Chapter 4 Chapter Four

I don't remember anything about the fact that we invited Laurence Redding to dinner that night.I was taken aback when Griselda rushed in and scolded me, saying that it was only two minutes until dinner time. "I hope everything will be okay," Griselda called after me on the stairs, "I've considered what you said at lunch and I did come up with something delicious." Incidentally, our dinner amply confirmed Griselda's assumption that anything she did was counterproductive.The recipes are spectacular.Mary could not help expressing an unnatural delight in seeing that she could show the difference between underdone and overcooked.Griselda ordered some oysters, which no one seemed to cook, and it was a pity that we had to set the table, as there was no tool in the house to open the oyster shells.It wasn't until I wanted to eat this dish that I realized that I had to sacrifice this kind of food.

I very much doubt that Lawrence Redding will be there.He can easily find an excuse. However, he arrived on time.The four of us started eating. There is no denying that Lawrence Redding has a charming character.I think he was about thirty years old.Black hair, bright, startlingly blue eyes. He's the kind of young man who does everything well.He's good at sports, he's a good shooter, he's an amateur actor, and he tells a great story.He's a figure that keeps any gathering alive.I think he is probably of Irish descent.He is not at all a typical artist as people generally understand him, but I believe he is a spiritual painter with a modern style.I myself know very little about painting.

It was only natural that he should appear a little careless on such an evening.In general, he copes with Yuru.I don't think Griselda and Dennis noticed anything wrong.If I didn't know in advance, I probably wouldn't have noticed anything. Griselda and Dennis were extraordinarily happy, with constant jokes about Dr Stone and Miss Crumb, which were local gossip, and I felt with some painful suddenness that Dennis was closer in age to Grisel than I was Up to some.He called me Uncle Len, but he called her Griselda.Anyway, this me has a sense of loneliness. I thought I must have been disturbed by Mrs. Protheroe.I don't usually get into such unpleasant ruminations.

Griselda and Dennis talked a little too much from time to time, and I had no intention of stopping them.I have always thought it a pity that the presence of a priest should have a depressing effect. Lawrence talked happily.Even so, I felt his eyes flick to where I sat now and then.I was not surprised when, after dinner, he came over and invited me into the study for a chat. Once it was just the two of us, his look changed. "You have stumbled upon our secret, sir," said he, "what are you going to do about it?" I was much more frank with Redding than with Mrs. Protheroe.I am blunt.He accepted it.

"Of course," said he when I had finished, "you must have said that. You are a clergyman. I mean no malice in saying this, and on the contrary I think you may be right. But the difference between Anne and I The things between men and women are different from the general affair between men and women." I told him that people have said this since ancient times.A wry smile played over his mouth. "You mean everyone thinks their relationship is different? Maybe so. But you have to believe one thing." He assured me that "nothing has gone wrong" so far.Anne, he said, was the most sincere and faithful woman he had ever met.How the matter would end, he could not foretell. "If it's just a book," he said gloomily, "the old man will die—a great relief for everyone."

I scolded him. "Oh! I'm not saying I'm going to stab him in the back with a knife, but I'd appreciate it if someone did. There's not a single person in the world who thinks well of him. I wonder the first Prothero Why didn't the lady kill him. I saw her once a few years ago, and she seemed capable of doing it. A sinister woman. He was noisy and troublesome like a devil, and his temper was particularly annoying. You don't know how Anne puts up with him. If I had any money, I'd take her away at once." I persuaded him very sincerely, and begged him to leave St. Mary Mead.Her fate had already brought her misfortune, and if he stayed, it would only bring her even greater misfortune.

People would talk, things would get to Colonel Protheroe's ears, and she would be in a very bad place. Lawrence defended vigorously. "Nobody knows anything about it but you, Reverend." "My dear young man, you underestimate the curious nature of the townspeople. Here at St. Mary Mead, everyone knows your most secret affairs. There is no detective in England better than an elderly, There are plenty of idle women." That didn't matter, he said lightly, because everyone thought Lettice was in love with him. "Do you think," I asked, "that Lettice thinks so herself?"

The question seemed to surprise him rather.But he said Lettice cared nothing for him.He can be sure of that. "She's a queer girl," he said, "seems like she's always in a dream, but I believe that inside of her, she's quite lucid. I believe her nonchalant appearance is just a disguise. Lettice Knows exactly what she's doing. And she's got a ridiculous vengeance. It's odd that she hates Anne. Literally hates her! But Anne has been treating her like an angel." Of course, I don't agree with his last sentence.To a young man whose mind is obsessed with love, a mistress is always an angel to them.Nevertheless, according to my best observations, Anne always treated her step-daughter with kindness and fairness.I myself was surprised that afternoon by the vitriol of Lettice's words.

We had to cut off the conversation because Griselda and Denise barged in and said I can't make Lawrence an oldie. "My God!" said Griselda, sinking into an easy chair. "How I'd like some thrill that's still creepy! A murder—or a theft." "I don't think anyone has anything worth stealing," Lawrence said, trying to play to her mood. "Unless I steal Miss Hartnell's dentures." "The 'click' of those dentures is horrible," Griselda said, "but you'd be wrong to say there's nothing worth stealing, there's some fine old silver in the 'Old House', Low open salt shakers, Charles II cups - all sorts of things like that. Thousands of pounds worth, I dare say."

"The old man might shoot you with a revolver," Dennis said. "That's what he likes to do." "Oh, then we'd better go in and lock him up first," said Griselda. "Who's got a revolver?" "I have a Mauser," Lawrence said. "Really? How exciting! Why are you carrying a gun?" "It's a gift from the war." Lawrence said flatly. "Today, old Protherona showed Stone the silverware," Dennis volunteered, "but Old Stone pretended not to be interested." "I think they had an argument about the grave," Griselda said.

"Oh, they're reconciled!" said Dennis. "I don't know why people dig in their graves." "Stone confuses me," Lawrence said. "I think he must be very absent-minded. Sometimes you can be sure that he doesn't know anything about his subjects." "It was love," said Dennis, "sweet and sweet Gladys Crumb, you are a true beauty. Your teeth make my soul thrill. Come fly with me and be my bride. At the 'Blue Boar' Hotel, on the bedroom floor—” "Enough, Dennis," I said. "Oh," said Laurence Redding, "I must go. Mrs. Clement, you gave me a very pleasant evening, and I am very grateful!" Griselda and Dennis go to see off the guests.Then, Dennis went back to the study alone.Something must be troubling the boy.He paced aimlessly up and down the room, frowning, kicking the furniture. Our furniture was worn out and wouldn't stand up to further damage, yet I just gently reminded him not to do that. "I'm sorry," Dennis said. He was silent for a while, and then burst into words: "What a vile and vile thing is rapping!" I'm a little surprised. "What's going on?" I asked. "I don't know if I should tell you." I am more and more surprised. "It's a very vile business," Dennis went on, "spreading gossip and gossip. Not only telling, but hinting. No, damn--sorry--I'll tell you ! This thing is absolutely despicable and despicable." I looked at him strangely, but didn't press him further.However, I was very puzzled.It's not Dennis's nature to be so concerned about anything, when Griselda came in. "Miss Wetherby just called," she said, "Mrs. She hasn't come back yet. No one knows where she went." "Why should they know?" "But she's not going to Dr. Haydock. Miss Wetherby does know that because she's called Miss Hartnell, who lives next door to Dr. Haydock and will see her." "I can't figure it out," I said, "how the people in this place are nourished. They must be eating standing by the window, so as not to miss anything." "Not only that," said Griselda, getting excited too. "They also discovered the secret about the 'Blue Boar' Hotel. Mr. Stone lives next door to Miss Crumb, but—is..." She wagged a finger vigorously. "—but there is no door in the partition!" "In that case," I said, "it will be a great disappointment to everybody." This statement made Griselda laugh out loud. Thursday got off to a bad start.Two ladies in my parish had quarreled over the church decorations, and I was called to mediate the quarrel between the two middle-aged women. They were both shaking with rage.This is an interesting physiological phenomenon, if not distressing. Then I had to scold the two boys in the choir who were still sipping their drinks with relish during the holy hour of singing.I was displeased that I had not done my duty as piously as I should have done. Then the troublesome organist kicked it up again, and I had to put it down again. Also, four poor parishioners openly rebelled against Miss Hartnell, and she came to me in a rage. I was going home when I ran into Colonel Protheroe again.He had just punished three poachers as magistrate, so he looked cocky. "Severe punishment will never fail," he cried in a sonorous voice.He was a little deaf, and raised his voice as deaf people often do. "That's what's needed now--punishment! Frightening! That rascal Archer came out yesterday and said he swore revenge on me, I heard it. Shameless villain! Threatened men live longer, that's what the proverb says." Yes. Next time he's going to catch my pheasant again and let me catch it, I'll show him his revenge is worth nothing! Too loose! We're too loose now! What a man , just show people what kind of person he is, I believe this. People always ask you to think about a person's wife and children. Fucking bullshit! Nonsense! Why is it just because a person misses him Let him get away with his wife and children? It's the same with me - no matter who - doctor, lawyer, priest, thief, drunk - if you catch him while doing something illegal, let the law to punish him. You agree with me, I believe." "You forget," I said, "that my profession requires me to respect, above all other qualities, one quality—compassion." "Oh, I'm a fair man. No one can deny that." I didn't answer, but he asked sharply: "Why don't you answer? It's just a matter of thinking on your part, man." I hesitated for a moment, then said decisively: "I was thinking that I would regret that when it was my turn, the only plea I made was justice. Because it probably meant that I could only deliver justice." "Well, what we need is a little Christian prowess. I've always done my duty, and I hope so. Well, no arguing. As I said, I'll be at your place to-night. If you don't mind, How about a quarter past six instead of six? I've got to see a man in the village." "I think that's fitting." He swung his cane away.As I turned around, I met Howes.I think he looks sick this morning.I wanted to say a few words to him about all kinds of messy things in his jurisdiction, but seeing his pale and tense face, I felt that this man was really sick. I told him that he was sick, and he still wanted to Deny, but the attitude is not firm. Finally, he admitted that he was not feeling well, and seemed ready to heed my suggestion that he should go home to bed, and I had a quick lunch and went out to visit some people.Griselda took the cheap Thursday train to London.I came home about a quarter to four, and tried to get out the outlines of the Sunday sermon, but Mary came in and said Mr. Redding was waiting for me in the study, and I found him pacing up and down, pale and haggard, worried. He turned around suddenly as I entered the room. "Listen, sir. I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. I've been up all night thinking about it. You're right. I've got to cut it off and go away." "My dear boy," I said. "You're right about Anne. I'm only going to cause her trouble by staying. She's just--she's just too pure and beautiful to be in any trouble. I know I must go. That's it. , I've embarrassed her enough." God bless me, I could see that he must have thought it was an easy thing to say to an outsider who hadn't experienced it himself. "You'll take care of Annie, won't you? She needs a friend." "You can rest assured that I will do my best." "Thank you, sir," he squeezed my hand. "You are a good man, priest. I'll say goodbye to her tonight and maybe pack up and leave tomorrow.There is little benefit in procrastinating on suffering.Thank you for allowing me to paint in the studio.I regret not being able to finish Mrs. Claremont's portrait. " "Don't worry about that, my dear boy. Good-bye, and God bless you." After he left, I tried to get quiet and prepare for the sermon, but it was hard.I keep thinking about Lawrence and Anne. I drank a very unpleasant cup of tea, cold and without milk.At half past five, the phone rang.I have been told that Mr Abbott of Lowland Farm is dying, and that I should go at once. I immediately called the Old House, as Lowland Farm was nearly two miles away, so there was no way I would be back at a quarter past six.I have never learned to ride a bicycle. I was told, however, that Colonel Protheroe had just driven out, so I had to set off, telling Mary that I had been called away, but would try to be back by six-thirty or later.