Chapter 14 Chapter One

At the end of February Miss Ley returned to England.Unlike most of her compatriots, she did not go abroad to visit friends with whom she used to stay at home, although Bella and Herbert Field were in Naples and Mrs. Murray was in Rome, she Also intentionally avoid them.She hoped to make a few casual acquaintances, for she thought that the wandering Englishman had a pleasant and salutary frankness which was contrary to their idiosyncrasies.For example, in Venice or on the picturesque island of Capri, the setting might be romantic, and all sorts of wonderful things are shown without scruple.In these places, you may meet middle-aged companions whose passionate adventures will surprise the demure elders.You will see how strange the tradition is here, and how common the oddity is.With her discreet self-assurance and demure style, Miss Ley enjoyed herself in foreign lands.She listened to the strange confessions of men who had left the world behind for their souls, and now spoke as best they could of their past passions.And those women who would have disrespected God for love's sake often now recall with a shrug their shoulders the long-gone enthusiasm of the past.

"Have you anything new to tell me?" asked Frank, who met Miss Ley in Victoria, just as he sat down to dinner in a restaurant in Old Queen Street. "Nothing special. But I have found that when entertainment wears a man out, he is often convinced that he has exhausted it. Then he will solemnly tell you that nothing can satisfy the human heart." But Frank has more important news, that is, Jenny gave birth to a dead baby a week ago and became very ill, and everyone thought that she might not have much time.But now, the most dangerous moment has finally passed, and if nothing unexpected happens, she may slowly recover.

"How's Basil's reaction?" asked Miss Ley. "He hardly said anything. He's been quiet lately, but I suppose it's broken his heart. You know, he's got a lot of hope for that kid." "Do you think he loves his lady?" "He was very considerate of her. There aren't many people like him after a catastrophe like that. I think the saddest of them all was Jenny. You know, she thinks that's why they got married— And Basil just kept trying to comfort her." "I must go and see him. But now, tell me about Mrs. Castingyoung."

"I haven't paid attention to her for a long time." Miss Ley studied Frank carefully.He suddenly wondered if Frank might not know about the affair between Mrs. Castine Young and Reggie Bassett, so although he wanted to discuss this issue, he didn't want to risk revealing the secret.In fact, he knew all about it and feigned ignorance to see how Miss Ley could steer the conversation where she wanted it; Frank thought it was amusing.She talked about the presiding priest of Tkenbury, about Bella and her husband.Next, Reggie is mentioned, seemingly inadvertently.But Frank's blinking eyes made her suddenly realize that he was making fun of her strategy.

"Well you heartless man!" she cried, "why didn't you tell me all this? Instead of letting me stumble upon it." "Miss Ley, my gender reminds me to have a little credibility." "You don't have to be serious about your nasty villainy. How did you know their secret?" "That friendly young man told me. There are very few men who can't resist showing off their successful conquests, and Reggie is clearly not one of those few." "You don't know Hugh Colon, do you? He had affairs all over Europe, the most notorious of which was with a foreign princess whose name was unknown. I suppose if she hadn't given him the extravagant , a handkerchief with a crown embroidered on one corner, and a big initial, she's sure to bore Hugh Colon to death."

Miss Ley then told her experience of meeting them in Rochester. Of course, she arranged the story in an orderly and interesting way. "You think that's the end of it?" Frank asked sarcastically. "Don't be so mean just because I expect the best." "My dear Miss Ley, the more jerk a man is, the more his woman loves him. But when a man takes himself seriously and treats women decently, he has a bad life." "Frank, you really don't know anything about these things," Miss Ley retorted, "Please give me the facts, and tell me the philosophical conclusions that I can deduce by myself."

"Well. Reggie has a talent for dealing with women. I've heard about your travels in Rochester and what you've seen, and assured him you wouldn't tell his mother. He didn't think he was being heroic, Therefore, she assumed a defiant attitude, and for the next month, she ignored Mrs. Castingyoung. Then, the woman began to write to him humbly, begging his forgiveness; and Reggie accepted it graciously. He came to see me, threw the letter on the table and said, 'My friend, if anyone asks you, please tell him that what I don't know about women is not worth knowing.' Two days later he had another a gold cigarette case."

"What did you say to him?" "One day, you will be punished." "You have shown your intelligence and your values. I sincerely hope he gets retribution." "But I don't think it's going very well," Frank added. "Reggie told me Mrs. Carsting Young made his life miserable and he was getting more and more stubborn. Being a woman When you start to fall in love with you with all your heart, it's usually not a joke. And, he's never been in that situation before, and he's even shocked by Mrs. Castinyan's vulgarity. Her behavior often surpasses his The definition of modesty."

"Isn't this just a reflection of the British style! Even if you are debauched, you still have to flaunt the norms of behavior." After that, Miss Ley asked about Frank's recent situation, but he had nothing to say.The job at St. Luke's was tedious—teaching students three times a week and seeing patients in outpatient clinics on Wednesdays and Saturdays.People started flocking to his Harley Street consulting room, and he looked to the future, thinking he might become a sought-after physician — a prospect he wasn't too enthusiastic about. "Are you in love?"

"You know, I won't allow myself to fall in love as long as you're single," he replied with a smile. "Attention, I will not drag you to the altar by your hair just because of your words. Don't I have a competitor?" "Well, if you force me, I'll confess." "Damn guy, what's her name?" "Bilharzia Hoematobi (a type of schistosome fluke)." "My God!" "This is a type of parasite that I'm working on. I think the authorities are completely wrong about it. They don't get its life cycle right, and their research on how to get these schizosomes is a complete waste of time .”

"I don't think your words are so shocking, but I think you are just saying that to cover up your shameful relationship with a ballerina girl." Miss Ley visited Basil and Jenny in Barnes, but they did not seem very grateful for her visit.They look tired and unhappy.It was only when he introduced his wife to Miss Ley that Basil forced a smile.Jenny was still in bed, very weak, but Miss Ley, who had never seen her, expressed wonder at her beauty; Talk about some things that have disappeared, such as that lovely and innocent smile that can make this English girl comparable to the English rose.The observant Miss Ley also noticed Jenny's pain, doubt and anxiety when she looked at her husband, as if she was afraid of some undue reproach. "I hope you like my wife." Basil said while accompanying Miss Ley downstairs. "Poor child! She seems to me like a lovely bird imprisoned by fate, imprisoned by the four walls of real life, when she should have the right to sing under the open sky. I I think you'd be unkind to her." "Why?" asked Basil angrily. "Honey, you'll get her used to your blue china teapot. The world would be a much happier place if people didn't stick to some of their principles." When Jenny's condition became dangerous, Mrs. Bush rushed over, but in grief and irritation, she began to seek comfort in Basil's whiskey, and Basil had to beg her to return to himself. degree of home.Sensing her tendency to drink, Kent locked the sideboard and took the key the second or third day after Mrs. Bush's arrival.But soon, the servants of the family came to him. "Sir, Mrs. Bush said, please give her some whiskey if you can; she feels very ill." "I'll go and talk to her myself." Mrs. Bush, sitting in the dining room with her arms folded, does her best to represent a mother's anxiety, discomfort, and damaged dignity.Seeing that the person who came was not a maid but her son-in-law, she seemed a little unhappy. "Oh, Basil, is that you?" said she. "I can't find the key to the sideboard, and I'm so disturbed that I must have something to drink." "Mrs. Bush, I wouldn't be like this if I were you. You'd be better off without those things." "Oh, yes!" she replied, very unhappy, "maybe you know my own inner feelings better than I do! Young man, I just ask you to give me the key, hurry up! I can tell You, I'm not the kind of woman who can be perfunctory." "I'm sorry, but I think you've had enough. Jenny may need you, so you'd better stay sober." "Are you insinuating my incompetence?" "I haven't thought that far," he replied with a slight smile. "You don't have to worry about that!" exclaimed Mrs. Bush angrily. "I'm grateful you don't laugh at me. I must say that it breaks my heart that my daughter is lying in bed so sick. I am very sorry." Sorry, I wish you would treat me like a lady; but you never did, Mr. Kent, not even when I first came here. Yes, I haven't forgotten that, you Don't expect me to forget that either. A sixpence teapot would have sufficed for me, but after your lady friend came you took out the silver teapot right away, but I don't believe it's real at all Silverware. Mr. Kent, you are cruel, but all I have to say is, please respect me. You are a good young man, and when my daughter is sick in bed, you take pity on me and give me a drink .If it wasn't for her, I would never have stayed here any longer." "Then I suggest you go back to your comfortable and comfortable home in Crouch End." After the lady recovered her breath, Basil replied to her. "You say that! Well, I'll see what Jenny has to say. I hope my daughter is the mistress of the house." Mrs. Bush started towards the door, but Basil stopped her at the door. "I can't let you bother her now. I don't think you're in the right place to speak to her." "Do you think I'll let you stop me? Young man, get out of the way." Basil suddenly became furious, and looked at the angry woman indifferently and contemptuously. "Mrs. Bush, I'm sorry for hurting your feelings, but I think it would be better for you to leave my house right away. Fanny will help you clean up and pack your things. I'm going to Jenny's room now, and I won't let you Go there again. I hope you'll be gone in half an hour." He turned away from an enraged Mrs. Bush and threatened her.But Mrs. Bush was used to doing things her own way despite opposition, and Basil's habits did not suggest that he could easily tolerate objections.So she made up her mind that no matter what the result was, she must force her way into Jenny's room and complain to her.Before she could rehearse what she should say after meeting Jenny, the maid came in and told her that according to the master's instructions, she had packed and packed Mrs. Bush's things.Jenny's mother was furious, but for the sake of her own face, she tried her best not to show it in front of the maid. "Very well, Fanny! It's not a place for a lady; I sympathize with you, my dear, because you have a master like my son-in-law. You can tell him that I don't think he's a gentleman at all. " Jenny was soundly asleep, but was awakened by the sudden slamming of the door. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Honey, it's your mother, she just left. Do you mind?" She glanced at him, the experience of her parents' quarrels in the past told her that Basil and his mother must have had a quarrel, and seeing that Basil was not annoyed by it, she began to feel a little worried.She offered him her hand. "No, I'm happy. I want to be alone with you. I don't want anyone between us." He bent down and kissed Jenny, who wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're not mad at me for not keeping our baby?" "Honey, how could I be mad at you?" "Tell me you don't regret marrying me." Now, suddenly, Jenny realized that Basil had married her solely for the sake of the child, and she began to feel terribly afraid.Their hobbies were so different, and she began to gradually realize how big the gap was between them. It seemed that Basil's desire for children was the reason why Jenny continued to attract him.All he loved was the mother, and now he must regret his impulsiveness, because it now seemed that Jenny had obtained the marriage under false pretense.The main bond that united them was broken, and though Jenny meekly accepted Basil's well-intentioned attentions, she kept asking herself painfully what it would be like to recover from her illness. Time passed, and the stars moved.Although Jenny was still pale and listless as usual, she had enough strength to leave her room.Her sister suggested that she go to Brighton and stay with her for a month when she was on the mend.And Basil couldn't leave London for a long time due to work reasons, but he promised to see Jenny on weekends.One afternoon, he returned home excitedly, and the publisher had just written to tell him that they had taken a fancy to his book and would publish it next spring.This looks like the first step to success.He came home to find his brother-in-law, James Bush, sitting with Jenny, and Basil greeted him very warmly, as he was in the midst of it.However, James changed his usual hip-hop style and showed a dejected look, which would definitely attract Basil's attention in normal times.He left soon, and it was only then that Basil realized that there was something unusual about Jenny.Although he wasn't sure, he guessed that the Bush family must be in some financial trouble, so he came to Jenny while he was away.In the beginning, he always tried to accommodate their demands of this kind.He chose to turn a blind eye to Jenny's help to his family, and when Jenny asked him for more money, he always gave her without saying a word. "Why did Jimmy come to you at this time?" He asked casually, thinking that he was here for such things. "I thought he didn't get off work until six o'clock." "Basil, something has happened, and I simply don't know what to tell you." "I hope he didn't want us to take him in," Basil said coldly, "I'm not financially well this year, and I hope to spend all my money on you." Jenny tried to muster up her courage.Turning her head to one side, she said in a trembling voice, "I don't know what to do. He's in trouble. If he doesn't raise £115 in a week, his firm will sue him." "Jenny, what do you mean?" "Oh, Basil, don't be angry. I'm ashamed to tell you that I've been hiding it for a month, but now I can't help it. His condition is getting worse and worse." "You mean, is he stealing?" Basil asked seriously, and a wave of terror and loathing swept over him spontaneously. "For God's sake, please don't look at me like that!" she cried.Because at this moment Basil's eyes and tight lips made her feel like that despicable criminal who needed to confess everything before the court. "He didn't mean to be bad either. I don't quite understand, but he can tell you how it all is. Basil, you can't let him be sent to prison! If I leave you, you can give Does he have the money he needs?" Basil sat down at the table and considered the matter carefully. He put his face on his hands, trying to avoid Jenny's staring eyes on him.He didn't want the horror of Jenny's news of her, the hopeless shame he felt.But she could still see him. "Basil, what are you thinking?" "Nothing. I'm trying to figure out how to raise money." "You don't think, because he's my brother, that I have the same virtues as him?" He just looked at her without answering.Basil did encounter many misfortunes: his wife's mother was an alcoholic, and his wife's brother wanted to acquire property in the most primitive way. "It's not my fault," she cried, growing paler, to break Basil's silence. "Don't think too badly of me." "No, it's not your fault," he replied, but his tone could not help becoming indifferent, "but you should go to Brighton anyway, but I think this summer may not be so easy." He wrote a check, followed by a letter to the relevant persons at the bank where his account was held, requesting an advance payment of an undue bond worth £100. "Here he is," cried Jenny, after hearing a burst of bells. "I'll let him be back in half an hour." Basil immediately stood up. "You'd better give your brother the check at once. Tell him I don't want to see him." "Basil, is he still here?" "Jenny, that's up to you. If you like, let's pretend he's just misfortune, not injustice; but I'd rather he didn't bring it up. I don't want him to thank me, and I don't want his excuses." .” Jenny silently accepted the check.She would have thrown her arms around Basil's neck and begged his forgiveness, but Basil's heavy look frightened her.All evening he sat so sullenly that Jenny dared not speak.Basil kissed her when he said good night to her, but more stiffly than ever.Jenny couldn't sleep all night, crying in pain.She could not understand the deep disgust with which Basil viewed the matter.To her, it was just a small mistake on Jimmy's part, and she agreed with her brother that he had just had bad luck.She resented a little that Basil would not listen to his explanation, and was convinced that a worse view must be true. A few days later, Basil, who unexpectedly returned home, found that Jenny was happily talking with her brother.Her brother was apparently back in his usual cheerful mood and was not at all ashamed of his escapades. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Basil!" he cried, holding out his hand. "I just came over and wondered if I could meet you. I wanted to thank you for lending me that money. " "I'd rather you didn't mention that." "Why? It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just a little unlucky, that's all. You know, I'll pay you back. You don't have to worry about that." He babbled on about it, how unfortunate the man who deserved help was, and explained that even the most innocent man may be compelled by circumstances to commit a crime.Basil didn't admire the guy's brazenness at all, so he just listened indifferently and didn't say a word. "You don't have to make excuses for yourself," he said at last. "I'm helping you only for my own sake. If it weren't for Jenny, I don't have a thing to do with whether you're going to jail or not, and I don't." won't care." "Oh, that was all just kidding. They're not going to sue me. Didn't I tell you they don't have case numbers? You trust me, right?" "No, I don't believe you." "What do you mean?" James asked angrily. "Forget it, let's not discuss this issue." James didn't answer, but gave Basil a savage look. "Young man, you can whistle for your money," he muttered under his breath, "and I won't give it back to you." For this large amount of money, he did not have the determination to pay back; but now, he has completely put aside this idea.During the six months since Jenny's marriage he had ignored Basil's indifference to him.He hated Basil's arrogance, but needed his help, so he was careful all the time, although sometimes he couldn't control his temper very well, but he always tried to maintain a sincere look.He knew that his brother-in-law didn't welcome him to his house, especially now, when he didn't have a job, so he decided to avoid him.He tried to refrain from insulting him publicly, but he kept reassuring himself that sooner or later there would always be a chance of revenge. "Good-bye, then," he said quietly, "I'm going." Witnessing all this, Jenny felt panicked, and at the same time, even more angry, because Basil's indifference and contempt for her brother seemed to reflect some of her own views. "You should at least treat him politely." Jenny said to Basil after Jimmy left. "I'm afraid I've used up all my manners." "Anyway, he's always my brother." "It's a truth that pains me so much," he replied. "You don't need to treat him so badly when he's downhill. He's no worse than a lot of people." Basil turned to Jenny, eyes full of anger. "My God, don't you realize that the man is a thief! Don't you feel the slightest bit about him being so dishonest? Don't you know how bad a man is like that?" Filled with disdain, he paused.This was the first quarrel that broke out between the two, and Jenny showed a shrew-like expression on her face. Her face was no longer pale, but was reddened by anger.Fortunately, Basil quickly regained his composure.Thinking of his wife's illness and the pain of the child she had just lost, he regretted his actions just now. "Jenny, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I should have remembered you liked him." But as she made no answer, and looked away angrily, Basil sat down on the arm of the chair in which she was sitting, and stroked her beautiful hair. "Don't be mad, honey. We're not going to argue anymore, are we?" Jenny couldn't resist Basil's tenderness at this moment, she cried to herself, and passionately kissed Basil's hand caressing her hair. "No, no," she cried, "I love you too much. So don't talk to me so hard, it will make me very sad." The cloud that had briefly hung over them lifted and they turned to discussing the journey to Brighton.Jenny was going to board there, and she got Basil to assure her that he would be there every Saturday.Frank invited him to live temporarily at his apartment on Harley Street, and when Jenny left, he planned to stay with Frank. "Basil, you will not forget me?" "Of course not! But you have to get well soon and come back." When she was gone and Basil arrived at Frank's house, he could not help feeling a great deal of relief.It's a joy to be with a bachelor again: he likes the smell of cigarettes in the room, the messy pile of books, and the relaxed feeling of not being responsible.Here, he didn't have to do anything he didn't like to do, and for the first time since Basil got married, he felt completely relaxed and comfortable.Thinking of his cozy home in Temple brought a breath of the old world to his face, and he thought of the long conversations of these days, the time spent in daydreaming, and the undisturbed reading.He began to shudder, thinking of his current home, the cramped suburban house, and the worries about domestic affairs, the longing for privacy.He thought his life would be happy and perfect, but it turned out to be dirty. After breakfast, Dr. Frank saw Basil light a cigarette, stood by the mantelpiece, leaned back in his chair, and sighed with relief.Our doctor then said with a smile: "Single people also have their own happiness." But after seeing Basil's strange expression, he immediately regretted saying that.He began to realize that the young couple might not be getting along very well. "By the way," Frank added quickly, "would you like to go to a party tonight? Mrs. Edward Stringale will be hosting tonight, and many people you know will be there." "I haven't been anywhere since I got married." He said hesitantly. "I'm going to see old friends tonight. May I invite you?" "That's a good offer. Gosh, I should have a good time." He smiled. "I haven't worn a tux in six months."