Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Stephen Farrard

Stephen Farley was thinking of Rosemary--thinking of her with shock, her image recurring in his mind.Usually, the thoughts came one by one, and he pushed them out of his mind at once—but there were times, as irresistible as she had been in life, when she refused to be so tyrannically driven away by him. His first reaction was always the same, always a quick, irresponsible shrug when he remembered the scene in the restaurant.At least, he didn't need to think about all that again, his thoughts turned back to the farther past, back to Rosemary's life, Rosemary's every frown, smile, breath, and look...

What a fool--what an unbelievable fool he had been! But a wave of amazement came over him, utter bewilderment, astonishment.How did all that happen?He couldn't understand it at all.It was as if his life had been divided into two parts: one part—the larger one—was a sober, balanced march;The two parts don't match up at all. Even with his abilities, his quickness, his refined wit, it never occurred to Stephen that they actually matched. At times, he looked back at his past and assessed it dispassionately, but always with a certain smug, self-congratulatory tone.From an early age, he was determined to succeed, and despite the odds, it was a rocky start.He still made it.

He was always forthright with faith and outlook.He believed in willpower.As long as you are determined, you can succeed in anything! Stephen Farley had firmly cultivated his willpower since he was a child.In addition to the achievements of his own efforts, he can also ask for some external assistance in life.A pale boy of seven, with a fine forehead and a firm chin, he was determined to climb—high.He already knew that his parents were of no use to him.His mother had married someone lower than her - and deeply regretted it.His father was a shrewd, cunning, mean little construction worker, despised by his wife and son... He was baffled by his mother's ambiguity, aimlessness, and mood swings, until one day he found her It fell under the table, and an empty German cologne bottle slipped from her hand, and he suddenly understood.He never thought drinking was an explanation of her mood swings.She had never drunk alcohol, not even beer, and it had never occurred to him that there was a more fundamental reason for her liking for cologne than her vague claim of a headache.

He knew then that he had no affection for his parents.He suspects they do the same to him.He looked younger than his age, silent and prone to stuttering.His father called him "sissy".A well-behaved little boy who rarely causes trouble at home.His father would have preferred a noisier child. "When I was his age, I was always naughty as hell." Sometimes, as he watched Stephen, he felt uncomfortably inferior to his wife in society.Stephen was in her category. With the growing willpower, Stephen silently drew the blueprint of his life.He wants to succeed.He decided to overcome his stuttering as the first test of willpower.He practiced speaking slowly, pausing slightly after each word.After a while, his efforts paid off and he stopped stuttering.At school, he was engrossed in his lessons and determined to receive a good education.Education gets you to a certain point.Soon, his teachers became interested in him and kept encouraging him.He got a scholarship.His parents were visited by the educational authorities - there was hope for this child.Mr. Farreddy, who was now making a fortune by building a house that cut corners, was persuaded to invest money in his son's education.

At the age of twenty, Stephen graduated from Oxford University with honors. He was known as a good speaker full of wit and a knack for writing.He also made some very useful friends.Politics was his interest and it was very attractive to him.He overcame his natural shyness while developing an admirable social demeanor—dignity, friendliness, and a look of intelligence that made it necessary to say, "That young man has a bright future." He became a member of the Liberal Party, but he knew that the Liberal Party was dead, at least at the time.So he joined the Labor Party.Before long he was known as an increasingly popular young man.However, the Labor Party cannot satisfy Stephen.He found it less open to new ideas and more bounded by tradition than its formidable larger counterpart.On the contrary, the Conservative Party pays more attention to absorbing young talents.

They sanctioned Stephen Farrelly -- he was exactly the type they wanted.He ran for MPs in a Labor constituency and won with a very close majority.Stephen took the seat of the House of Commons with a feeling of victory.His career had begun, and it was the right one for him.In the House of Commons, he can use all his abilities and all his ambitions.He is very confident that he can do well.He has a genius for dealing with people, knowing when to flatter and when to disapprove.He vowed that one day, he would enter the cabinet. Once the excitement of entering Congress wore off, however, he was immediately disillusioned.That hard-fought electoral victory made him stand out.But now that everything has fallen into routine, he is just a little screw of little meaning to be flattered under the control of the party, and he has been nailed to his position all the time.Standing out here is no easy feat.The younger generation is viewed with suspicion up to this point.In politics, in addition to personal ability, power is also needed.

There are certain people just like you.There are certain powerful families.You have to find a powerful family sponsor. He considers marriage.He had seldom thought about it before, and in the back of his mind he had a vague image: some beautiful woman would stand hand in hand with him, share his life, his ambitions; Give birth to a child, relieve his confusion and troubles; a woman who thinks the same as him, and desires his success, and after his success, is proud of him. Then one day he attended a grand banquet at Kidderminster's house.This family is the most powerful in England.They have always been a big political family.Sir Kidderminster's tall, prominent figure, with a hint of majesty, was known to everyone wherever he went.Mrs. Kidderminster's face, like a wooden horse, was well known in every committee and public platform all over England.They had five daughters, three of whom were rather pretty, but all serious; their only son was still at Eton College.

Kidderminster paid attention to encouraging and promoting the promising young people in the party, so Farley was invited. He didn't know many people, so when he arrived, he stood alone by a window for about twenty minutes.When the crowd at the tea table gradually dispersed and turned into other rooms, Stephen noticed a tall girl in black standing alone by the table, looking a little lost. Stephen Farley had a sharp eye.On the subway ride that morning, he had picked up a woman's discarded copy of "Family Notes" and glanced at it casually. There was an unobtrusive photograph of Miss Alexander Hale, Kidd. The third daughter of the Earl of Minster.Underneath the photograph there is a little text about her--"...always shy, timid--loved animals--Miss Alexander took housekeeping lessons, for Mrs. Kidderminster wanted all her daughters to be thoroughly grounded in housekeeping .”

Standing there was Miss Alexander Hale. Looking at her once as a shy person, Stephen immediately knew that she was also a shy girl.As the most ordinary of five daughters, Alexander always suffered under inferiority complex.She had been brought up the same way as her sisters, but never learned to behave like them, much to her mother's great distress.Cinderella had to try—it was ridiculous to be so clumsy and awkward. Stephen didn't know this, but he knew that the girl was restless and unhappy.Suddenly, an idea popped up.This is his chance! "Seize it, you fool, seize it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime, fleeting opportunity!" He crossed the room to the long dining table.He stood beside the girl and picked up a sandwich.Then, turning around, nervously and laboriously (not contrived, really nervous), he said:

"I thought—would you mind if I talked to you? I don't know many people here, and I can see you too. Don't blame me. To be honest,—I'm shy—shy—shy"( His stuttering a few years ago is duly highlighted) "And—and I think you're—you're—sh—shy, too, aren't you?" The girl blushed—her mouth opened, but as he'd guessed, she couldn't speak.She could not say "I am the daughter of the owner of the house", but admitted calmly: "Honestly, I—I'm shy. Always have been." Stephen went on quickly: "It's a horrible feeling. I don't know if people can get over stuttering? Sometimes I feel like my tongue is tied in hundreds of knots."

"me too." He went on—talking a little rapidly, a little stuttering—with a childish, pleasant manner.This attitude, which had been natural to him a few years ago, was now deliberate.It was a youthful, innocent, unarmed attitude. He soon brought the topic to drama, mentioning a play that was being staged and attracting many people's interest.Xian Daila has seen it.They discussed.It was a play about social service, and it didn't take long for them to dig into that. Steven always knows enough is enough.He saw Mrs. Kidderminster enter, her eyes searching for her daughter.His plan was not to be introduced now, so he whispered farewell to Shantila. "It was a pleasure talking to you. I was bored here until I found out about you. Thank you." He left Kidderminster Hall with excitement.He has seized his opportunity.Then there is the further consolidation of what he has begun. For several days after that he lingered about the Kidderminster mansion.Once Cinderella walked out of the house with one of her younger sisters.Once, she went out alone, but in a hurry.He answered and shook his head.Not this time, she was obviously in a hurry to go to an important appointment.Then, about a week after the feast, his patience paid off.One morning, she took a small Scottish terrier out for a leisurely stroll into the park.Five minutes later, a young man walked over quickly from the opposite side, and then stopped in front of Shantila.He cheered joyfully: "Hey, how lucky I am! I wonder if I'll ever see you again." His voice was so pleasant that she only blushed a little. He bent down to pet the puppy. "What a cute little guy. What's his name?" "Mark Davisey." "Ah, it looks like a Scottish name." They talked about dogs for a while.Then Stephen said with some embarrassment: "I didn't tell you my name that day. Farley, Stephen Farley. I'm a little-known Congressman." He looked at her questioningly, and she blushed and said, "My name is Alexander Hale." His answer was good.It was as if he was back in his Oxford days.Surprise, recognition, embarrassment, embarrassment, all kinds of complex emotions! "Oh, you're--you're Miss Alexander Hale--you--goodness! You must have thought me the greatest fool in the world that day!" Her answer was predictable. Due to her blood and natural kindness, she certainly tried her best to make him return to nature and no longer think about embarrassment. "I should have told you then." "I should have known. You must think I'm an idiot!" "How should you know? What does it matter? Mr. Farreddy, please don't be so disturbed. Let's go over to the pool. You see, Mark Davisy is dragging me." Afterwards, he met her several times in the park.He told her his ideals and ambitions.They discuss politics together.He found her to be intelligent, well informed, and compassionate.She has a good head, is objective and unbiased.Now they have become friends. His further opportunity comes when he is again invited to a ball at Kidderminster House.One of Kidderminster's promotions failed at the last minute.When Mrs. Kidminster was thinking about the successor, Sandra said calmly: "How about Stephen Farley?" "Stephen Farley?" "Yes, he attended your banquet that day, and I met him several times later." Mrs. Kidderminster consulted with her husband, who would be happy to promote the best young men in politics. "Brilliant young man--quite bright, I've never heard of him, but he's going to make his mark before long." Stephen was introduced and behaved appropriately. Two months later, Steven made his biggest bet on luck.They sat by the pool in the park, with Mark Davis lying on Cinderella's feet. "Chandila, you know—you must know that I love you and that I want you to marry me. If I didn't have the confidence that I'd make it someday, I wouldn't dare ask you. I'm confident. You would never Shame on your choice, I swear." "I'm not ashamed," she said. "So you agreed?" "Can't you see?" "I hope—but I can't be sure. Do you know that I fell in love with you the day I got up the courage to talk to you. I was never so nervous and frightened in my life." She said, "I think I'm in love with you too..." However, things didn't all go so smoothly.Cinderella calmly announced that she was going to marry Stephen Farley, which immediately aroused her family's opposition.Who is he?What did they know about him? " Stephen was quite candid about his parentage to Sir Kidderminster.It's just that he skipped one thought and didn't say it, that is, both his parents have passed away now, which is more beneficial to his future. Sir Kidderminster said to his wife: "Well, it may be quite serious." He knew her daughter well enough to know that behind her calm demeanor lay a strong and unyielding determination.If she wants someone, she will never give up. "That kid has a future. Give him a little support and he will develop a lot. God knows what our young man will do? He seems to be quite a talent." Mrs. Kidderminster reluctantly agreed, for in her opinion that was not at all the ideal son-in-law for her.Cinderella, however, was indeed the family's conundrum.Susan has beauty, Esther has brains.Diana, the bright child, married the young Duke of Harwich - a general in the ruling party.Cinderella's charm is much less - and her shyness - if the young man is as promising as everyone thinks... She said to herself: "But of course, one always has to rely on power..." So, for better or for worse, Alexander Catherine Hale donned white gauze and a bridal gown trimmed with Belgian lace, accompanied by six maids of honor and two maids-in-waiting, with Stephen Lee Ona Faretti had a very trendy wedding.They went to Italy for their honeymoon and came back to live in a lovely little house in Westminster, and not long afterward Cendilla's godmother died and left her a Queen Anne bouquet in the country.Everything is going well for the newlywed young couple.With a brand-new attitude, Stephen is trying his best to rush into his career as a member of Congress. Cinderella helps and encourages him in many ways, and wholeheartedly agrees with his ambition.Sometimes, Stephen couldn't help but feel that the god of fate favored him too much!His in-law relationship with the powerful Kidderminster family ensured his rapid career development.His own ingenuity cemented the position that opportunity had brought him.He is confident in his abilities and is ready to dedicate his life to the country. Often, when he was in front of his wife, he thought to himself with delight what a perfect wife she was--just as he had always dreamed of it to be.He liked the lovely clean line of her face and neck, the straight, dark brown eyes under the well-balanced lips.That slightly high, white forehead, that a little proud eagle nose.She looked a little like a racehorse, he thought—well-trained, well-bred, noble.He finds her an ideal partner, and some of their ideas coincide. "Yes, he thought, Stephen Farrelly, the morose little boy, has done a good job. His life has taken shape just as he planned. He is only in his early thirties, successful already in hand. Satisfied and triumphant, he and his wife went to St. Moritz for a fortnight's vacation and saw Rosemary Barton in the hotel lounge. How he felt at that time, he will never understand.He fell in love, fell madly deep into it.It was the kind of desperate, thoughtless teenage love that he should have experienced years ago, and should have surpassed. He has always believed that he is not the kind of passionate man.For him, love is nothing more than mild flirting.Carnal pleasure does not appeal to him.He told himself he wasn't cut out for that kind of thing. If he is asked if he loves his wife.He must have answered "Of course"—yet he knew.know very well.He would not have wanted to marry her if she had been the daughter of a penniless peasant.He likes her, reveres, has a deep affection for her, and is grateful for everything that her identity has brought him. How could he fall in love desperately like a young man! He thanked God for giving him a natural poise that would allow him to stay calm even in times of emergency.No one could guess, and no one knew how he felt - except Rosemary herself. The Pattons left a week earlier than the Farrellys.Stephen said to Cinderella, St. Moritz is not very fun, how about going back to London early?She readily agreed.A fortnight after their return he became Rosemary's lover. A period of ecstasy, madness—like a fever, unreal.It lasted - how long?Up to six months.During those six months, he worked as usual, visiting voters, attending parliamentary questions and speaking at various meetings.Discussing politics with Cinderella and thinking only of - Rosemary. Their tryst in that small apartment, her beauty, his passionate love, her passionate embrace.A dream, a bewildering, sensual dream. And after having a dream, what follows is—waking up. It all happened so suddenly. It's like stepping out of a tunnel and back into the sun. One day he was a lost lover, and the next day he was thinking of Stephen Farley, who perhaps shouldn't be seeing Rosemary so often.Cut it all off, they're taking a big risk.If Sandra had suspected—his sneak peek at her from the breakfast table—she hadn't, thank God.She has no idea.Yet some of the excuses he's found to go out of late have been less than brilliant.Some women are bound to start looking for clues because of this.Thank God, Sandra is not that suspicious woman. He took a deep breath.How reckless he and Rosemary were.It was a miracle that her husband did not know of it.A demented, unsuspecting fellow—a few years older than she was. She is such a beautiful stunner... He suddenly remembered the golf course.Fresh air blowing across the dunes, walking with club in hand - swinging a driver - hitting a clean tee shot - a bit worn out.Men, four men biting pipes.And women are not allowed to appear on the court! He suddenly said to Sandra: "Can we go to our 'safe haven'?" She looked up at him in surprise. "You want to go? Can you get away?" "It might take a week. I want to play golf. I'm bored." "We can go tomorrow if you like. That means we're putting off the Asri's party, and I'll have to cancel Tuesday's party, but what about the date with the Lovetts?" "Ah, cancel it too. We can find an excuse, I want to leave." Peaceful days at Haven, sitting on the steps with Cinderella and the dog, walking in the old gardens; golfing at Sandry Seas; taking Mark Davy at dusk Go west to wander in the countryside. He felt like a sick man gradually recovering. He frowned when he received Rosemary's letter.He had told her not to write, it was too risky.Although Sandra never asked about his letters, it was still unwise, and not all servants could be trusted. He took the letter into his study and opened the envelope with some displeasure.Several pages, full of vigor. As he read, the old bewitchment overwhelmed him again. She loved him, she loved him more than ever, and she couldn't stand not seeing him for five whole days.Did he feel the same as she did? Does "Leopard" miss his "Black Beauty"? He half smiled, half sighed.That absurd joke——was born when he bought her a fancy dotted nightgown.The spots on the leopard's back would change, and she said, "But you mustn't change your skin, dear." After that she called him "the leopard," and he called her "Black Beauty." So naive, really, so naive.It is rare for her to write so many pages in such eloquence.Still, she shouldn't have done it.Wisdom sword cuts the thread of love!They have to be cautious!Xian Daila is not the kind of woman who can endure such things.In case she got wind—the letter was dangerous, he had told Rosemary.Why can't she wait until he returns to the city; Hui Jian cuts the thread of love, and he will see her in two or three days. Another letter lay on the dinner table the next morning.This time Stephen secretly made up his mind.He saw Shantila's eyes stay on the letter for a few seconds.However, she didn't say anything.Thank goodness she wasn't the sort of woman to ask a man's mail. After breakfast, he drove to the market eight miles away.Hanging up the phone in the country used to be out of the question.He found Rosemary on the phone. "Hello—is that you? Rosemary, stop writing." "Steven, honey, it's so good to hear your voice!" "Be careful, will anyone hear me?" "Of course not. Oh my good angel, I miss you. Do you miss me?" "Yes, of course. But don't write to me. That's too risky." "Did you like my letter? Did it make you feel as if I was with you? Honey, I want to be with you every minute. Do you too?" "Yes—but don't bring it up on the phone, old rules." "You're being too careful. What does it matter?" "I've been missing you too, Rosemary. I can't let you get in trouble because of me." "I don't care about myself at all, you know that." "Uh, I do, sweetheart." "When will you come back?" "Tuesday." "Then we'll meet at the apartment, Wednesday." "Okay—uh, okay." "Honey, I can hardly wait any longer. Can't you come up with an excuse to come over today? Oh, Stephen, you can! Is it politics or something?" "I'm afraid that's impossible." "I can't believe you miss me half as much as I do." "Nonsense, of course I miss you." After hanging up the phone, he felt tired.Why do women insist on being so reckless?Rosemary and he must be more careful in the future.They must meet less often. Later, things got tricky.He's busy -- very busy.Impossible to see Rosemary as often as she used to--and what was worse, she seemed unforgiving.He explained, but she just wouldn't listen. "Ah, fuck your politics—seems like it's important!" "but--" She doesn't understand.She doesn't care.She was not at all interested in his work, his ambitions, his career prospects.All she wanted was to hear him repeat to her over and over again: He loved her. "Love me as much as ever? Tell me again that you really love me?" Of course, he thought, she might now believe that he really loved her!She's a big beauty, lovely - but the problem is you can't talk to her. The problem is that they're too common with each other to stay on the hot boil forever.They have to see each other less often—to relax. Yet it made her unhappy--very unhappy.She has started to blame him all the time. "You don't love me the way you used to." Then he would have to promise her, swear to her that of course he still loved her just as much.Then she would keep repeating what he had said to her. "Remember when you said how wonderful it would be if we both died together? To sleep forever in each other's arms. Remember when you said we'd hitch a caravan and go to In the desert? Only the stars and camels are with us—we will forget everything in the world?”. How stupid is what people say in love?It might not have felt like much at the time, but bringing it up afterward gives goosebumps.Why can't women judge their timing gracefully?A man doesn't want to be constantly reminded of how "ass" he used to be. She suddenly made an unreasonable request, can he go abroad to the south of France?She will meet him there.Or to Sicily, or Corsica—anywhere where you never meet acquaintances?Stephen said coldly, there is no such place in the world.You always run into an old classmate you haven't seen in years in the most unlikely places. Then she said something that terrified him. "Well, even if that's the case, it doesn't matter, does it?" He suddenly felt a cold surge in his heart.He became alert. "What do you mean?" She smiled at him, the smile that used to fascinate and impress him, but now it only made him feel impatient. "Leopard, honey, sometimes I think it's really stupid of us to go on in hiding like this. It's kind of not worth it. Let's get out together and stop being sneaky. George will divorce me and your wife will. You divorce, and then we can get married." Just like that!disaster!destroy!And she couldn't see it! "I won't let you do that." "But, dear, I don't care. I'm not much of an old-fashioned type." "But I am, I am," Stephen thought. "I really think love is the most important thing in the world. It doesn't matter what other people think." "It matters to me, my dear. My whole career would be ruined then." "But does that really matter? There are hundreds of other careers you could do." "Uneasy is stupid." "Why do you have to do things anyway? I'm rich, you know. My own, I mean, not George's money. We can roam all over the world, to the remotest and most charming places— Maybe, where no one has ever been. Or to some island in the Pacific—think, the sun, the blue sea, the coral reefs.” He thought about it.An island in the South China Sea!And all those idiotic thoughts.What kind of man did she think of him--a coolie on the docks in the Pacific? He stared at her with heavy eyes.A beautiful stunner without a brain!He must be mad--perfectly mad.But now he has regained his sobriety.He has to get out.If he wasn't extra careful, she would ruin his whole life. He said what hundreds of people had said before him.They had to make a clean break--so he wrote her a letter.It's fairer to her.He couldn't risk bringing unhappiness to her.She said he didn't understand--and that sort of thing. It was all over—he had to make her understand that. And yet, that's the point she refuses to understand.Things are not that easy.She loves him, she loves him more than ever, she can't live without him!The only thing to do was for her to tell her husband and Stephen to tell his wife the truth!He remembered how cold he had felt as he sat there holding her letter.Little fool!Stupid and stubborn little dork!She was going to tell George Barton the whole thing, and George Barton would divorce her and name him as a co-defendant.Then Shantila will also force him to divorce her.There's no doubt about it, she once said of a friend, a little surprised: "But of course when she finds out he's having affairs with other women, what else is she going to do but divorce him?" That's Sandra's thoughts.She is conceited by nature.She would never share a man with someone else. And then it was over for him, all over -- Kidderminster's strong backer was going down.Although today's public opinion is more open than before, he will still have no face to live on.He was about to say goodbye to his dreams, his ambitions.Everything is broken, ruined - all because of a crush on a silly woman.The immature love of boys and girls is their love.A childish mad love that comes at the wrong time of life. He will lose everything.fail!shame! He will lose Shantila... Suddenly, beyond shock, he realized that this was what he cared about most.He will lose Shantila.Cinderella with a square, white forehead and clear, hazel eyes.Cinderella, his dear companion, his vain, noble, faithful Cinderella.No, he couldn't lose Shantila—he couldn't... lose everything but her. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He must try to get out. He had to try to get Rosemary to listen rationally to his analysis...but would she listen to him?Rosemary was the antithesis of reason.What if he told her that no matter what, he still loved her too much?No, she would never believe it.She is such a silly woman.Mindless, stubborn, and possessive.And she still loved him--that was the misfortune. A blind rage rose within him.How on earth could he keep her silent?Shut up her mouth?There's nothing to do but kill him, he thought maliciously. A wasp buzzed nearby, and he watched absently.It flew into a jam jar and was trying to get out. Like me, he thought, caught in a sweet trap, and now—it can't fly out, poor thing. But he, Stephen Farley, will be able to get away.Time, he must bet on time. Rosemary was lying in bed with influenza at the time.He sent the traditional condolences - a large bouquet of flowers.This gave him a chance to breathe.Next week Cinderella and he will dine with the Buttons - a birthday party for Rosemary.Rosemary said, "I'll do nothing until my birthday - that would be cruel to George. He's so busy with my birthday, he's so sweet. Once it's over, we'll An understanding will be reached." What if he told her cruelly that it was all over, that he didn't like her anymore?He shuddered.No, he dared not do that.She might run hysterically and tell George, she might even run to Sandra.He could imagine the image of her crying. "He says he doesn't like me anymore, but I know that's not true. He's just being true to you - playing tricks on you - yet I know you'll agree with me that honesty is the only thing when people love each other That is why I ask you to give him back his freedom." These are exactly the disgusting words she might spit out.As for Cinderella, she will show arrogance and say disdainfully that he "can be free again." She wouldn't believe it—how could she believe it?If Rosemary took out those letters—the letters he'd been so stupid to write to her, God knew what he'd written.That would be enough to convince Cinderella—the letters he never wrote to her at all. He had to think of a way--some way of keeping Rosemary a secret. "It's a pity," he said grimly, "that we were not born in the Middle Ages..." A glass of poisoned champagne was pretty much the only thing that could silence Rosemary. Yes, he really thought so. Potassium cyanide in her champagne flute, potassium cyanide in her purse.Depression caused by influenza. On the other side of the table, Sandy La's eyes met his. About a year ago—he couldn't forget.