Chapter 7 Chapter VII

The following Sunday, Basil Kent had lunch with Herrier and Miss Ley, and met the Castingyans.The husband of this lovely lady was a stout man who often only gave the impression of being fat and of dull conversation.His hair had fallen out, his fleshy face was relatively cleanly groomed, there was not much trace of beard, and there was a double boast in his manner, for he was both a landowner and a member of the House of Commons.Providence seemed to have given him a strange punishment for his dullness--to marry a lady who was always lively; It is impatience and contempt.Mr. Casting Young is not only a dull man, but also likes to talk nonsense. Now, when he finds that everyone is shocked by his presence, he starts to seize the opportunity to express his long-winded opinions. These are more suitable for stupid and annoying people. The last refuge of spirits—expressed in the House of Lords.

However, it didn't take long for Reggie to slip in like a kitten with smooth fur and droop his head into the room.After playing yesterday, his face was a little pale, but he was still very handsome.Miss Ley got up to greet him, and at the same time glanced at Mrs. Casting Young. After seeing her smirk, she was sure that the two of them had planned this meeting long ago.The fact that a tryst had taken place in her own house amused the sharp-eyed Miss Ley, and if the MP hadn't bored her to the point of a temper, perhaps she would not have let Mrs. Castingyoung go any further. .And Emily Bassett really exaggerates her love for her son; Emily Bassett's statement that "no one is as pure as Reggie" annoys Miss Ley.

"Paul," said Mrs. Castingyoung, "Mr. Bassett heard that you were going to make a speech in the House of Commons tomorrow, and expressed his desire to hear it...my husband—Mr. Barlow Bassett." "Is it true? How did you know that I was going to give a speech?" Mr. Kastingyang asked happily. One of Reggie's unique features was that he was never in a hurry to lie.So, after a moment of contemplation, he stared straight at Frank to prevent him from refuting what he was going to say next. "Dr. Herrier told me." "Of course I'm glad you'd like to come," our orator took up Reggie's words. "I'll make a speech before dinner. Would you like to join us for dinner afterwards? I'm afraid you might not like what they have to offer. dinner."

"Paul, after he has heard your speech, he won't mind anything else," said Mrs. Castingyoung. After the successful implementation of this little trick, a faint smile crept onto Madam's lips.Mr. Casting Young slowly turned to Miss Ley, his whole body moved slightly, as if showing his eloquence.Frank and Basil rose quickly to say good-bye to Miss Ley; they walked together towards the embankment, neither of them speaking for a moment. "Frank, I want to talk to you," Basil finally broke the silence, "I'm thinking about possibly going abroad this winter."

"You? What about the bar problem?" "I don't care about that. After all, I have enough money to do it, and I want to try and do something to be a writer. Plus I want to break up with Jenny too, which is the best I can think of Way." "I think you're really smart." "Well, Frank, I wish I had never been in this muddy water. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid she loves me more than I can imagine, and I don't want to hurt her. Whenever I It hurts me to think about the misfortune she's going to have - but there's no way we're going to be together."

Frank was silent, his lips were tightly shut, and his face was serious.Basil realized Frank's silent reprimand, but vented it out emotionally. "I know I shouldn't be like this. Do you think I have no pain, no regrets? I never thought that she would take all this so seriously. And, after all, I am a man. I will, like other men, have Passion. I think most men would do the same thing if they were in my position." "Basil, I don't want to blame you." Frank said seriously. "I was going to do something nice to that girl, but I lost my mind. After all, if we could be as calm at night as we are during the day..."

"Life is a holiday school," Frank interrupted. They were now approaching Westminster Bridge, and a carriage passed them.Inside they saw Mrs. Murray sitting with her head bowed down with a heavy face.Basil blushed suddenly, and turned to look back. "I wonder if she's going to Miss Ley's." "Do you want to go back again to confirm?" Frank said coldly. He fixed Basil with piercing eyes, and saw him blushing again, but quickly put aside his momentary hesitation. "No," he replied firmly, "let's move on." "Did you try to get rid of Jenny because of Mrs. Murray?"

"Frank, don't think so badly of me. I hate dirty and ugly gross plotting. Because of my—because of Mrs. Vizard, I desire a cleaner life more than any man; but when I and Jenny I loathed myself when we were together. Even though I never met Mrs. Murray, I would do everything in my power to end that relationship." "Are you in love with Mrs. Murray?" "Yes," replied Basil, after a short silence. "Do you think she cares about you too?" "I was sure of it one night not long ago; but now I doubt it again. I hope she cares about me. I can't help myself, Frank, and it's quite different from my love for Jenny; it takes me Promoted, also gave me support. I also don't want to be seen as a prudish person, when I think of Mrs. Murray, it seems that everything becomes infinitely more precious. I am proud of it, because my love for her is almost all spiritual If she cared about me, and would marry me, I might do something good for the world. I think if I was away for six months, Jenny's feelings for me might slowly fade—gradually Estrangement may be better than an immediate and brutal breakup."

"It will certainly reduce your pain," Frank said. "When I am free, I will go to Mrs. Murray, tell her all, and propose to her." Basil lived in a beautiful little courtyard in Temple, and although there would be debates about whether Temple's daily life was dirty, the old red house and the luxuriant and cool plane trees showed Full of quiet charm.His top-floor room was simply furnished, but it reflected the taste of a man who loved fine things.Mr. Peter Riley's sweet and always mannered ladies look down from the copper engravings on the walls, and the interior Sheraton furniture gives the student's room a refined simplicity.

Frank filled his pipe, but they hadn't sat down long before there was a knock at the door. "Who the hell is this?" said Basil. "I don't usually have company on Sunday afternoons." He walked down the narrow passage and opened the door.At this moment, Frank heard Jenny's voice. "Basil, may I go in? Is there anyone else in the house?" "It's Frank," he answered, ushering her in. Jenny was dressed in Sabbath clothes, a color that seemed a bit too harsh to Dr. Frank, with a black hat with a bright bow that contrasted sharply with the fawn jacket, but she was pretty enough to outweigh her overdressing.She was tall, well-born, a full-breasted and passionate girl; her figure seemed to have been carved from the perfect Greek goddess, and no Duchess could have had a smaller one. Lips or a nose more delicate than hers; her pink ears are even more delicate than shells in the sea.But her vibrant colors always draw attention first, followed by her gorgeous long hair, bright eyes and incredibly smooth skin.There was an air of childlike innocence in her face--which was alluring, and Frank, after a critical scrutiny, was forced to admit that Mrs. Murray, though superior in dress and manner, A little bit, but compared with Jenny, it also looks dull.

"I thought you came home this afternoon," said Basil. "No, I can't. Today we closed at three, and I got here immediately afterwards, but you weren't there. I'm afraid you won't be back until six." It was obvious that Jenny wanted to speak to Basil, so after calmly shaking the ashes out of the pipe, Frank got up and left.Basil accompanied him downstairs. "Listen, Basil," said Frank, "if I were you, I'd take this opportunity to tell Jenny I'm leaving." "Yes, I'm going to do that too. I'm glad she's here. I wanted to write to her, but it didn't feel right. I hate myself for the pain I'm causing her." Frank is gone.At first he was a little envious of Basil's good fortune, and he began to curse his own fate, for no pretty girl had ever been so utterly infatuated with him: but again it was evidently a tiresome thing, and he would be more than anyone else. There was a strong sense that this was intolerable slavery, so Basil's renunciation was not out of flattery.Now, on his way to the club, thinking that no one is waiting for him, and no one is asking for anything from him, he begins to congratulate himself in a self-deprecating way, because beautiful women save their smiles for those who are more attractive than themselves. people. Basil returned to the room and saw that Jenny did not take off her hat as usual, but stood by the window, staring at the door.He went to kiss her, but she stepped back. "Don't be like this today, Basil. I have something to say to you." "Well, take off your hat and coat first, and relax." Basil thought that Jenny might have had a quarrel with her boss at the Golden Crown, or accused him of not seeing her for a few days, so he lit his pipe and answered her so cheerfully and nonchalantly.He didn't notice that Jenny looked at him differently, but when she spoke, the anguish in her voice shocked him. "I really don't know what I might do if I didn't find you today." "My God Jenny! What happened?" Her answer was laced with crying. "Basil, I'm in trouble." Her tears touched his heart, and very tenderly he reached out to embrace her; but she drew back again. "No, please don't come near me, or I won't have the courage to tell you." She wiped away her tears and walked up and down the room. "Basil, this morning, I wanted to see you. I came to your door, but I didn't have the courage to knock, so I went. Then this afternoon, when no one came to the door, I thought you It's gone, and I can't stand another night." "Tell me what happened, Jenny." A burst of terror struck, and his face suddenly became as pale as Jenny's.She looked at him anxiously. "I've been feeling unwell for the last few days," she whispered, "so yesterday I went to the doctor. The doctor told me I'm having a baby." Next, she began to cover her face and cry bitterly.Basil's heart sank, but when he saw the poor girl crushed by fear and shame, his heart was filled with self-reproach.If he had never regretted it before, then at this moment, he really regretted it very much. "Don't cry, Jenny; I can't stand that." She raised her head in despair, and that beautiful face became unbearable to look at because of the shock of despair and pain, all of which were tormenting Basil.He was very confused, and countless crazy thoughts ran through his mind: he was also afraid, but at the same time, on top of all other emotions, there was a triumphant ecstasy, because he was about to become a living father.Pride mingled with the throbbing of his pulse, and suddenly a miraculous, incomprehensible fire of love began to sear his heart; Kissed her with usual passion. "Ah! for God's sake, come on; it's nothing to you," she cried, trying to wrestle him from him, "but what shall I do? I wish I were dead. Before I knew you , I have never committed any misconduct." He couldn't bear her distress any longer, and a fleeting thought seemed irresistible at the moment.There is only one way to dry those tears and make amends, and that choice is easier to make in times of emotion.His whole soul was demanding a certain process, and it was driving him emotionally high and crushing any original goals.But when he spoke, his heart ached, because he was taking a step of no return, and only God knows where the end of this road is. "Don't cry, my dear; it's not so bad," he said, "we'd better get married at once." Jenny gasped in shock, stopped crying, looked at the ground silently, and then leaned close to Basil as if she had lost her soul.The words slowly sank into her mind, and she felt a little puzzled, as if Basil spoke some language she could not understand; however, she continued to remain silent, and began to tremble. "Again, Basil," she said softly, and after a moment's pause she went on, "are you serious? Can you really marry me?" She stood up and looked straight at him, disheveled and beautiful, a tragic figure of unspeakable anguish, the most evocative of noble pity. "Basil, I'm just a barman." "You are the mother of my children, and, I love you," he said solemnly. "I have longed to have children of my own, Jenny, and you make me feel so honored and so happy." Her tear-filled face, which had been ravaged by anxiety and terror, suddenly showed ecstasy and happiness, which made Basil feel tenfold rewarded. "Basil, you're so kind! You mean it, don't you? I'm really going to be with you forever?" "Do you really think so badly of me that I'm going to abandon you now?" "I'm a little scared. You haven't cared so much about me lately, Basil, and I was so upset, but I didn't dare to show it. At first, I didn't dare to tell you, because I thought you would be angry. I knew you wouldn't." Make me starve, but you might just give me money and let me go." He kissed her hand, burning with her radiant beauty for the first time. "I didn't know I loved you so much," he cried. She hid in his arms with a whimper, which now represented uncontrollable passion, so she kissed his lips with mad love. There was a gas fire in the passage at Basil's house, and Jennie presently, with charming housewife grace, was preparing the tea: she was doing it languidly and blissfully, proud to be of service to him, and Insisting that he still sit and smoke his cigarette while she prepares this. "Basil, I hope we don't have to use someone, I can serve you." "You shouldn't be going back to that nasty bar again." "You know, I can't leave them in the middle of a sudden shortage. I should have given them a week's notice." "Then do it right away, and when you're free we'll get married." "I shall be very happy!" she exclaimed with great joy. "Now, mind you, we must talk. I'm not very rich, you know. I only have three hundred pounds a year." "Ah! That's a lot. My father never earned more than three pounds ten shillings a week." Basil smiled vaguely, for his taste was such that it was difficult to achieve a satisfactory balance.But he persuaded himself that it would be more economical to live with two than with one; he would then be able to devote himself to the study of law, and would soon be able to earn an extra income.And while waiting, he can also write.They could afford a cottage in the suburbs of Barnes or Putney, and their honeymoon didn't have to be lavish, just a fortnight in Cornwall.But after that, he had to get to work right away. "If I told my mother I was getting married, she would be surprised," Jenny said with a smile. "You should meet her." Basil had only met one of Jenny's older brothers who lived in the city, for he occasionally came to the Golden Crown, but no other relatives of Jenny's; he knew only that they lived in Crouch End, north London. "If you didn't plan to marry me, I wouldn't go home again. My mother would definitely drive me out of the house. I was always scared when I went downstairs today, afraid that she would notice something." Suddenly, she had another Overwhelmed with misgivings, he quickly turned his head to look at Basil, "You mean the truth, don't you? You won't go back on your word now, will you?" "Of course not, you silly boy. Don't you think I'm proud of having such a beautiful wife?" When it was almost six o'clock, Jenny had to leave, because the Golden Crown Bar would open at six o'clock to welcome the eager Christians; while Basil, who had been with her all the way there, continued to walk forward, thinking about the new stage Some problems will be faced.The ability to go his own way regardless of other people's praise or blame is rare in human beings, so, with a very low self-confidence in his nature, what he wants most at this moment is advice and sympathy; Question, he was too embarrassed to bother Miss Ley on the same day.So he went back to his club and wrote a note hoping to see Miss Ley next morning. Basil slept very restlessly that night, so he got up later than usual the next day, and after barely eating a little breakfast, he received a reply from Miss Ley, expressing his pleasure to meet at eleven o'clock. He walked together in St James's Park.He met her there on time.They wandered around for a while, watching the wild birds in the park. Basil kept hesitating and saying something irrelevant, but Miss Ley noticed his unusual seriousness and guessed that he might have serious topics to think about. to mention. "Well, what happened?" she asked bluntly, sitting down. "Just wanted to tell you that I'm getting married soon." Immediately she thought of Mrs. Murray, and of when Basil would find a suitable opportunity to make the news public. "That's all?" she cried, laughing. "It's a very proper behavior for young people, and you don't have to take it too seriously." "I'm going to marry a Miss Bush." "My God, who is she? I've never heard of her," replied the good lady, looking at Basil in surprise, when suddenly a distant memory flashed through her mind, "Frank had Tell me, you found a girl named Jenny Bush and swore she was the cutest woman in the world, is that she?" She looked at him for a long time, searching for the answer she was expecting, "You won't To marry a waitress in a Fleet Street pub?" "Yes." He replied emphatically. "But why?" "Probably because I'm in love with her." "Ridiculous! An amorous young man may fall in love with many girls, but in a country where monogamy is enforced by Act of Parliament, he cannot possibly marry them all home." "I'm afraid I can give no other reason." "You may as well write to me with this interesting news," returned Miss Ley coldly. He bowed his head in frustration and was silent for a while. "I had to talk to someone about it," he said at last, "and I felt so alone, with no one to help me, no one to give me advice... I decided to marry Jenny because I had to. I've known her for a while—everything is so nasty, she came to me yesterday, after I left you. She could hardly help herself, poor thing, and she didn't know what she was talking about, Then she told me..." "You could have foreseen all this," interrupted Miss Ley. "yes." Miss Ley pondered for a moment, slowly scratching the gravel under her feet with her parasol, while Basil watched her anxiously. "Are you sure you're not fooling yourself?" she asked finally. "You're not in love with her, are you?" "No." "Then you have no right to marry her. Ah! my dear child, you do not know how annoying marriage can sometimes be, even with people of the same class and common interests. I have known many people in my life, and I can Surely marriage is the worst thing in the world, unless your passions are such that it becomes inevitable. And I detest anyone who thinks it's a trifle." "If I don't marry her, she'll kill herself. She's no ordinary barmaid. Before I knew her, she was a clean girl. It's kind of ruining her." "I think you're exaggerating all this. After all, it's just a regrettable accident of your ignorance; don't despair or put on airs. You can be gentleman enough to take care of this." Girl. She can hide in the country until it's all over, and when she comes back no one will know and she won't be any worse." "But it's not a question of whether people know; it's a matter of honor." "Isn't it too late to talk about morals? I don't know where your sense of honor went when you seduced her." "I know I'm a complete jerk," he replied deferentially, "but I see clearly the responsibility that lies before me, and I must take it up." "You speak as if nothing of the sort had ever happened before," continued Miss Ley. "Oh yeah, I know this sort of thing happens every day. If a girl gives in, she's screwed; it's none of the men's business—make her a whore, let her degenerate, and then Hang her." Miss Ley pursed her lips and shrugged.She wondered what he was going to do for a living, since his income was so meager that it wasn't enough to support a family, and he wasn't suited for the long hours of drudgery in the legal profession.And she was too familiar with the "literary" profession to know that it was not so prosperous.Basil lacked the agility of a journalist, and it took him two years to write a novel, which probably brought him no more than fifty pounds; The probability of being able to make a profit has become very slim.In addition, he is a man of luxury, who does not know how to save and save, and is unwilling to learn the art of bargaining. "I think you should realize that people can attack your wife," Miss Ley added. "Then they will hurt me too." "But you're the last person in the world to give in to these things. You love parties and country trips so much. A woman's smile is so important to you." "You're making it sound like I'm a deeply submissive person," he responded with a laugh. "After all, I just want to take responsibility. I made a terrible mistake, and God knows how much I regret it. But Now, I can clearly see the road ahead, and no matter what the cost, I must follow this road." Miss Ley was watching him intently, her sharp gray eyes searching his face carefully for clues. "Don't you think you value your heroism a little too much?" she asked, with a biting coldness in her voice, which made Basil want to flinch, "Nowadays, self-sacrifice is already a luxury, it's very Such abstinence is rare; people give sugar to others because it makes them fat. They make crazy self-sacrifices for the sake of total love, no matter how worthless that goal really is. In fact, That goal is seldom their own; they don't care how much damage they do so long as their passions are satisfied." "When I asked Jenny to marry me, I knew I had made the right decision when I saw the smile on the poor child's wet face. Oh! The important thing is to make her happy." "Basil, I'm not wondering if you're pitiful. I'm thinking you've done enough damage to that girl without marrying her... Do you think she can only be completely Are you miserable? You are only making this decision out of selfishness and cowardice, because you value your self-esteem too much and are afraid that you will cause others pain." This idea was new to Basil, but it didn't seem very plausible.He quickly put this aside. "Miss Ley, you have never thought of the child," he said slowly. "I cannot allow the child to hide in the world like a thief. I will give him an honest name; Notoriety is hard enough. And, after all, I'm proud to be a dad. Whatever it is for me, whatever it's going to be for the two of us, it's worth it for the kids." "When are you going to get married?" asked Miss Ley after a moment's silence. "I think it might be a week. You won't desert me, Miss Ley, will you?" "Of course not," she replied, smiling softly, "I think you're a fool, but most people are. They never realize that they only have one life, and that mistakes can never be undone." Yes. They approach their life with a chess mentality, thinking they can try this move, try that move, and when they get stuck in the mud, they can clear the board and start over." "But life is a chess game where someone is always going to be defeated. Death sits on the other side of the board, and for every move you make, it has a corresponding counter move, which can fend off all your carefully planned plans." They walked back to Old Queen Street, each haunted by their own thoughts, and when they reached their door Miss Ley offered to help Basil.Basil hesitated, and finally forced himself to speak. "One more thing now, Miss Ley: I believe, Mrs. Murray . . . I know I'm wrong, but I don't want her to think too badly of me." "I'm afraid you'll have to live with that," replied Miss Ley sharply. "There's nothing going on between you in connection with an engagement?" "No." "I'm going to meet her in a day or two and tell her you're getting married soon." "But what will she think of me?" "I suppose you don't want her to know the truth of the matter?" "Yes. I'm telling you because I feel I must have a heart-to-heart talk with someone. Of all people, I least want Mrs. Murray to know about it." "Then you'll have to let her guess. Good-bye." "Have you nothing else to say to me but this?" he asked desperately. "My dear, if you can take anything, you can try anything."