The Way Home (21 page)
Authors: Henry Handel Richardson
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Mary wrote: What in all the world are you doing with yourself Richard? The Carters quite expected you last Wednesday, and the Rentouls had a place laid at dinner for you on Friday evening. Both write me hoping you were not kept away by illness. I think it's time I came home to look after you.
To which Mahony replied: Nonsense, my dear, I am getting on capitally -- servants most attentive, and Cook dishing me up all manner of good things. Do not hurry back on my account.
Mary's next letter bore the heading "Yarangobilly," and ran:
You see where I am now. The Urquharts insisted on my coming out -- and Tilly with me. There's a large party here as usual, and picnics, dancing, music and singing go on all the time. I was sorry to leave Ballarat, which is as lovely as ever, and every one just as kind. Willy is just the same; so full of life and fun you really can't help liking him, however much you may disapprove. Both he and Louisa seem pleased to have me and are full of regrets that you are not with me. I think it is a great pity you didn't take my advice and come too. Ever so many people have inquired after you.
Not I! was Richard's response. They never wanted me when I was among them; why on earth should they miss me now? . . . when they've had ample time to forget all about me. It's only your own imagination.
And Mary: What rubbish you do talk, dear! I believe you're growing odd and fanciful through being so much alone. Do go out more, and not coop yourself up so. -- Well, we're still here. Louisa won't hear of our leaving; it's quite a change for her to have friends of her own in the house -- the others are mostly Willy's. Poor Louisa through never getting away -- I mean with all the babies, etc.makes hardly any. She looks far older than her age, and " very " dowdy. She needs some one to take her in band and freshen her up. I've made her promise to spend at least a month with me after I get back -- the last baby's well over a year now, and there are no fresh expectations in the meantime, thank goodness . . . twelve are surely enough. I intend to stitch a rose in her bonnet, and teach her how to do her hair. Also get her into one of the new bustles -- her dresses are in the style of the year one. She would still be quite pretty if nicely dressed, and I think that would be much more effective than sitting moping and fretting, and not caring how she looks. Fretting about Willy, I mean. I'm afraid he's incurable. He's very much épris again at _present. This time it's a fascinating widow who's stopping here -- a very charming person, and interested unfortunately in everything Willy's interested in -- horses, dogs, riding, driving, cattle and sheep -- to cut it short, all Louisa isn't.
A week later. I had a long talk with Mrs. Marriner -- that's the widow-lady I mentioned in my last. She's really much attached to Louisa, and would be her friend if only Louisa would let her. (Now I'm not imagining this!) But L. is so jealous that she can hardly be civil. There was quite a scene last night. It ended by poor Louisa going to bed in floods of tears. Of course I can see it from her side, too. It must be very hard to know that another woman pleases your husband better than you do. Still, Willy has had so many fancies in his day, I think Louisa needn't take this one too seriously. Gracey -- Mrs. Marriner, that is -- was quite upset about it herself. She is really very charming and it isn't exactly her fault: she can't help pleasing. And so sensible, too. We had a talk, she and I, about poor Agnes and her failing -- she knows all about it -- and she quite agrees with me, it's really some one's duty to tackle Mr. Henry.
And again: Oh no, Richard, you've got quite a false idea of her. She's anything but designing -- not one of those widows who go about setting their caps at men. But you'll be able to see for yourself; for she talks of taking a house at Brighton. And I'm sure you'll like her, and get on well with her -- she's so clever. You should have heard her yesterday evening discussing the reform of gaols and penitentiaries with a gentleman who's staying here. We other ladies felt our noses quite put out of joint.
Back in Ballarat, Mary wrote: Well! I've done the deed, dear. I thought it best not to mention it beforehand, for I knew you would write about minding one's own business, not interfering between husband and wife, etc. Tilly and I came back to "Beamish House" at the end of the week, and on Wednesday off I went and paid a visit to Mr. Henry. He couldn't have received me more civilly. He told his clerk he would see nobody else while I was there, and had wine and biscuits fetched -- I can tell you, paid me every attention. He also asked most kindly after you. -- As you may guess, I approached the subject of Agnes very gingerly. Just hinted I had seen her and how sorry I was to find her in such a poor state of health. He was rather reserved at first. But when I gave him to understand she had confided in me, and how broken-hearted she was and what reproaches she was making herself, and when I sympathised with him over the loss of such a beautiful child . . . why, then he quite thawed and came out of his shell. Indeed all but broke down. Think of that with Mr. Henry, who has always been so cold and stern! You'll perhaps say it is chiefly his pride he has been hurt in: but don't you think that's hard enough, for a man like him? Well, one thing led to another, and before long we were talking quite freely about poor little Agnes and her terrible weakness. He admitted he was at his wits' end to know what to do with her. Had had some thoughts of putting her in a Home, under a doctor's care: but shrinks from the publicity and disgrace. Then he fears her bad example on the children -- the boy Georgy is seven now, and sharp as a needle. One thing I made him promise and that was, to let Agnes leave that dreadful house and come to us for a bit, where she can have the children with her again. (I'll take good care they don't disturb you, dear.) When I came away he took both my hands and shook them and said: "God bless you, my dear Mrs. Mahony! I shall never forget your great kindness in this matter. Nor do I know another soul -- certainly not one of your sex -- to whom I could have spoken as I have to you." Think of that from Mr. Henry! Tilly hasn't got over it yet. She says it comes of me having worn my best bonnet (the gay one with the flower in, that you like). But of course that's only her nonsense. And I do feel so glad I went and didn't let myself be persuaded not to.
I hope the silk vests are a great success, and that you remember the days for changing them.
"Malibran? . . . ah, now there was a voice for you! -- Pasta could not hold a candle to her. As a young man I never missed an opera when she sang. Great nights, great nights! The King's Theatre packed to suffocation. All of us young music-lovers burning with enthusiasm . . . our palms tingling from applause." Here however, at some private sign, the speaker abruptly switched off his reminiscences, which threatened to carry him away, and got to the matter in hand. -- "My dear, give us, if you please, Casta diva. Though I say so myself, there is something in my daughter's rendering of that divine air that recalls Malibran in her prime."
A musical party at the Timms-Kellys' tempted even Mahony forth. On such evenings, in company with other devotees, he would wander up Richmond Hill and through the wooden gates of Vaucluse, where a knot of houses stood sequestered in a grove. The French windows of the Timms-Kellys' drawing-room were invariably set wide open; and guests climbing the hill could hear, while still some way off, the great voice peal out -- like a siren-song that urged and cajoled.
Miss Timms-Kelly herself bore the brunt of the entertainment; occasionally mingling in a duo with some manly second, or with the strains of Mahony's flute; but chiefly in solo. For the thin little tones of the other ladies, their tinkly performances of "Maiden's Prayers" and "Warblings at Eve," or the rollicking strains of a sea ballad (which was mostly what the gentlemen were good for) stood none of them an earthly chance against a voice like hers. It was a contralto, with, in its middle and lower registers, tones of a strange, dark intensity which made of it a real voix sombre; yet of such exceptional compass that it was also equal to Or sai chi l'onore and Non mi dir, bell' idol mio. Mahony used to say there was something in its lower notes that got at you, "like fingers feeling round your heart." Ladies, while admitting its volume and beauty, were apt to be rendered rather uncomfortable by it; and under its influence would fall to fidgeting in their seats.
In person Miss Timms-Kelly matched her voice: though not over tall she was generously proportioned, with a superb bust and exquisitely sloping shoulders. Along with this handsome figure went piquantly small hands and feet -- she boasted a number three shoe -- white teeth, full lips, a fresh complexion. But her chief charm lay in her animation of manner: she was alive with verve and gesture; her every second word seemed spoken in italics. Amazing, thought and said all, that one so fascinating should have reached the brink of the thirties without marrying; society had known her now for twelve years, and during this time the marvellous voice had rung out night for night, her old father faithfully drawing attention to its merits, the while he grew ever whiter and sleepier in his corner of the drawing-room.
But the little court that surrounded Miss Timms-Kelly consisted chiefly of married men and bachelors well past marrying age: greybeards who, in listening to the strains of Norma or Semiramide, re-lived their youth. Eligible men fought a little shy of the lady and after a couple of visits to the house were apt to return no more. Happily, Miss Timms-Kelly did not take this greatly to heart. Indeed she even confessed to a relief at their truancy. "All my life, love, I have preferred the company of elderly gentlemen. They make one feel so safe."
In process of dressing for such an evening, Mary remarked: "Of course, it's very nice of Lizzie to say that . . . and most sensible. But all the same it is odd -- I mean the fact of her never having married. Not only because of her voice -- one doesn't just marry a voice. But she really is a dear, warm-hearted creature. And so generous." At which Mahony stopped shaving his chin to throw in: "That's precisely it. Your marriageable man instinctively fears not being able to live up to the fair singer's generosity."
"Really, Richard! . . . it takes you to say queer things. Now I believe it comes of Lizzie never having had a mother to go about with. She's been obliged to put herself too much forward."
But for all his two-edged comments, let Miss Timms-Kelly but open her mouth to sing, and Mahony was hopelessly her slave. His natural instinct for music had outlived even the long years of starvation in this country, where neither taste nor performance was worth a straw. Under the present stimulus, his dormant feelings awoke to new life: when the great voice rang forth he would sit rapt . . . absorbed. And where others, but faintly responsive to the influence, listened with only half an ear, the while they followed their own trains of thought, musing, gently titillated: "How fine the moon to-night!" or "I shall certainly succeed, if I carry through that deal," or "Perhaps after all Julia will hear my suit," he surrendered thought for emotion, and climbed the ladder of sound to a world built wholly of sound, where he moved light-footedly and at ease.
"Upon my soul, I would walk ten miles to hear her rendering of an aria by Mozart or Verdi!"
This was all very well in its way -- its musical way. But now something happened which brought him with a bump to earth. And, ever after, he twitted and blamed himself with having been the innocent cause of a most unnecessary complication.
Towards the close of her stay in Ballarat, Mary had a second meeting -- a chance one, this time -- with Mr. Henry Ocock. And Ocock, in his new role of friend and adviser, let fall a hint with regard to a certain mining company in which he believed Mahony held shares. This was not the case; but Mary rather thought John did, begged Richard to find out, and if so, to let him know what was being said. As Mr. Henry's information had been sub rosa, Mahony thought it wise to pass it on by word of mouth, and wrote John saying he would drop in for a moment the following evening, on his way to Richmond: he was bound with his flute for Vaucluse. In the morning, however, John's groom brought a note asking him to take pot-luck with the family at six o'clock. Such things were possible in John's house nowadays, under the fairy rule of Miss Julia. And so he found himself that night at John's dinner-table.
As usual at this stage, when he had not seen his brother-in-law for a time, Mahony's chief sensation on meeting John was one of discomfort. Without doubt, some great change was at work in John. Lean as a herring, yellow as a Chinaman, he had been for months past. But the change in his manner was even more striking. Gone was much of the high-handedness, the pompous arrogance it had once been so hard to stomach; gone the opulent wordiness of his pronunciamentos. He was now in point of becoming a morose and taciturn sort of fellow; prone, too, to fits of blankness in which, staring straight before him, he seemed to forget your very presence. So much at least was plain: John was not taking the universe by any means so much for granted, as of old.
Money troubles? . . . such was the first thought that leapt to Mahony's mind. Then he laughed at himself. John's business flourished like the green baytree: you never heard of it but it was putting forth a fresh shoot in a fresh direction. No lack of money there! -- the notion was just a telling example of how one instinctively tried to read into another, what had been one's own chief bogey. Besides, the warning passed on by Mary left John cold: he waved it aside with a gesture that said: a few thousands more or less signified nothing to him. Could the wife's idea that he was fretting over the loss of his boy be the right one? Again, no: that was just a woman's interpretation: he jumped to money, she to the emotional, the personal. Then after all it must be John's health that was causing him anxiety. But a tactful question on this score called forth so curt a negative that he could not press it.