‘Well, we have seen Sibyl turned from a maiden into a matron by a few magic words,’ said Beatrice. ‘Magic is of course hardly the word. I wonder if it will change her in other ways.’
‘We can only hope not,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, walking on in personal immunity from such risks.
‘The wedding I should have liked to see,’ said Dulcia, ‘is Mr Edgeworth’s to Miss Jekyll. Marriage rather, I would say. Wedding seems too light a word for that union. The two dear, experienced, life-worn people! I should have been a reverential witness of their simple acquiescence at the altar. But it seemed it was not to be.’
‘It was not, as they wanted the ceremony private,’ said Gretchen. ‘We see why people have that wish.’
‘I don’t want to be unfair to Grant and Sibyl, but it is not on them that my eyes are about to rest. You would hardly believe with what high romance that older couple is fraught to me. It showed such simple highmindedness in Cassie, to become the third Mrs Edgeworth, without any beating about the bush.’ 230
‘If we do not believe it, we are stubborn,’ said Oscar, ‘especially as Dulcia appears to have private information about the betrothal scene.’
‘I confess that becoming the third Mrs Anything is not an idea that appeals to me,’ said Beatrice.
‘If there can be a third, it seems there might be a thirteenth,’ agreed her cousin.
‘I don’t see any reason,’ said Florence.
‘Now look at them, the dear, grey-haired pair!’ said Dulcia. ‘And at Nance, becoming young again! Letting herself wholeheartedly become so, in selflessness hardly conscious, it goes so deep. Could one tell, by looking at her, simply seconding those above her, that she herself held that place? I could become lyrical. If I make myself absurd, it seems to me a very small matter.’
‘I wondered it did not seem so to Almeric,’ said Oscar. ‘But I see why now.’
‘A very grave thing,’ said Fabian.
‘You have a daughter less, Mr Edgeworth,’ said Beatrice. ‘Do you begin to feel your loss?’
‘He has lost but one for many boys and girls,’ quoted Dulcia. ‘Well, if that is a thought frank and premature, let us say he has gained a son.’
‘Grant has been my son for many years.’
‘But I do not regret my speech, Mr Edgeworth. It provoked yours, and one of a rare kind for you. It was worth your little pulling up of me.’
‘Is Richard to join the proceedings?’ said Beatrice to Cassie.
‘No. He could take no part in them.’
‘But when he can,’ said Dulcia, ‘Miss Jekyll will be the first to place him in the fore.’ 231
‘It is a great responsibility for you to have his bringing up,’ continued Beatrice.
‘It is a usual thing for a woman to bring up a child.’
‘Miss Jekyll, we must pick a bone with you,’ said Dulcia. ‘Our not picking it would argue an insensibility. You did not permit us to view your marriage.’
‘And so you missed its surface results,’ said Nance.
‘Oh, I mean Mrs Edgeworth! What an obvious fall! But really a good many people have borne that name.’ Dulcia gave a laugh. ‘Mrs Edgeworth will not think the joke in bad taste.’
‘It is good to know that,’ said Oscar to Nance.
‘No wonder both Alison and Sibyl saw Almeric as indispensable,’ said Nance. ‘It is surprising we did not all do so.’
‘Now here is a little Mrs Edgeworth, whom we are all too fond of to call by that name,’ said Dulcia, caressing Sibyl. ‘Too familiarly fond of, perhaps I should say, after my address of her elder.’
‘It must be nice to marry without changing one’s name,’ said Miss Burtenshaw. ‘Marriage without tears we might call it.’
‘What do you feel about that, Sibyl?’ said Dulcia, in a tone of interest. ‘Do you feel it better or not, to keep your name?’
‘I am fond of my name; and it will be coupled with Grant’s now. I am Mrs Grant Edgeworth.’
‘I ought to have a lesson in the use of people’s names.’
‘Has she not had one?’ said Fabian.
‘I said to Mrs Edgeworth, Miss Jekyll that was, that Richard’s bringing up was a responsibility,’ said Beatrice. ‘And she scouted the idea.’
‘Well, dear Beatrice,’ said Dulcia, ‘perhaps it was not the line to take with one of her experience.’ 232
‘She is too used to that kind of responsibility to be troubled by it,’ said Miss Burtenshaw.
‘I think we are always troubled by it, if we undertake it in our own strength.’
‘But why should you think Mrs Edgeworth would do that?’
Beatrice stood with opened eyes.
‘That is most unfair,’ said Oscar to Nance, ‘Cassie clearly does that.’
‘Nance, I have been imagining the cosy family party you will be,’ said Dulcia. ‘And I can honestly say, I look for you to find it all congeniality and happiness.’
‘It is good of you to conceive of a perfect future for me. What can you do for Father, shut up with women?’
‘He will throw his whole heart into the boy,’ suggested Dulcia.
‘You admit a varied light on your stage?’
‘I suppose Alison is never mentioned now?’
‘Never in Father’s hearing. The rest of us speak of her, of course. I hope you hear they are still happy?’
‘I am sure you do hope it. Yes, Almeric writes that all is well with them. To us it can only be well in a certain sense. We do not identify ourselves with their course.’
‘It is a pity you cannot have them to stay: I see it is hardly possible.’
‘I know you do feel it a pity. But it is not in the question in your father’s lifetime.’
‘We could tell you when he is going away, to save the tedium of waiting for his death.’
‘The ups and downs of your life leave you always yourself. But it would not be feasible. There would be the encounter with Cassie; and that is what should not be. To sense the shock of 233 what had happened, and at the same time her personal indebtedness, would be too subtle a strain. I feel, simply, we should not expose her to it.’
‘Father and Cassie may go away together.’
‘No, dearest, I am firm, dearly though my parents would like me to falter,’ said Dulcia, with a sigh for her rigid exclusion of her brother from the open doors of his early home. ‘Now let us forget our dubious pair, and bid God-speed to the other.’
‘Good-bye, Father dearest,’ said Sibyl. ‘Good-bye, darling Nance and Cassie.’
‘I wish she had put Cassie’s name first,’ said Beatrice in a low tone. ‘I just wish it; that is all. I can’t give a reason.’
‘Good-bye, my daughter; good-bye my son,’ said Duncan, standing with his arms through those of Nance and his wife. ‘Do not hasten back on our account. You leave enough of us and to spare.’
‘All good wishes from my heart!’ said Miss Burtenshaw, starting a little forward.
‘Dear, they did appreciate it,’ said Dulcia, speaking in reference to her friend’s increased colour, but passing over a further increase.
‘Good-bye. May your union be blessed,’ said Beatrice, in a low voice.
‘You are fortunate, Grant,’ said Oscar. ‘You have come near to marrying your sister, the obvious woman for a man to marry.’
‘Mr Jekyll, on the face of it, and in the abstract, a union between you and your sister would be ideal,’ said Dulcia.
‘Unions are not abstract,’ said Fabian.
‘Good-bye, precious ones,’ said Dulcia. ‘Things will never be quite the same again. I can’t help a little bit of self creeping in at the last.’ 234
‘Not quite the best moment,’ said Beatrice, lightly, but with a thought of her last encounter with her friend.
‘This is a marriage in which we can rejoice,’ said Mrs Bode, wiping her eyes as she expressed her feeling.
‘Yes, Mother dear. But we will not be subject to the past to-day, relentless pursuer though it be.’
‘What should we do without our daughter?’ said Mr Bode, right that they would do differently.
‘I don’t find the need to rejoice,’ said Duncan. ‘If the boy and girl see no reason for it, it is for no one to do it for them.’
‘We do it with them,’ said Beatrice.
The carriage drove away with the married pair. The men accompanied their host to the library, and the six women left the house.
‘Mrs Jekyll,’ said Dulcia, ‘I am buoyed up by the sense that Cassie is finally attached to Nance. If we were leaving her alone, I should have my own private heartache for her.’
‘A wedding’s sorrows!’ said Beatrice.
‘It is not only Nance, whom she is supposed to be attached to.’
‘You are pleased about the marriage, Mrs Jekyll?’
‘I am pleased about almost any marriage, for a woman who is not provided for.’
‘But Cassie is so equal – forgive me, Mrs Jekyll; “Mrs Edgeworth” does not come somehow – to managing that side of things for herself.’
‘She has proved it better lately.’
‘You are one of those women who feel a woman is not fulfilled if she does not marry, Mrs Jekyll?’ said Beatrice, stepping nearer.
‘I feel she is not fulfilled, if she never serves herself.’
235 ‘Her brother would not have failed in chivalry,’ said Dulcia. ‘We feel no doubt on that score.’
‘He already supports one woman, and a hardy one, if she is eighty.’
‘We cannot imagine ourselves without you, Mrs Jekyll,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, as she imagined it.
‘For a time I shall be here, and then it won’t be left to your imagination.’ Gretchen glanced round to see if her son were following.
‘No, Mrs Jekyll, he has not yet torn himself from his cronies,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, swinging along.
‘It is a change for him to have a talk with men,’ said Beatrice.
‘Yes; he is generally with an old woman or little boys.’
‘Mrs Jekyll,’ said Dulcia gravely, ‘we don’t think any creature in the world compares with an experienced woman. It has been my own opinion from a child.’
‘That is understandable,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, almost laughing.
‘Grant is less of a match for Duncan’s daughter, now there is a son,’ said Gretchen.
‘Duncan!’ said Dulcia, pausing. ‘Of course he is your son-in-law, Mrs Jekyll! What a topsy-turvying of recognized relationships!’
‘The place might have gone down through Duncan’s child after all,’ said Florence.
‘But it would not have gone down through the direct male line, Mrs Smollett,’ said Dulcia, on a serious note. ‘And that means a great deal to a man of Mr Edgeworth’s type and tradition.’
‘It does not mean much to a girl of Sibyl’s,’ said Gretchen. ‘She would as soon it went down in the indirect.’ 236
‘I really don’t think so, Mrs Jekyll,’ said Dulcia. ‘Cynicism never has its way with me.’
‘I should like to say that I agree with Dulcia,’ said Beatrice.
‘What do you think, Miss Burtenshaw?’ said Mrs Bode.
‘Oh, I don’t grudge the world its worldliness,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, with a sense that Oscar was now behind.
‘Of course, Mr Jekyll, Mr Edgeworth is now your brother-in-law,’ said Dulcia. ‘We have been trying to catch up with the general post, and getting, I admit, a little breathless.’
‘Yes, that is the case.’
‘Of course they have always been friends,’ said Beatrice.
‘I don’t mean there is any essential difference in their relationship. I hardly need to say that.’
‘You have left your sister in her new home, Mr Jekyll?’ said Miss Burtenshaw.
‘It hardly seems a new home for her to me.’
‘It is a new home, for all that,’ said Gretchen.
‘Yes, Mrs Jekyll; that has the essential truth,’ said Dulcia. ‘It is like you to come to face with things.’
‘It must be a step of a kind, to be one of the family,’ said Miss Burtenshaw, ‘though not in any especial direction.’
‘Our ways part here,’ said Florence. ‘Three of us go on together.’
‘I really go with you,’ said Dulcia. ‘But I detect a faint inclination to be the number mentioned; and so will proceed with our redoubtable cousins, leaving my mother to your tolerance and care. Now do you know what I nearly said? I nearly said, Rosamund and Beatrice. And I consider it a trip to take such a forward step without permission. But have things so far progressed, dear Miss Burtenshaw, that I may consider myself on those terms? You have long been Rosamund in my mind.’ 237
‘As I call you Dulcia, it is only fair you should return the compliment.’
‘And age makes no difference, when an intimacy has reached a point: I never consider you so overwhelmingly my senior, except in wisdom.’
Beatrice walked at their side, smiling rather formally over the pact.
‘It does not alter one jot my relation with you,’ whispered Dulcia, squeezing her arm. ‘It just adds another to it, of the same kind, but with the difference that marks them both as what they are. You haven’t the tiniest feeling?’
‘Of course I have not; I am most glad,’ said Beatrice, frowning to herself after her words.
‘It would be an odd thing to mind,’ said her cousin. ‘We cannot all remain on formal terms for ever.’
‘The odd, little things are those we catch ourselves minding,’ said Dulcia. ‘I know I have caught myself right out.’
‘I am most glad,’ repeated Beatrice, ‘in spite of my first little feeling of surprise and friendly competitiveness. If competitiveness can be called friendly, which I am afraid mine could not. Talking of Christian names –’ She hurried on – ‘I don’t know what Mr Jekyll was thinking of, when he said good-bye. He called me by my Christian name as loud as you please. I did not quite know where to turn my eyes.’
‘I hope you turned them on his face,’ said her cousin, ‘as that would have been pretty behaved. He has heard the name so often, that it was a forgivable slip, even if it was a little casual.’
‘Yes, he said it quite casually and easily, as if he had thought of me like that. Well, he is quite welcome to, if he likes: I have no objection.’ 238
‘We must not have objections to our friends’ little carelessnesses: they have to put up with ours. I am sure he did not intend to be perfunctory.’
‘I am sure I have no desire to call him by his Christian name. It has barely got into my mind what it is. It would not slip out in a moment of unawareness, as mine did from him. He will not have to put up with that little carelessness. I am afraid I cannot cry him quits.’
‘Well, whatever either of you feel to him, or he to you, you are both worthy to be called by your Christian names by him,’ said Dulcia, ‘a position which I should never arrogate to myself. Now I must fly, or my parents will be pacing the room. You don’t know what a glimpse of my face means to them at this moment.’
With this setting out of relative situations, Dulcia hastened on her way.
‘Well, girls,’ said Alexander, ‘I forget where you were going, and why I didn’t go.’
‘To Sibyl Edgeworth’s wedding, Father, which leaves her still Sibyl Edgeworth. I told her it was marriage without tears. You did not go, because we were too many to present ourselves in a bunch.’
‘And so you chose to leave me out! Well, I hope this marriage will lay the rumours: I hope it will be without tears. I suppose you haven’t any news? One never knows what will come out of that family.’
‘No news; except that Beatrice was very cheered by being addressed by Mr Jekyll by her Christian name. It was an inadvertence which she took up with the most thorough-going seriousness.’ 239
‘I was not cheered at all,’ said Beatrice, who put more vigour into these untruths, which she was not to retract; ‘and I hardly know what you mean by “taking up”. It did not make any difference to me. I merely mentioned it, as it happened to take place. We must talk about something.’
‘We must, of course,’ said her uncle. ‘And was that all? He didn’t go any further? Well, that wasn’t a great deal to go on.’
‘“Taking up! Go on!”’ said Beatrice, shaking her head. ‘I don’t pretend to keep pace with you. I am getting quite into a fog.’
‘Well, we have come to one mind about it,’ said her cousin.
‘I was never of any other mind.’
‘Well, if you are of one mind, why bicker. And how did Cassie look, as mistress of the ceremonies?’
‘Dignified and gracious, as her life of more than merely domestic experience has made her,’ said his daughter. ‘And, Father, you seem a person for slips about Christian names.’
‘I always think of her as Cassie: I shouldn’t say it to her face, of course.’
‘Well, that was what Mr Jekyll did to me,’ said Beatrice, turning as she spoke to leave the room. ‘He was not content with merely thinking of me by it.’
‘Mr Jekyll did not mean any perfunctoriness at all,’ said her cousin, in a voice that followed her. ‘No more than you did, Father.’