|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 22
"Can we do anything on earth for them?" asked Millicent
Fayre-Michell.
"Nothing--nothing. If I may advise, I think we had all better go
to church. By so doing we get out of the way for a time and please
dear Sir Walter. I shall certainly go."
They greeted the suggestion--indeed, clutched at it. Their
bewildered minds welcomed action. They were hushed and perturbed.
Death, crashing in upon them thus, left them more than uncomfortable.
Some, at the bottom of their souls, felt almost indignant that an
event so horrible should have disturbed the level tenor of their
lives. They shared the most profound sympathy for the sufferers
as well as for themselves. Some discovered that their own physical
bodies were upset, too, and felt surprised at the depth of their
emotions.
"It isn't as if it were natural," Felix Fayre-Michell persisted.
"Don't imagine that for a moment."
"It's too creepy--I can't believe it," declared his niece. She
was incapable of suffering much for anybody, and her excitement
had a flavour not wholly bitter. She saw herself describing these
events at other house parties. It would be unfair to say that she
was enjoying herself; still she knew nobody at Chadlands very well,
it was her first visit, and adventures are, after all, adventures.
Her uncle discussed the psychic significance of the tragedy, and
gave instances of similar events. One or two listened to him for
lack of anything better to do. There was a general sensation of
blankness. They were all thrown. Life had let them down. Under
the circumstances, to most of them it seemed an excellent idea to
go to church. Vane joined them presently. He was able to give
them many details and excite their interest. They crowded round
him, and he spoke nakedly. Death was nothing to him--he had seen
so much. They heard the motor return with Dr. Mannering.
"We're so out of it," said Mr. Miles Handford, a stout man from
Yorkshire--a wealthy landowner and sportsman.
He was unaccustomed to be out of anything in his environment, and
he showed actual irritation.
"Thank Heaven we are, I should think!" answered another; and the
first speaker frowned at him.
Ernest Travers joined them presently. He had put on a black tie
and wore black gloves and a silk hat.
"If you accompany me," he said, "I can show you the short way by a
field path. It cuts off half a mile. I have told Sir Walter we
all go to church, and he asked me if we would like the motors; but
I felt, the day being fine, you would agree with me that we might
walk. He is terribly crushed, but taking it like the man he is."
Miles Handford and Fayre-Michell followed the church party in the
rear, and relieved their minds by criticizing Mr. Travers.
"Officious ass!" said the stout man. "A typical touch that black
tie! A decent-minded person would have felt this appalling tragedy
far too much to think of such a trifle. I hope I shall never see
the brute again."
"It seems too grotesque marching to church like a lot of children,
because he tells us to do so," murmured Fayre-Michell.
"I don't want to go. I only want distraction. In fact, I don't
think I shall go," added Mr. Handford. But a woman urged him to
do so.
"Sir Walter would like it," she said.
"It's all very sad and very exasperating indeed," declared the
Yorkshireman; "and it shows, if that wanted showing, that there's
far, far less consideration among young men for their elders than
there used to be in my young days. If my father-in-law had told me
not to do a thing, the very wish to do it would have disappeared
at once."
"Sir Walter was as clear as need be," added Felix. "We all heard
him. Then the young fool--Heaven forgive him--behind everybody's
back goes and plays with fire in this insane way."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|