Another year had slowly dragged by.
Enid was still living with her child at the farmhouse; but all the
personal property of the child's father, all those numerous signs of too
engrossing amusements, had disappeared. Horses and grooms, brushes and
boots, spurs and bridles--all were gone. In the suit of Bulford vs.
Bulford and Kenion, the petitioner obtained a decree nisi; and soon the
decree will be made absolute. Another undefended suit--that of Kenion
vs. Kenion--is down for hearing. Very soon now Enid will be free.
Meanwhile the big looking-glasses on the stairs and at department
entrances of Thompson & Marsden's shop had been growing tarnished, dull,
and spotted. They showed nothing new in their misty depths--emptiness
and desolation; unused space so great that it was not necessary to
multiply it by reflection; and a grey-haired black-robed woman passing
and repassing through the faint bluish fog, with shadowy, ghostly lines
of such sad figures marching and wheeling at her side.
But there was no space for fog in the establishment across the road.
During these twelve slow months the visible, unmistakable prosperity of
Bence had been stupendous.
He had bought out Mr. Bennett, the butcher. He would buy the whole
street. He had enlarged his popular market, adding Flowers to Fruit and
Vegetables. The old auctioneer had retired, in order to make room for
this addition; and where for a half a century there had been no objects
more interesting than sale bills and house registers and dangling
bunches of keys, beautiful unseasonable blossoms now shed their
fragrance throughout the year. Plainly there was nothing too old, or too
hard, or too large for Bence to swallow.
And the reputation of Bence's, as well as its mere success, had steadily
been rising. It seemed as if the remorseless and triumphant Archibald
had not only stolen the entire trade of his principal rival, but had
also borrowed all the methods that in the old time built up the trade.
In his best departments the goods were now as solid and as real as those
which had made the glory of Thompson's at its zenith. But beyond this
laudable improvement of stock--a matter that no one could complain
of,--Bence betrayed a cruel persistence in imitating subsidiary
characteristics of Mrs. Thompson's tactical campaign.
Gradually Bence had won the town. It was Bence who now feasted and
flattered the municipal authorities, exactly as Mrs. Thompson had done
years ago. Dinners to aldermen and councillors; soirees and receptions
for their wives; compliments, largesse, confidential attention flowing
out in a generous stream for the benefit of all--high and low--who could
possibly assist or hinder the welfare of Bence! Last Christmas--by way
of inaugurating his twentieth grand annual bazaar--he gave a ball to
four hundred people, with a military band and a champagne sit-down
supper.
The ancient aldermen were nearly all gone; the council nowadays
professed themselves to be advocates of modern ideas; they said the
conditions of life are always changing; and they were ready to admit the
new style of trade as fundamentally correct. Then, making speeches after
snug Bence-provided banquets, they said that their host represented in
himself and his career the Spirit of the Age. They raised their glasses
in a toast which all would honour. "Mr. Archibald Bence, you are a
credit to the town of Mallingbridge; and speaking for the town, I say
the town is proud of you, sir.... Now, gentlemen, give him a
chorus--'For he's a jolly good fellow'"....
Bence never stopped their music. He sat at the head of the table,
twirling his waxed moustache, fingering his jewelled studs, and smiling
enigmatically--as if he considered the adulation of his guests quite
natural and proper, or as if he felt amused by vulgar praise and a
homage which could be purchased with a little meat and drink.
"Gentlemen," said Bence, rising to return thanks, and addressing the
assemblage in the usual tone of mock modesty, "I am overwhelmed by your
good-nature. I lay no claim to merit. The most I ever say of myself is
that I do work hard, and try my best. But I have been very lucky.
Anybody could have done what I have done, if they had been given the
same opportunity--and the same support."
"No, no," cried the noisy guests. "Not one in a million. No one but
yourself, Mr. Bence. That's why we're so proud of you."
And just as the town had turned towards Bence in his prosperity, so it
had turned away from Mrs. Marsden in her adversity. These people
worshipped success, and nothing else. The old shop was dying fast; its
legend was already dead. The ancient triumph of the brave young widow
was thus in a few years almost totally forgotten. It was a fabled
greatness that faded before her present insignificance. There were of
course some who still remembered; but they did not trouble to sustain or
revive her name and fame.
Did she know how they spoke of her--these few who remembered?
A pitiful story: a poor wretch who posed for a little while as a good
woman of business, and got absurd kudos for what was sheer luck. Just
clever enough to make a little money in propitious times; but without
staying power, unable to adapt herself to new methods--a _stupid_
woman, really! That was the kindest talk. Others, who should have been
grateful and did not care to pay their debts, spoke of her as a
criminal. "I never forgave her that disgraceful marriage. I endeavoured
to prevent it, and warned her what would be the consequence of her--say
her folly; but I think one would be justified in using a stronger word.
Well, she has made her bed; and she must lie upon it."
On a cold winter evening, when she had walked to the railway station
with Enid and was finding her a seat in the local train, a porter
officiously pointed out Bence.
"There! That's Mr. Bence, ma'am. Mr. Bence--the small gentleman!"
The local train was on one side of the platform, and on the other stood
the London express. And Bence, in fur coat and glossy topper, surrounded
with sycophantic inspectors and ticket-collectors, was approaching the
Pullman car. He was off to London, to buy fresh cargos of Leghorn hats
or whole warehouses of mauve blouses.
The local train, with Enid in it, rolled away; and Mrs. Marsden, a
shabby insignificant black figure, remained motionless, waving a pocket
handkerchief and staring wistfully at the receding train. Then, as Bence
came bustling from the Pullman door to the book-stall at the end of the
platform, he and Mrs. Marsden met face to face.
It was a strange encounter. Intelligent onlookers, if there had been any
on the platform, might have found food for much thought in studying this
chance meeting between the Spirit of the age and the Ghost of the past.
There was nothing of the conqueror's exultant air in Bence's low bow. He
uncovered his bald head and bowed deeply, with ostentatious humbleness
and almost excessive respect--as if magnanimously determined to show
that greatness though fallen was still greatness to him.
And there was nothing of the conquered in Mrs. Marsden's dignified
acknowledgment of the passing courtesy. Bowing, she looked at Bence and
through Bence; and her face seemed calm, cold, dispassionate: as
absolutely devoid of trouble or resentment as if one of the
ticket-collectors whom she used to tip had touched his hat to her.
None of these greedy ruffians did salute her. In all the station,
through which she used to pass as a queen, only little Bence showed her
a sign of respect to-night.
In her deserted shop there were still faithful hearts; outside the shop,
in all Mallingbridge, it seemed as if she could not count more than one
true friend.
Prentice was true as the magnet to the pole. For a long time he had
asked her no questions, given her no advice; and she told him nothing of
her affairs, either commercial or domestic. But he guessed that things
were going from bad to worse. He knew that she was more and more
frequently at the offices of Hyde & Collins. He saw her entering their
front door almost as often as he saw Bence entering it; and he
interpreted these visits as a certain indication that they were still
raising money for her. She had probably sold the last of her stocks and
shares, and now they were helping her to get rid of the small remainder
of her possessions. He knew of two or three houses in River Street, and
of a moderate mortgage on this property. Hyde & Collins might effect a
second mortgage perhaps; and then the houses would be practically gone,
as everything else had gone--into the bottomless pit. They would not
care how quickly she beggared herself. When she was squeezed dry, they
would just shut the door in her face. Insolent, unscrupulous brutes! And
he thought with anger of how cavalierly they would treat her even now,
before the end: breaking their appointments, telling her to call again,
leaving her to wait in outer rooms while they kow-towed to their best
client, their only prosperous client, the omnipotent Bence.
To the mind of loyal Prentice the utter downfall of Mrs. Marsden was
abominable and intolerable. He could not bear it--this wreck of a life
that had been so noble. His hope of saving something from the wreck was
cruelly frustrated. He had tried again and again; but she would not
listen, she would not be guided.
He thought sadly of the bright past, of her talent and genius; and,
above all, of her tremendous intellectual strength. In those days, when
he began to unfold a matter of business, she stopped him before he had
completed half a dozen sentences. It was enough--she had grasped the
whole position, sent beams from the search-light of her intelligence
flashing all round it, shown him essential points that he had not seen
himself. Difficulties never frightened her; she was subtle in defence,
swift in attack. Give her but a hint of danger, and in a moment she was
armed and ready. Before you knew what she would be at, she had sprung
into decisive action; and before you could hurry up with your feeble
reinforcements, the danger was over, the battle had been gained.
But now she was weak as water--helpless, yet refusing help, hopeless and
making hope impossible, just drifting to her fate. At night Mr. Prentice
sometimes could not sleep. He lay awake, thinking of what it would come
to in the end--bankruptcy, her little hoard squandered, her last penny
gone in the futile effort to satisfy her husband and sustain the shop.
And then? She was so proud that perhaps she might not allow Enid to
supply her simplest daily needs. He tossed and turned restlessly as he
thought of Enid's marriage settlement; and, remembering some of its
ill-advised clauses, he felt stung by remorse. He had bungled the
settlement. He ought to have stood firm, and not have permitted himself
to be overruled by the idiotic whims of a love-sick girl who was being
generous at another person's expense. He blamed himself bitterly now for
the manner in which funds had been permanently secured to Enid's
worthless husband. Of course the Divorce Court, exercising its statutory
powers, might wipe out the entire blunder, and handsomely punish the
offender by handsomely benefiting the wife; but he had small hope that
this would happen. No, the rascal Charles Kenion, when disposed of, will
still enjoy his life interest. The money that should come back now to
the hand that gave it is gone. Enid will not have more than she wants
for herself and her child.
He could not sleep. The thought of Mrs. Marsden's pride made him shiver.
No prouder woman ever lived: famine and cold would not break her pride.
He had thought of her in the workhouse, or an almshouse, finishing her
days on the bread of charity. But no--great Heaven!--she would never
consent to do that. She would rather sell matches in the street. And he
imagined her appearance. An old woman in rags--creeping at dusk with
bent back,--pausing on a country road to hold her side and cough,--lying
down on the frozen ground beneath a haystack, and dying in the winter
storm.
He knew--only too well--that these are the things that happen: the
inexorable facts of the world. But never should they happen in this
case--not while he had one sixpence to rub against another.
He could not go on thinking about it without doing something. So he woke
up his invalid wife. That seemed the only thing he could do just
then;--and he told Mrs. Prentice that she must be kind to Mrs. Marsden;
she must begin being kind the first thing in the morning; she must
write a letter, pay a call, do _something_ to cheer and gladden his poor
old friend.
Mrs. Prentice, an amiable nondescript woman, readily obeyed her husband;
and after this nocturnal conversation she used frequently to wait upon
Mrs. Marsden, often persuade her to go out for a drive, and now and then
entice her to come and dine in a quiet friendly fashion without any fuss
or ceremony. These pleasant evenings must have made bright and warm
spots amidst the cold dark gloom that now surrounded Mrs. Marsden. At
Mr. Prentice's comfortable private house she was treated with an honour
to which she had been long unaccustomed; there was nothing here to
remind her of her troubles; and she really appeared to forget them when
chatting freely with her kind host and hostess.
"My dear Mrs. Prentice, it is too good of you to let me drop in on you
like this."
"No, it is so good of you," said Mrs. Prentice, "to give us the pleasure
of your company."
"It is a great pleasure to _me_," said Mrs. Marsden; "and I always
thoroughly enjoy myself."
Mrs. Prentice liked her better in her adversity than in her prosperity.
She found it easy to join her husband in his admiration of the fortitude
and dignity of Mrs. Marsden as an ill-used wife and a broken-down
shopkeeper--now that the fable of her colossal brain-power was finally
shattered. Perhaps Mrs. Prentice's naturally kind heart had never opened
to Mrs. Marsden till the day when Mr. Prentice said that his idol was
acting like a fool.
Their guest used to eat sparingly, although the hostess pressed her to
taste of every dish; and she scarcely drank more than half a glass of
wine, although the host had brought out his most highly prized vintage;
but she talked so cheerfully, so calmly, and so wisely, that her society
was as charming as it was welcome. Mr. Prentice, beaming on her and
listening with deference to her lightest words, was especially delighted
each time that he recognized something like a flash of the old light.
Once they were discussing a rumour that had just reached Mallingbridge.
It was said that the War Office had purchased a tract of land on the
downs, and proposed to establish a large permanent camp up there.
"Half a dozen regiments, with all their followers--an invasion!"
"It will be dreadful for the town," said Mrs. Prentice. "Utterly destroy
its character."
"That's what I think," said Mr. Prentice. "Do no good to anybody."
"Do you know," said Mrs. Marsden, "I am inclined to disagree. Since the
soldiers came to Ellerford, trade--I am told--has picked up
wonderfully."
"Ah, yes," said Prentice. "But that's a trifling affair--a very small
camp, compared with what this would be."
"But, Mr. Prentice," and Mrs. Marsden smiled; "if a small camp does a
little good, why shouldn't a large camp do a lot of good?"
It sounded quite simple, and yet only she would have said it. Mr.
Prentice laughed. It reminded him of the old way she had of going
straight to the point, and flooring you by a question that seemed
childishly naive until all at once you found you could not answer it.
Mrs. Prentice continued to lament the many degradations that
Mallingbridge had already undergone.
"The Theatre Royal turned into a music hall! The Royal! That is the last
blow. _Three_ music halls in the place, and not one theatre where you
can go and see a real play.... I used to love the Royal. It seemed a
_part_ of Mallingbridge."
"My dear Mrs. Prentice," said the guest, calmly and philosophically,
"the town that you and I loved has gone. It was inevitable--one can't
put back the clock. Time won't stand still for us."
"No, but they're making the new town so ugly, so vulgar. Whenever they
pull down one of the dear old houses, they do build such gimcrack
monstrosities."
"I fancy," said Mrs. Marsden, "that the distance from London decided our
destiny. It was just far enough off to reproduce and copy the
metropolis. Nowadays, the little places that remain unchanged are all
close to the suburban boundary."
When she talked in this style, Prentice thought how effectually she gave
the lie to people who said of her, that she had failed because she
lacked the faculty of appreciating altered conditions.
"Did you happen," she asked him, "to read the report of the general
meeting of the railway company?"
"No--I don't think I did."
"The chairman mentioned Mallingbridge."
"What did he say about it?"
"He said that they might before long have to consider the propriety of
building a new station, and putting it on another site."
"Why should they do that?"
"Why?" And again Mrs. Marsden smiled. "Why indeed? It set me
thinking--and I read the speech carefully. Later on, the chairman spoke
of the scheme for moving their carriage and engine works out of the
London area. Well, I put those two hints together; and this is what I
made of them. I believe that the company intend at last to develop all
that land of theirs--the fields by the river,--and I prophesy that
within three years they'll have built the new carriage works there."
She said this exactly as she used to say those luminously clever things
that he remembered in the past. He listened wonderingly and admiringly.
But when the ladies left him alone to smoke his cigar or finish the wine
that the guest had neglected, he sighed. She could give these flashes of
the old logic and insight; she could talk so wisely about matters that
in no way concerned her; but in the one great matter of her own life,
where common sense was most desperately required, she had behaved like a
lunatic.
He let his cigar go out, and he could not drink any more wine. Rain was
pattering on the windows, and the wind moaned round the house--a sad
dark night. He rang the bell, and told the servant to order a fly for
Mrs. Marsden at a quarter to ten.
The fly took her home comfortably; and when she alighted at the bottom
of St. Saviour's Court and offered the driver something more than his
fare, he refused it.
"Mr. Prentice paid me, ma'am."
"Oh!... Then you must accept this shilling for yourself."
"No, ma'am. Mr. Prentice tipped me. Good-night, ma'am."