Chapter1
Itbeganin
un
aWoman’sClubinLondononun
aFebruaryafternoon—anuncomfortableclub,e
andamiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,che
whohadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshope
andhadlunchedatherclub
club,tookupTheTimesfromthetavolo
tableinthesmoking-room,andrunningherlistlesseyegiù
downtheAgonyColumnsawquesto
this:.ToThosewhoAppreciateWistaria
e
andSunshine.SmallmediaevalItalian
Castello
Castleontheshoresofil
theMediterraneantobeLetFurnishedforil
themonthofApril.Necessaryservants
rimangono
remain.Z,Box1000,TheTimes.
Thatwasits
concezione
conception;yet,asinthe
caso
caseofmanyanother,theconceiverwasunawareofitatthemomento
moment.SoentirelyunawarewasMrs.Wilkins
che
thatherAprilforthatyearhadthene
andtherebeensettledforherche
thatshedroppedthenewspaperwithun
agesturethatwasbothirritato
irritatedandresigned,andwentovertothefinestra
windowandstareddrearilyoutatthegocciolante
drippingstreet.Notforherweremediaevalcastles,eventhose
che
thatarespeciallydescribedassmall.Notforhertheshoresin
Aprile
ApriloftheMediterranean,andthewistariae
andsunshine.Suchdelightswere
solo
onlyfortherich.Yettheadvertisement
ha
hadbeenaddressedtopersonswhoapprezzano
appreciatethesethings,sothatitha
hadbeen,anyhow,addressedtootoher,forshecertamente
certainlyappreciatedthem;morethan
chiunque
anybodyknew;morethanshe
avesse
hadevertold.Butshewaspoor.
In
il
thewholeworldshepossessedofherveryproprio
ownonlyninetypounds,savedfromanno
yeartoyear,putbyaccuratamente
carefullypoundbypound,outofhervestito
dressallowance.Shehadscraped
questa
thissumtogetheratthesuggerimento
suggestionofherhusbandasun
ashieldandrefugeagainstun
arainyday.Herdress
indennità
allowance,givenherbyherpadre
father,was£100ayear,sothatMrs.Wilkins’svestiti
clotheswerewhatherhusband,urginghertorisparmiare
save,calledmodestandbecoming,e
andheracquaintancetoeachother,quando
whentheyspokeofheratall,whichwasraramente
seldomforshewasverynegligible,chiamava
calledaperfectsight.Mr.
Wilkins,
un
asolicitor,encouragedthrift,exceptthatramo
branchofitwhichgotintohiscibo
food.Hedidnotcallthatthrift,he
chiamava
calleditbadhousekeeping.Butfor
la
thethriftwhich,likemoth,penetrò
penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’sclothese
andspoiltthem,hehadmuchpraise.“Youneverknow,”he
disse
said,“whentherewillbeun
arainyday,andyoumaybeveryfelice
gladtofindyouhaveun
anest-egg.Indeedwebothmay.”
Guardando
Lookingoutoftheclubfinestra
windowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasun
aneconomicalclub,butconvenientforHampstead,dove
whereshelived,andforShoolbred’s,dove
wheresheshopped—Mrs.Wilkins,havingstoodtheresome
tempo
timeverydrearily,hermind’seyeontheMediterraneo
MediterraneaninApril,andthewistaria,e
andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherich,mentre
whileherbodilyeyewatchedthedavvero
reallyextremelyhorriblesootyraincadeva
fallingsteadilyonthehurryingumbrellase
andsplashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedse
whetherperhapsthiswasnotthepiovoso
rainydayMellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsooftenencouragedhertopreparefor,e
andwhethertogetoutofsuchun
aclimateandintothesmallmediaevalcastlewasn’tforse
perhapswhatProvidencehadallalongintendedhertodowithhersavings.Parte
Partofhersavings,ofcourse;forse
perhapsquiteasmallpart.The
castello
castle,beingmediaeval,mightalsobedilapidated,e
anddilapidationsweresurelycheap.Shewouldn’tin
le
theleastmindafewofloro
them,becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidationsche
whichwerealreadythere;on
il
thecontrary—byreducingthepriceyouhanno
hadtopaytheyreallypaidyou.Ma
Butwhatnonsensetothinkofit...Sheturnedawayfromthe
finestra
windowwiththesamegestureofmingledirritatione
andresignationwithwhichsheaveva
hadlaiddownTheTimes,e
andcrossedtheroomtowardstheporta
doorwiththeintentionofgettinghermackintoshe
andumbrellaandfightingherstrada
wayintooneoftheovercrowdedomnibusese
andgoingtoShoolbred’sonherstrada
wayhomeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultwithfishe
andlikedonlysoles,exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,awomansheknewbysightasalsolivinginHampsteade
andbelongingtotheclub,sittingatthetableinthemiddleoftheroomoncui
whichthenewspapersandmagazineswerekept,absorbed,inherturn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkins
aveva
hadneveryetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,che
whobelongedtooneofthevari
variouschurchsets,andwhoanalysed,classified,divideva
dividedandregisteredthepoor;whereasshe
e
andMellersh,whentheydidandavano
goout,wenttothepartiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadthereweremolti
many.Mellershhadasisterwho
aveva
hadmarriedoneoftheme
andlivedupontheHeath
Heath,andbecauseofthisalleanza
allianceMrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacerchio
circlewhichwashighlyunnaturaltoher,e
andshehadlearnedtotemere
dreadpictures.Shehadto
dire
saythingsaboutthem,andshedidn’tsapeva
knowwhattosay.Sheusedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”
e
andfeelthatitwasnotabbastanza
enough.Butnobodyminded.
Nobody
ascoltato
listened.NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.
Shewas
il
thekindofpersonwhoisnotnotava
noticedatparties.Herclothes,infestedbythrift,
rendevano
madeherpracticallyinvisible;her
faccia
facewasnon-arresting;herconversationwas
riluttante
reluctant;shewasshy.
And
se
ifone’sclothesandfacee
andconversationareallnegligible,pensò
thoughtMrs.Wilkins,whorecognisedherdisabilities,cosa
what,atparties,isthereleftofuno
one?AlsoshewasalwayswithWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingman,who
dava
gaveaparty,merelybyvenendo
comingtoit,agreataria
air.Wilkinswasveryrespectable.
Hewasknowntobehighlythoughtofbyhisseniorpartners.
Hissister’scircle
ammirava
admiredhim.Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentsonart
e
andartists.Hewaspithy;
hewasprudent;
henever
detto
saidawordtoomuch,né
nor,ontheotherhand,didheeverdetto
sayawordtoolittle.Heproducedtheimpressionof
tenere
keepingcopiesofeverythinghedetto
said;andhewasso
ovviamente
obviouslyreliablethatitoftenaccadeva
happenedthatpeoplewhomethimatthesepartiesdiventassero
becamediscontentedwiththeirownsolicitors,e
andafteraperiodofinquietudine
restlessnessextricatedthemselvesandwenttoWilkins.Naturalmente
NaturallyMrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.“She,”
disse
saidhissister,withsomethingherselfofthegiudiziario
judicial,thedigested,andthefinale
finalinhermanner,“shouldstayathome.”Ma
ButWilkinscouldnotleavehismoglie
wifeathome.Hewas
un
afamilysolicitor,andallsuchhanno
havewivesandshowthem.Withhisinthe
settimana
weekhewenttoparties,e
andwithhisonSundaysheandava
wenttochurch.Beingstill
abbastanza
fairlyyoung—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomheaveva
hadnotyetacquiredinhispracticeun
asufficientnumber,hecouldnotpermettersi
affordtomisschurch,anditwasthereche
thatMrs.Wilkinsbecamefamiliar,anche se
thoughneverthroughwords,withMrs.Arbuthnot.Shesawhermarshalling
i
thechildrenofthepoorintopews.She
essere
wouldcomeinatthetesta
headoftheprocessionfromtheSundayScuola
Schoolexactlyfiveminutesbeforethecoro
choir,andgetherboyse
andgirlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,e
anddownontheirlittlekneesintheirpreliminare
preliminaryprayer,andupagainontheirfeetproprio
justas,totheswellingorgan,thevestryporta
dooropened,andthechoire
andclergy,bigwiththelitaniese
andcommandmentstheywerepresentlytorolluscivano
out,emerged.Shehada
triste
sadface,yetshewasevidentemente
evidentlyefficient.ThecombinationusedtomakeMrs.Wilkins
meravigliare
wonder,forshehadbeendetto
toldbyMellersh,ondayswhenshehadsolo
onlybeenabletogetplaice,che
thatifonewereefficientuno
onewouldn’tbedepressed,andche
thatifonedoesone’slavoro
jobwellonebecomesautomaticallyluminoso
brightandbrisk.AboutMrs.Arbuthnottherewas
nulla
nothingbrightandbrisk,thoughmuchinhermodo
waywiththeSundaySchoolbambini
childrenthatwasautomatic;but
quando
whenMrs.Wilkins,turningfromthefinestra
window,caughtsightofherintheclub
clubshewasnotbeingautomaticatall,ma
butwaslookingfixedlyatuna
oneportionofthefirstpagina
pageofTheTimes,holdingthepaperabbastanza
quitestill,hereyesnotmoving.Shewas
solo
juststaring;andherface,as
solito
usual,wasthefaceofuna
apatientanddisappointedMadonna.Obeying
un
animpulseshewonderedatevenmentre
whileobeyingit,Mrs.Wilkins,theshye
andthereluctant,insteadofprocedere
proceedingasshehadintendedtothecloakroome
andfromthencetoSchoolbred’sincerca
searchofMellersh’sfish,stoppedatthetavolo
tableandsatdownexactlydi fronte
oppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomsheaveva
hadneveryetspokeninhervita
life.Itwasoneofthoselong,narrowrefectorytables,so
che
thattheywerequiteclosetoeachother.Mrs.
Arbuthnot,however,didnot
sguardo
lookup.Shecontinuedtogaze,witheyes
che
thatseemedtobedreaming,atun
onespotonlyofTheTimes.Mrs.
Wilkinswatchedher
un
aminute,tryingtoscrewupcoraggio
couragetospeaktoher.Shewantedtoaskher
se
ifshehadseentheadvertisement.Shedidnot
sapeva
knowwhyshewantedtoaskherquesto
this,butshewantedto.How
stupido
stupidnottobeabletospeaktoher.Shelookedsokind.
Shelookedso
infelice
unhappy.Whycouldn’ttwounhappy
persone
peoplerefresheachotherontheirwaythroughquesto
thisdustybusinessoflifebyuna
alittletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheysentivano
felt,whattheywouldhaveliked,whattheyancora
stilltriedtohope?Andshecouldnothelp
pensare
thinkingthatMrs.Arbuthnot,too,wasleggendo
readingthatverysameadvertisement.Hereyeswereon
i
theverypartofthepaper.Was
lei
she,too,picturingwhatitwouldbelike—thecolore
colour,thefragrance,thelight,thesoftlappingofthemare
seaamonglittlehotrocks?Colore
Colour,fragrance,light,sea;insteadofShaftesburyAvenue,
e
andthewetomnibuses,andthepesce
fishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,andtheMetropolitana
TubetoHampstead,anddinner,e
andto-morrowthesameandthegiorno
dayafterthesameandsempre
alwaysthesame...SuddenlyMrs.Wilkins
trovò
foundherselfleaningacrossthetavolo
table.“Areyoureadingaboutthemediaeval
castello
castleandthewistaria?”sheheardherself
chiedere
asking.NaturallyMrs.Arbuthnotwassurprised;
ma
butshewasnothalfsomuchsorpreso
surprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforchiesto
asking.Mrs.
Arbuthnothadnot
ancora
yettoherknowledgeseteyesonla
theshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfigureseduto
sittingoppositeher,withitssmallfreckledfaccia
faceandbiggreyeyesquasi
almostdisappearingunderasmashed-downwet-weathercappello
hat,andshegazedatherun
amomentwithoutanswering.Shewasreadingaboutthemediaeval
castello
castleandthewistaria,orratheraveva
hadreadaboutittenminutesprima
before,andsincethenhadbeenlostindreams—ofluce
light,ofcolour,offragrance,ofthemorbido
softlappingoftheseatra
amonglittlehotrocks...“Whydoyou
chiedi
askmethat?”shesaidinher
grave
gravevoice,forhertrainingofe
andbythepoorhadmadehergrave
graveandpatient.Mrs.
Wilkinsflushed
e
andlookedexcessivelyshyandspaventato
frightened.“Oh,onlybecauseI
visto
sawittoo,andIpensato
thoughtperhaps—Ithoughtsomehow—”shestammered.
WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,her
mente
mindbeingusedtogettingpersone
peopleintolistsanddivisions,fromhabitconsidered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,sotto
underwhatheading,supposingshehadtoclassifysua
her,shecouldmostproperlybemettere
put.“AndIknowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,
che
who,likealltheshy,volta
onceshewasstartedplungedon,frighteningherselftopiù
moreandmorespeechbythesheersuono
soundofwhatshehaddetto
saidlastinherears.“EverySunday—I
vedo
seeyoueverySundayinchurch—”.“Inchurch?”
echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“And
questa
thisseemssuchawonderfulthing—thisadvertisementaboutthewistaria—and—”.Mrs.
Wilkins,
che
whomusthavebeenatalmeno
leastthirty,brokeoffandwriggledinhersedia
chairwiththemovementofuna
anawkwardandembarrassedschoolgirl.“Itseemssowonderful,”shewentonin
una
akindofburst,“and—itissuchuna
amiserableday...”E
AndthenshesatlookingatMrs.Arbuthnotwithla
theeyesofanimprisonedcane
dog.“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,whose
vita
lifewasspentinhelpinge
andalleviating,“needsadvice.”She
di conseguenza
accordinglypreparedherselfpatientlytogiveit.“Ifyou
vedi
seemeinchurch,”shedisse
said,kindlyandattentively,“Isupposeyouabiti
liveinHampsteadtoo?”“Ohyes,”
disse
saidMrs.Wilkins.Andshe
ripeté
repeated,herheadonitslungo
longthinneckdroopingalittleasse
iftherecollectionofHampsteadbowedher,“Ohyes.”“Where?”
chiesto
askedMrs.Arbuthnot,who,whenconsiglio
advicewasneeded,naturallyfirstproceduto
proceededtocollectthefacts.Ma
ButMrs.Wilkins,layinghermano
handsoftlyandcaressinglyontheparte
partofTheTimeswheretheadvertisementwas,asthoughthemerestampate
printedwordsofitwereprecious,solo
onlysaid,“Perhapsthat’swhyquesto
thisseemssowonderful.”“No—I
penso
thinkthat’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,dimenticando
forgettingfactsandfaintlysighing.“Thenyouwere
leggendo
readingit?”“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyesgoingdreamy
di nuovo
again.“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”
murmuredMrs.Wilkins.
“Wonderful,”
disse
saidMrs.Arbuthnot.Herface,
che
whichhadlitup,fadedintopazienza
patienceagain.“Verywonderful,”she
disse
said.“Butit’snouse
sprecare
wastingone’stimethinkingofsuchthings.”“Oh,
ma
butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,sorprendente
surprisingreply;surprisingbecauseitwassomuch
diverso
unliketherestofher—thecharacterlesscappotto
coatandskirt,thecrumpledcappello
hat,theundecidedwispofcapelli
hairstragglingout.“Andjusttheconsideringofthemis
vale
worthwhileinitself—suchacambiamento
changefromHampstead—andsometimesIbelieve—Idavvero
reallydobelieve—ifoneconsidershardabbastanza
enoughonegetsthings.”Mrs.
Arbuthnot
osservava
observedherpatiently.Inwhat
categoria
categorywouldshe,supposingshehadto,metterebbe
puther?“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaningforward
un
alittle,“youwilltellmeyournome
name.Ifwearetobefriends”—she
sorriso
smiledhergravesmile—“asIhopewesiamo
are,wehadbetterbeginatil
thebeginning.”“Ohyes—howkindofyou.
I’mMrs.Wilkins,”
disse
saidMrs.Wilkins.“Idon’texpect,”she
aggiunse
added,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnotdiceva
saidnothing,“thatitconveysanythingtoyou.A volte
Sometimesit—itdoesn’tseemtotrasmettere
conveyanythingtomeeither.But”—she
guardò
lookedroundwithamovementofseekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”Shedidnotlikeher
nome
name.Itwasamean,
piccolo
smallname,withakindoffacetioustwist,shepensò
thought,aboutitsendliketheupwardcurva
curveofapugdog’stail.Thereitwas,however.
Therewas
non
nodoinganythingwithit.Wilkinsshewas
e
andWilkinsshewouldremain;e
andthoughherhusbandencouragedhertogiveitontutte
alloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinsshesolo
onlydidthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forshepensava
thoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthemodo
wayChatsworthonthegate-postsofuna
avillaemphasisesthevilla.Quando
Whenfirsthesuggestedshedovesse
shouldaddMellershshehadobjectedforla
theabovereason,andafterapause—Mellershwasmuchtooprudenttoparlare
speakexceptafterapause,duringwhichpresumibilmente
presumablyhewastakingacarefulmentale
mentalcopyofhiscomingobservation—hedisse
said,muchdispleased,“ButIamnotavilla,”e
andlookedatherasheguardò
lookswhohopes,forperhapsla
thehundredthtime,thathemaynothavesposato
marriedafool.Ofcoursehewasnot
una
avilla,Mrs.Wilkinsassuredlo
him;shehadneversupposedhewas;
she
aveva
hadnotdreamedofmeaning...shewasonlyjust
pensando
thinking...The
più
moresheexplainedthemoreearnestdiventava
becameMellersh’shope,familiartohimbythistempo
time,forhehadthenbeenamarito
husbandfortwoyears,thathepotesse
mightnotbyanychancehavemarriedafool;e
andtheyhadaprolongedlite
quarrel,ifthatcanbechiamare
calledaquarrelwhichisconductedwithdignitoso
dignifiedsilenceononesidee
andearnestapologyontheother,astowhethero
ornoMrs.Wilkinshadintendedtosuggerire
suggestthatMr.Wilkinswasavilla
villa.“Ibelieve,”shehad
pensato
thoughtwhenitwasatlastover—ittookun
alongwhile—“thatanybodywouldlitigato
quarrelaboutanythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeinginsieme
togetherforasingledayfordue
twowholeyears.Whatwe
entrambi
bothneedisaholiday.”“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,tryingtothrowsome
luce
lightonherself,“isasolicitor.He—”
Shecast
su
aboutforsomethingshecoulddire
sayelucidatoryofMellersh,andtrovato
found:“He’sveryhandsome.”
“Well,”
disse
saidMrs.Arbuthnotkindly,“thatmustbeun
agreatpleasuretoyou.”“Why?”
chiesto
askedMrs.Wilkins.“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,
un
alittletakenaback,forcostante
constantintercoursewiththepoorhadaccustomedhertohaveherpronouncementsaccettare
acceptedwithoutquestion,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isun
agiftlikeanyother,e
andifitisproperlyused—”.Shetrailedoffinto
silenzio
silence.Mrs.Wilkins’sgreatgreyeyeswerefixedonher,
e
anditseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotche
thatperhapsshewasbecomingcrystallisedintoahabitofexposition,e
andofexpositionafterthemannerofnursemaids,attraverso
throughhavinganaudiencethatcouldn’tbutagree,che
thatwouldbeafraid,ifitwished,tointerrompere
interrupt,thatdidn’tknow,thatwas,infatto
fact,athermercy.ButMrs.Wilkinswasnot
ascoltando
listening;forjustthen,absurdasit
sembrasse
seemed,apicturehadflashedacrossherbrain,e
andthereweretwofiguresinitsittinginsieme
togetherunderagreattrailingwistariache
thatstretchedacrossthebranchesofaalbero
treeshedidn’tknow,anditwasherselfe
andMrs.Arbuthnot—shesawthem—shesawthem.E
Andbehindthem,brightinsole
sunshine,wereoldgreywalls—themediaevalcastle—shevide
sawit—theywerethere...She
pertanto
thereforestaredatMrs.Arbuthnote
anddidnothearaparola
wordshesaid.AndMrs.Arbuthnot
fissò
staredtooatMrs.Wilkins,arrestedbytheexpressiononherviso
face,whichwassweptbytheexcitementofwhatshevedeva
saw,andwasasluminouse
andtremulousunderitaswaterinluce del sole
sunlightwhenitisruffledbyuna
agustofwind.At
questo
thismoment,ifshehadbeenatuna
aparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhavebeenlookedatwithinteresse
interest.Theystaredateachother;
Mrs.Arbuthnot
sorpreso
surprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkinswithla
theeyesofsomeoneche
whohashadarevelation.Ofcourse.
Thatwashowitcouldbe
fare
done.Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’taffordit,
e
andwouldn’tbeable,evense
ifshecouldaffordit,togothereallalone;ma
butsheandMrs.Arbuthnotinsieme
together...Sheleanedacrossthe
tavolo
table.“Whydon’twetryandgetit?”
she
sussurrato
whispered.Mrs.
Arbuthnotbecameeven
più
morewide-eyed.“Getit?”
she
ripetuto
repeated.“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,
ancora
stillasthoughshewereafraidofbeingoverheard.“Notjustsit
qui
hereandsayHowwonderful,e
andthengohometoHampsteadsenza
withouthavingputoutafinger—gocasa
homejustasusualandseeaboutthecena
dinnerandthefishjustaswe’vebeendoingforyearse
andyearsandwillgoondoingforyearse
andyears.Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingtotherootsofher
capelli
hair,forthesoundofwhatshewassaying,ofwhatwasvenendo
comingpouringout,frightenedher,andyetshecouldn’tstop,“Ivedo
seenoendtoit.Thereis
non
noendtoit.So
che
thatthereoughttobeuna
abreak,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.Why,itwould
davvero
reallybebeingunselfishtogoawaye
andbehappyforalittle,becausewewouldcomebacksomuchnicer.You
vedi
see,afterabiteverybodyneedsaholiday.”“But—howdoyou
dire
mean,getit?”askedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Takeit,”
disse
saidMrs.Wilkins.“Takeit?”