tookupTheTimesfromthetableinthesmoking-room,dan
andrunningherlistlesseyedowntheAgonyColumnmelihat
sawthis:.ToThosewhoAppreciateWistaria
dan
andSunshine.SmallmediaevalItalianCastleon
yang
theshoresoftheMediterraneantobeLetFurnishedforyang
themonthofApril.Necessaryservantsremain.
Z,Box1000,TheTimes.
Itu
Thatwasitsconception;yet,asin
yang
thecaseofmanyanother,yang
theconceiverwasunawareofitatyang
themoment.SoentirelyunawarewasMrs.WilkinsthatherAprilforthat
tahun
yearhadthenandtherebeensettledforherthatshedroppedthenewspaperdengan
withagesturethatwaskedua
bothirritatedandresigned,andpergi
wentovertothewindowdan
andstareddrearilyoutatthedrippingjalan
street.Notforherweremediaevalcastles,
bahkan
eventhosethatarespeciallydescribedaskecil
small.NotforhertheshoresinApriloftheMediterranean,
dan
andthewistariaandsunshine.Seperti
Suchdelightswereonlyfortherich.Namun
Yettheadvertisementhadbeenaddressedtoorang
personswhoappreciatethesethings,sothatithadbeen,anyhow,addressedjuga
tootoher,forshecertainlyappreciatedmereka
them;morethananybodyknew;
lebih
morethanshehadevertold.Tapi
Butshewaspoor.Inthe
seluruh
wholeworldshepossessedofherverymemiliki
ownonlyninetypounds,savedfromtahun
yeartoyear,putbycarefullypoundbypound,keluar
outofherdressallowance.Shehadscraped
ini
thissumtogetheratthesuggestionofherhusbandasashielddan
andrefugeagainstarainyhari
day.Herdressallowance,givenherbyherfather,was£100a
setahun
year,sothatMrs.Wilkins’sclotheswerewhatherhusband,urginghertomenghemat
save,calledmodestandbecoming,dan
andheracquaintancetoeachlain
other,whentheyspokeofheratall,whichwasseldomforshewassangat
verynegligible,calledaperfectsight.Mr.
Wilkins,
seorang
asolicitor,encouragedthrift,exceptthatbranchofitwhichgotintohisfood.Hedidnotcall
yang
thatthrift,hecalleditburuk
badhousekeeping.Butforthethriftwhich,
seperti
likemoth,penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’sclothesdan
andspoiltthem,hehadbanyak
muchpraise.“Youneverknow,”hesaid,“when
ada
therewillbearainyhari
day,andyoumaybesangat
verygladtofindyoumemiliki
haveanest-egg.Indeedwe
berdua
bothmay.”LookingoutoftheclubwindowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasaneconomicalclub,
tapi
butconvenientforHampstead,whereshetinggal
lived,andforShoolbred’s,wheresheshopped—Mrs.Wilkins,havingstood
sana
theresometimeverydrearily,hermind’seyeontheMediterraneaninApril,dan
andthewistaria,andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherich,sementara
whileherbodilyeyewatchedthereallyextremelyhorriblesootyrainjatuh
fallingsteadilyonthehurryingumbrellasdan
andsplashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedwhethermungkin
perhapsthiswasnottherainyhari
dayMellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsooftenencouragedhertopreparefor,dan
andwhethertogetoutofsuchaclimatedan
andintothesmallmediaevalcastlewasn’tmungkin
perhapswhatProvidencehadallalongintendedhertodowithhersavings.Bagian
Partofhersavings,ofsaja
course;perhapsquiteasmall
bagian
part.Thecastle,beingmediaeval,might
juga
alsobedilapidated,anddilapidationsweresurelycheap.Shewouldn’tintheleast
keberatan
mindafewofthem,karena
becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidationswhichweresudah
alreadythere;onthecontrary—byreducing
yang
thepriceyouhadtopaytheyreallypaidyou.Tapi
Butwhatnonsensetothinkofit...She
berpaling
turnedawayfromthewindowwiththesama
samegestureofmingledirritationdan
andresignationwithwhichshehadlaiddownTheTimes,dan
andcrossedtheroomtowardsthepintu
doorwiththeintentionofmendapatkan
gettinghermackintoshandumbrelladan
andfightingherwayintooneoftheovercrowdedomnibusesdan
andgoingtoShoolbred’sonherwaypulang
homeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultwithfishdan
andlikedonlysoles,exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,seorang
awomansheknewbysightasjuga
alsolivinginHampsteadandbelongingtotheclub,duduk
sittingatthetableinthemiddleoftheroomonwhichthenewspapersdan
andmagazineswerekept,absorbed,inherberpaling
turn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkinshadnever
belum
yetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,whobelongedtooneofthevariouschurchsets,dan
andwhoanalysed,classified,divideddan
andregisteredthepoor;whereasshe
dan
andMellersh,whentheydidpergi
goout,wenttothepartiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadada
thereweremany.Mellershhada
saudara
sisterwhohadmarriedoneofthemdan
andlivedupontheHeath,dan
andbecauseofthisallianceMrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacirclewhichwashighlyunnaturaltoher,dan
andshehadlearnedtodreadpictures.Shehadto
mengatakan
saythingsaboutthem,andshedidn’ttahu
knowwhattosay.Sheusedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”
dan
andfeelthatitwasnotcukup
enough.Butnobodyminded.
Nobody
mendengarkan
listened.NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.
Shewasthe
jenis
kindofpersonwhoisnotnoticedatparties.Herclothes,infestedbythrift,madeherpracticallyinvisible;
herfacewasnon-arresting;
herconversationwasreluctant;
shewasshy.
Dan
Andifone’sclothesandwajah
faceandconversationareallnegligible,thoughtMrs.Wilkins,whorecognisedherdisabilities,apa
what,atparties,isthereleftofone?Juga
AlsoshewasalwayswithWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingpria
man,whogaveaparty,merelybydatang
comingtoit,agreatudara
air.Wilkinswasveryrespectable.
Hewasknowntobehighlythoughtofbyhisseniorpartners.
Hissister’scircleadmiredhim.
Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentsonart
dan
andartists.Hewaspithy;
hewasprudent;
he
pernah
neversaidawordtoobanyak
much,nor,ontheothersisi
hand,didheeversayakata
wordtoolittle.Heproduced
yang
theimpressionofkeepingcopiesofeverythinghesaid;dan
andhewassoobviouslyreliablethatitoftenterjadi
happenedthatpeoplewhomethimatini
thesepartiesbecamediscontentedwiththeirsendiri
ownsolicitors,andafteraperiodofrestlessnessextricatedthemselvesdan
andwenttoWilkins.NaturallyMrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.
“She,”saidhis
saudara
sister,withsomethingherselfofthejudicial,thedigested,dan
andthefinalinhermanner,“shouldtinggal
stayathome.”ButWilkins
bisa
couldnotleavehiswifeatrumah
home.Hewasafamilysolicitor,
dan
andallsuchhavewivesdan
andshowthem.Withhisintheweekhe
pergi
wenttoparties,andwithhisonSundayshepergi
wenttochurch.Beingstillfairlyyoung—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomhehadnot
belum
yetacquiredinhispracticeasufficientjumlah
number,hecouldnotaffordtomisschurch,dan
anditwastherethatMrs.Wilkinsmenjadi
becamefamiliar,thoughneverthroughwords,dengan
withMrs.Arbuthnot.Shesawhermarshallingthe
anak
childrenofthepoorintopews.She
akan
wouldcomeinatthekepala
headoftheprocessionfromyang
theSundaySchoolexactlyfiveminutessebelum
beforethechoir,andgetherboysdan
andgirlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,dan
anddownontheirlittlekneesintheirpreliminaryprayer,dan
andupagainontheirfeetjustseperti
as,totheswellingorgan,yang
thevestrydooropened,andyang
thechoirandclergy,bigdengan
withthelitaniesandcommandmentstheywerepresentlytorollout,emerged.She
memiliki
hadasadface,yetshewasevidentlyefficient.Thecombination
digunakan
usedtomakeMrs.Wilkinswonder,forshehadbeentoldbyMellersh,ondaysketika
whenshehadonlybeenabletogetplaice,thatjika
ifonewereefficientonewouldn’tbedepressed,dan
andthatifonedoesone’spekerjaan
jobwellonebecomesautomaticallybrightdan
andbrisk.AboutMrs.Arbuthnot
ada
therewasnothingbrightandbrisk,meskipun
thoughmuchinherwaydengan
withtheSundaySchoolchildrenthatwasautomatic;but
ketika
whenMrs.Wilkins,turningfromthewindow,caughtsightofherintheclubshewasnotbeingautomaticatall,butwasmelihat
lookingfixedlyatoneportionofthepertama
firstpageofTheTimes,memegang
holdingthepaperquitestill,hereyesnotbergerak
moving.Shewasjuststaring;
dan
andherface,asusual,wasyang
thefaceofapatientdan
anddisappointedMadonna.Obeyinganimpulseshewonderedat
bahkan
evenwhileobeyingit,Mrs.Wilkins,yang
theshyandthereluctant,insteadofproceedingasshehadintendedtoyang
thecloakroomandfromthencetoSchoolbred’sinsearchofMellersh’sfish,berhenti
stoppedatthetableandduduk
satdownexactlyoppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomshehadneverbelum
yetspokeninherlife.Itwasoneofthose
panjang
long,narrowrefectorytables,sothattheywerecukup
quiteclosetoeachother.Mrs.
Arbuthnot,however,didnot
melihat
lookup.Shecontinuedtogaze,
dengan
witheyesthatseemedtobedreaming,atsatu
onespotonlyofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkinswatchedheraminute,
mencoba
tryingtoscrewupcouragetoberbicara
speaktoher.Shewantedto
bertanya
askherifshehadmelihat
seentheadvertisement.Shedidnot
tahu
knowwhyshewantedtobertanya
askherthis,butsheingin
wantedto.Howstupidnottobe
bisa
abletospeaktoher.She
terlihat
lookedsokind.Shelookedsounhappy.
Mengapa
Whycouldn’ttwounhappypeoplerefresheachlain
otherontheirwaythroughthisdustybisnis
businessoflifebyasedikit
littletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheyfelt,whattheywouldhavesuka
liked,whattheystilltriedtoberharap
hope?Andshecouldnot
membantu
helpthinkingthatMrs.Arbuthnot,juga
too,wasreadingthatverysama
sameadvertisement.Hereyeswereonthevery
bagian
partofthepaper.Was
dia
she,too,picturingwhatitakan
wouldbelike—thecolour,thefragrance,thecahaya
light,thesoftlappingoftheseaamongkecil
littlehotrocks?Colour,fragrance,
cahaya
light,sea;insteadofShaftesburyAvenue,
dan
andthewetomnibuses,andthefishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,dan
andtheTubetoHampstead,dan
anddinner,andto-morrowthesama
sameandthedayafterthesama
sameandalwaysthesame...SuddenlyMrs.Wilkins
menemukan
foundherselfleaningacrossthetable.“Areyou
membaca
readingaboutthemediaevalcastledan
andthewistaria?”sheheardherself
bertanya
asking.NaturallyMrs.Arbuthnotwassurprised;
tapi
butshewasnothalfsomuchsurprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforbertanya
asking.Mrs.
Arbuthnothadnot
belum
yettoherknowledgeseteyesontheshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfigureduduk
sittingoppositeher,withitskecil
smallfreckledfaceandbiggreyeyeshampir
almostdisappearingunderasmashed-downwet-weatherhat,dan
andshegazedatheramomenttanpa
withoutanswering.Shewasreading
tentang
aboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria,atau
orratherhadreadaboutitsepuluh
tenminutesbefore,andsincethenhadbeenhilang
lostindreams—oflight,ofcolour,offragrance,ofthesoftlappingoftheseaamongkecil
littlehotrocks...“Whydoyou
bertanya
askmethat?”shesaidinhergravevoice,forhertrainingof
dan
andbythepoorhadmadehergravedan
andpatient.Mrs.
Wilkinsflushed
dan
andlookedexcessivelyshyandfrightened.“Oh,
hanya
onlybecauseIsawitjuga
too,andIthoughtperhaps—Ithoughtsomehow—”shestammered.
WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,hermindbeing
digunakan
usedtogettingpeopleintolistsdan
anddivisions,fromhabitconsidered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,underwhatheading,supposingshehadtoclassifyher,shebisa
couldmostproperlybeput.“AndI
tahu
knowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,who,seperti
likealltheshy,onceshewasmulai
startedplungedon,frighteningherselftolebih
moreandmorespeechbythesheersuara
soundofwhatshehadsaidterakhir
lastinherears.“EverySunday—I
melihat
seeyoueverySundayinchurch—”.“Inchurch?”
echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“And
ini
thisseemssuchawonderfulthing—thisadvertisementtentang
aboutthewistaria—and—”.Mrs.
Wilkins,whomusthavebeenat
setidaknya
leastthirty,brokeoffandwriggledinherchairdengan
withthemovementofanawkwarddan
andembarrassedschoolgirl.“Itseemssowonderful,”shewentoninakindofburst,“and—itissuchamiserable
hari
day...”Andthenshe
duduk
satlookingatMrs.Arbuthnotdengan
withtheeyesofanimprisonedanjing
dog.“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,whoselifewasspentin
membantu
helpingandalleviating,“needsadvice.”Sheaccordinglypreparedherselfpatientlytogive
itu
it.“Ifyouseemeinchurch,”shesaid,kindly
dan
andattentively,“Isupposeyoutinggal
liveinHampsteadtoo?”“Ohyes,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
Dan
Andsherepeated,herheadonitslongthinneckdroopingasedikit
littleasiftherecollectionofHampsteadbowedher,“Ohyes.”“Where?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot,who,
ketika
whenadvicewasneeded,naturallyfirstproceededtocollectthefacts.Tapi
ButMrs.Wilkins,layingherhandsoftlydan
andcaressinglyonthepartofYang
TheTimeswheretheadvertisementwas,asthoughyang
themereprintedwordsofitwereprecious,onlymengatakan
said,“Perhapsthat’swhythisseemssowonderful.”“No—I
pikir
thinkthat’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,melupakan
forgettingfactsandfaintlysighing.“Thenyouwerereadingit?”
“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyesgoingdreamy
lagi
again.“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”
murmuredMrs.Wilkins.
“Wonderful,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot.
Herface,
yang
whichhadlitup,fadedintopatiencelagi
again.“Verywonderful,”shesaid.
“Butit’s
tidak
nousewastingone’stimethinkingofseperti
suchthings.”“Oh,butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,surprisingreply;
surprising
karena
becauseitwassomuchunlikeyang
therestofher—thecharacterlesscoatdan
andskirt,thecrumpledhat,yang
theundecidedwispofhairstragglingout.“And
hanya
justtheconsideringofthemisworthsementara
whileinitself—suchachangefromHampstead—andkadang
sometimesIbelieve—Ireallydobelieve—ifsatu
oneconsidershardenoughonemendapatkan
getsthings.”Mrs.
Arbuthnotobservedherpatiently.
Inwhatcategorywould
dia
she,supposingshehadto,puther?“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaningforwarda
sedikit
little,“youwilltellmeyourname.Jika
Ifwearetobefriends”—shesmiledhergravesmile—“asIharap
hopeweare,wehadbetterbeginatthebeginning.”“Ohyes—howkindofyou.
I’mMrs.Wilkins,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Idon’texpect,”sheadded,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnot
mengatakan
saidnothing,“thatitconveysanythingtoyou.Kadang
Sometimesit—itdoesn’tseemtoconveyapa
anythingtomeeither.But”—she
melihat
lookedroundwithamovementofseekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”Shedidnot
suka
likehername.Itwasamean,
kecil
smallname,withakindoffacetioustwist,shethought,tentang
aboutitsendliketheupwardcurveofapugdog’stail.Thereitwas,however.
Ada
Therewasnodoinganythingdengan
withit.Wilkinsshewas
dan
andWilkinsshewouldremain;dan
andthoughherhusbandencouragedhertomemberikan
giveitonalloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinsshehanya
onlydidthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forsheberpikir
thoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthecara
wayChatsworthonthegate-postsofavillaemphasisesthevilla.Ketika
Whenfirsthesuggestedsheharus
shouldaddMellershshehadobjectedfortheabovealasan
reason,andafterapause—Mellershwasjauh
muchtooprudenttospeakexceptsetelah
afterapause,duringwhichpresumablyhewasmengambil
takingacarefulmentalcopyofhisdatang
comingobservation—hesaid,muchdispleased,“ButIamnotavilla,”dan
andlookedatherashemelihat
lookswhohopes,forperhapsthehundredthkali
time,thathemaynottelah
havemarriedafool.Of
saja
coursehewasnotavilla,Mrs.Wilkinsassuredhim;shehad
pernah
neversupposedhewas;shehadnotdreamedofmeaning...
shewasonlyjust
berpikir
thinking...Themoresheexplainedthemoreearnest
menjadi
becameMellersh’shope,familiartohimbyini
thistime,forhehadthenbeenasuami
husbandfortwoyears,thathemightnotbyanykebetulan
chancehavemarriedafool;dan
andtheyhadaprolongedquarrel,jika
ifthatcanbecalledaquarrelwhichisconducteddengan
withdignifiedsilenceononesisi
sideandearnestapologyonthelain
other,astowhetherortidak
noMrs.WilkinshadintendedtosuggestthatMr.Wilkinswasavilla.“Ibelieve,”shehad
berpikir
thoughtwhenitwasatlastover—ittookalama
longwhile—“thatanybodywouldquarreltentang
aboutanythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeingbersama
togetherforasingledayfordua
twowholeyears.Whatwe
berdua
bothneedisaholiday.”“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,
mencoba
tryingtothrowsomelightonherself,“isasolicitor.He—”
Shecast
tentang
aboutforsomethingshecouldmengatakan
sayelucidatoryofMellersh,andmenemukan
found:“He’sveryhandsome.”
“Well,”saidMrs.Arbuthnotkindly,“thatmustbeagreatpleasuretoyou.”
“Why?”
askedMrs.Wilkins.
“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,a
sedikit
littletakenaback,forconstantintercoursedengan
withthepoorhadaccustomedhertomemiliki
haveherpronouncementsacceptedwithoutpertanyaan
question,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isagiftseperti
likeanyother,andifitisproperlyused—”.Shetrailedoffintosilence.
Mrs.Wilkins’s
besar
greatgreyeyeswerefixedonnya
her,anditseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotthatmungkin
perhapsshewasbecomingcrystallisedintoahabitofexposition,dan
andofexpositionafterthemannerofnursemaids,melalui
throughhavinganaudiencethatcouldn’ttetapi
butagree,thatwouldbetakut
afraid,ifitwished,tointerrupt,thatdidn’ttahu
know,thatwas,infact,athermercy.Tapi
ButMrs.Wilkinswasnotmendengarkan
listening;forjustthen,absurdasitseemed,
sebuah
apicturehadflashedacrossherbrain,dan
andthereweretwofiguresinitduduk
sittingtogetherunderagreattrailingwistariathatstretchedacrossthebranchesofsebuah
atreeshedidn’tknow,dan
anditwasherselfandMrs.Arbuthnot—shemelihat
sawthem—shesawthem.And
belakang
behindthem,brightinsunshine,weretua
oldgreywalls—themediaevalcastle—shesawit—theywerethere...ShethereforestaredatMrs.Arbuthnot
dan
anddidnothearakata
wordshesaid.AndMrs.Arbuthnotstared
juga
tooatMrs.Wilkins,arrestedbytheexpressiononherface,whichwassweptbytheexcitementofwhatshelihat
saw,andwasasluminousdan
andtremulousunderitasair
waterinsunlightwhenitisruffledbyagustofwind.At
ini
thismoment,ifshehadbeenatsebuah
aparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhavebeenlookedatdengan
withinterest.Theystaredateachother;
Mrs.Arbuthnotsurprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkins
dengan
withtheeyesofsomeonewhomemiliki
hashadarevelation.Of
saja
course.Thatwashowit
bisa
couldbedone.Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’taffordit,
dan
andwouldn’tbeable,evenjika
ifshecouldaffordit,topergi
gothereallalone;butshe
dan
andMrs.Arbuthnottogether...Sheleanedacrossthetable.
“Whydon’twe
mencoba
tryandgetit?”shewhispered.
Mrs.
Arbuthnot
menjadi
becameevenmorewide-eyed.“Getit?”
sherepeated.
“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,
masih
stillasthoughsheweretakut
afraidofbeingoverheard.“Not
hanya
justsithereandsayBagaimana
Howwonderful,andthengopulang
hometoHampsteadwithouthavingputoutafinger—gopulang
homejustasusualandmelihat
seeaboutthedinnerandyang
thefishjustaswe’vebeenmelakukan
doingforyearsandyearsdan
andwillgoondoingforyearsdan
andyears.Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingto
yang
therootsofherhair,foryang
thesoundofwhatshewassaying,ofwhatwasdatang
comingpouringout,frightenedher,andnamun
yetshecouldn’tstop,“Imelihat
seenoendtoit.Ada
Thereisnoendtoitu
it.Sothatthereoughttobea
istirahat
break,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.Mengapa
Why,itwouldreallybebeingunselfishtogoawaydan
andbehappyforasedikit
little,becausewewouldcomekembali
backsomuchnicer.You
lihat
see,afterabiteverybodymembutuhkan
needsaholiday.”“But—howdoyoumean,getit?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Takeit,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Takeit?”