Chapter 6 Section 5

April 30 "Absurd!" said Mrs. Tricilian.She stood up with her upper body leaning against the pillow, and looked around angrily, "It's ridiculous! Neville must be crazy." "It seems a little queer," said Mary Odin. Mrs. Trixilian has a striking appearance, a straight and slender nose, and a pair of eyes that can achieve the effect of words at will.Although she is now in her seventies and in poor health, her naturally good brains are still intact.Although she has withdrawn from the circle of daily life for a long time and lies on the bed with half-closed eyes, she can still emerge from this half-sleep state with her shrewd senses and utter sharp words.On a large bed in a corner of her room, with her upper body supported by pillows, she ruled her court like a French queen.Mary Odin, a distant cousin of hers, lived with her.The two women got along very well.Mary was thirty-six years old, with one of those smooth faces that age does not affect, and the years have done little to it.She looked one might have guessed thirty or forty-five.She had a good figure and a well-bred appearance, and her black hair, with a white lock in the front, gave her a very personal look.It used to be a fashion, but Mary's lock of gray hair was a natural one, and had been there since she was a child.

She looked at the letter from Mrs. Tricilian handed her by Neville Springer. "Yes," she said, "it does seem a little odd." "You won't say," said Mrs Tricilian, "that it was Neville's own idea! Someone taught him to do it. Perhaps it was his new wife." "Kay. You think it was Kay's idea?" "Very like her. Trendy and nasty! If couples have to open up about their difficulties, at least they can always part graciously. It's pretty disgusting for me to be friends with new wives and old wives. It's really No one has any style!"

"I think it's just the modern way," Mary said. "Not in my house," said Mrs. Tricilian. "I think it's enough for me to have that scarlet-toed animal in my house." "She's Neville's wife." "That's right. That's why I feel Marceau would have liked me if he were alive. He's very fond of the boy, and wants him to make this his home. Since refusing to accept his wife would openly cause a rift, I resigned, Let her come here. I don't like her - Neville married her wrong - she has no background, no roots!" "She comes from a pretty good background," said Mary mildly.

"Bad blood!" said Mrs Tricilian. "Her father, as I told you, had to quit all the clubs after the card incident. Fortunately he died not long after. Ra was notorious. What was that girl brought up in? Nothing but hotel life - and that kind of mother! Then she met Neville on the tennis court and stuck with him until she made him Leaving his wife--his very favorite wife--and marrying her! I blame her all for it!" Mary smiled.Mrs. Cui Xilian has an old-fashioned personality. When encountering such things, she always indulges the man and blames the woman. "Strictly speaking, I think Neville is also to blame," said Mary.

"It's Neville's fault," agreed Lady Tricilian. "He has a charming wife who loves him--perhaps too much. However, if the woman hadn't been so determined, I'm sure he'd come to his senses. But she is determined to marry him! I have all sympathy for Audrey, I am very fond of Audrey." Mary sighed. "It's been very difficult," she said. "Yes, it is indeed tricky, and one does not know what to do in such a situation. Marceau likes Audrey, and so do I, undeniably, although it is a pity that she cannot share his entertainment. She is very fond of Neville. She was never a very athletic girl, and the whole thing was very distressing, and it never would have happened when I was younger. Guys would be out and about, of course Well, but they will never be allowed to spoil married life."

"It's happening now," Mary said bluntly. "That's right. You've got a lot of common sense, my dear, and it's no use dwelling on the old days. These things happen, girls like Kay Mortimer steal other women's husbands, and no one thinks they What's wrong!" "Except for people like you, Carmela!" "I'm nothing. That Kay thing doesn't care if I approve of what she's doing, she's too busy, too busy having a good life, Neville can bring her along, and I'm even willing to accept her friend— —although I don't much like that young man who's hanging around her, the very dramatic one—what's his name?"

"Ted Latimer?" "That's him. Her friend from Rivinara's time—I'd like to know how he lived." "In his wits," suggested Mary. "That's understandable. I kind of think he lives on his face, and Mrs. Neville's not a good friend! I didn't like it when they came here last summer and he came to live in East End too." hostel," Mary looked out the window.Mrs. Cui Xilian's house is located on a steep cliff, overlooking the Teng River. On the other side of the river is the newly opened Dongtouwan summer recreation area.Including a large beach, a row of modern one-story buildings and a large hotel located on a promontory overlooking the sea, Yanpu itself is a small fishing village scattered on the hillside, with picturesque scenery.It's an old-fashioned, conservative town that despises Tung Tau Bay and its summer visitors.

Dongtouwan Hotel is almost exactly opposite to Mrs. Trixilian's house, and Mary sees its brand new and bright white appearance standing on the headland across a narrow stream. "I'm very fortunate," said Mrs. Trixilian, closing her eyes, "Marceau has never seen that vulgar building. When he was alive, the coastal scenery hadn't been damaged much." Sir Marceau and Lady Tricilian went to "Gull's Point" thirty years ago.Sir Marceau, a keen navigator, was almost killed in front of his wife when he set sail ten years ago. Everyone thought that Mrs. Trixilian would sell "Gull Cape" and leave Yanpu, but she didn't.She continued to live in the house, and the only action she took was to sell all the boats and take down the boathouse. "Gull Cape" no longer serves guest ships.They had to go to the ferry and hire another boatman.

Mary hesitated, then said: "Then, did I write to Neville to tell him that what he proposes does not accord with your plans?" "Of course I don't want to interfere with Audrey's visit. She comes to us every September, and I won't ask her to change her plans." Mary looked at the letter and said: "Did you know that Neville said that Audrey - er - agreed with his idea - and that she would like to see Kay?" "I just don't believe it," said Lady Tricilian. "Nevill, like all men, believes what they want to believe!" Mary insisted:

"He said he actually talked to her about it." "That's very queer! No—maybe it's not so queer after all!" Mary looked at her inquiringly. "Like Henry VIII," said Lady Tricilian. Mary looked confused. "You know, morality! Henry VIII was right to try to get Catherine to agree to a divorce. Neville knew he was in the wrong—he wanted peace of mind. So he has been trying to make Odd Lee said it was all right, that she would come to see Kay, that she didn't mind at all." "I doubt it," said Mary slowly. Mrs. Tricilian suddenly stared at her.

"What are you thinking, my dear?" "I was thinking—" she paused, and then went on, "this—this seems very unlikely to be Neville's—this letter! Don't you think, for some reason, Audrey wanted this— This chance to meet?" "Why does she want it?" said Mrs. Tricilian sharply. "When Neville left her, she went to live with her aunt, Mrs Lloyd, at the vicarage, and had a total nervous breakdown. She was a total ghost, and was obviously devastated. She was that This kind of girl is quiet, taciturn, and very sensitive." Mary shifted restlessly. "Yes, she is very sensitive, a strange girl in many ways..." "She suffered a lot...then the divorce was done and Neville married the girl, and Audrey started to recover. She's pretty much back to normal now. You don't mean she's trying to stir up old memories, do you?" ?” said Mary, a little stubbornly. "Neville said she would." The old lady looked at her in surprise. "You're surprisingly stubborn about it, Mary. Why? You want them here together?" Mary Odin blushed. "No, of course not." Mrs. Tricilian said sharply: "Isn't it you who suggested the idea to Neville?" "How could you have such an absurd idea?" "Oh, I don't believe it's his idea at all. It's not like Neville." She paused, and then the scowl faded away. "Tomorrow is the first of May, isn't it? The day after tomorrow Audrey will be visiting at the Darlingtons in Isbank, only twenty miles away. Write to ask her to come here for lunch."