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Chapter 22
Toshowyouhowpeople’sopinionsdiffer,Carriesaidthechildwasbad-tempered,butitmadeupforthatdefectbyitslooks,foritwas—inhermind—anunquestionablybeautifulchild.
IMaybewrong,butIdonotthinkIhaveseenamuchuglierchildmyself.Thatismyopinion.
May30.—Idon’tknowwhyitis,butIneveranticipatewithanypleasurethevisitstoourhouseofMrs.James,ofSutton.Sheiscomingagaintostayforafewdays.IsaidtoCarriethismorning,asIwasleaving:“Iwish,dearCarrie,IcouldlikeMrs.JamesbetterthanIdo.”
Carriesaid:“SodoI,dear;butasforyearsIhavehadtoputupwithMr.Gowing,whoisvulgar,andMr.Cummings,whoiskindbutmostuninteresting,Iamsure,dear,youwon’tmindtheoccasionalvisitsofMrs.James,whohasmoreintellectinherlittlefingerthanbothyourfriendshaveintheirentirebodies.”
Iwassoentirelytakenbackbythisonslaughtonmytwodearoldfriends,Icouldsaynothing,andasIheardthe’buscoming,Ileftwithahurriedkiss—alittletoohurried,perhaps,formyupperlipcameincontactwithCarrie’steethandslightlycutit.Itwasquitepainfulforanhourafterwards.WhenIcamehomeintheeveningIfoundCarrieburiedinabookonSpiritualism,calledThereisnoBirth,byFlorenceSingleyet.IneedscarcelysaythebookwassenthertoreadbyMrs.James,ofSutton.Asshehadnotawordtosayoutsideherbook,Ispenttherestoftheeveningalteringthestair-carpets,whicharebeginningtoshowsignsofwearattheedges.
Mrs.
