I
November was half gone when Judith wrote to David, the letter she had
yearned to write, weeks ago:
“We are on the eve of victory, the great spiritual victory that I
know means more than anything else to you. Eileen puts in four hours
a day practicing. This evening she is giving a recital at the church
Mrs. Ramsay’s mother attends. She is a great favourite in Rye, where
the story of her tragic widowhood first stimulated interest. I know,
father, how distasteful this kind of subterfuge is to you; but Lary
agrees with me that it is necessary. As yet no one suspects. But we
must plan a long way ahead.
“I have it all arranged, even to the wording of the announcement
cards I hope to send out, some time next July. But I shall not dare
to show myself in Springdale for another year. There are too many
experienced mothers, who would know whether a baby was three weeks
or three months old. I could not conceal the telltale marks. I don’t
know what a baby ought to look like!
“Don’t say anything about this to Lary’s mother. She would only
worry, and she might do something, inadvertently, to spoil all our
planning. Lary would like to have us accompany him when he makes his
next business trip to Springdale. It is perfectly safe, as far as
Eileen is concerned, I assure you. I do so want you to hear her play.
It is not merely technique. I can fairly hear her soul grow. She is
having her growing pains, but they are good for her. She never speaks
of the ordeal that is before her, and for a week I thought she had
forgotten it. When she brought me an exquisite little garment she had
made, every stitch by hand, I knew I was mistaken.
“Professor Auersbach sees a great career for her. The strain in her
nature that will militate against high artistic success, such as
he hopes for, is her salvation now. She rebounds from disagreeable
things with the resiliency of a rubber ball. Lary doesn’t want her to
be famous. He only wants her to grow into a good woman. It would make
you happy to see the little intimacy that is growing up between them.
She doesn’t at all see in him the demigod he is to me; but I had the
advantage of seeing him first through Theodora’s eyes. Tell her how I
miss her, and give her a big hug from her Sister Judith.”