Chapter 5

Philipcamegraduallytoknowthepeoplehewastolivewith,andbyfragmentsofconversation,someofitnotmeantforhisears,learnedagooddealbothabouthimselfandabouthisdeadparents.Philip’sfatherhadbeenmuchyoungerthantheVicarofBlackstable.AfterabrilliantcareeratSt.Luke’sHospitalhewasputonthestaff,andpresentlybegantoearnmoneyinconsiderablesums.Hespentitfreely.Whentheparsonsetaboutrestoringhischurchandaskedhisbrotherforasubscription,hewassurprisedbyreceivingacoupleofhundredpounds:Mr.Carey,thriftybyinclinationandeconomicalbynecessity,accepteditwithmingledfeelings;hewasenviousofhisbrotherbecausehecouldaffordtogivesomuch,pleasedforthesakeofhischurch,andvaguelyirritatedbyagenerositywhichseemedalmostostentatious.ThenHenryCareymarriedapatient,abeautifulgirlbutpenniless,anorphanwithnonearrelations,butofgoodfamily;andtherewasanarrayoffinefriendsatthewedding.Theparson,onhisvisitstoherwhenhecametoLondon,heldhimselfwithreserve.Hefeltshywithherandinhisheartheresentedhergreatbeauty:shedressedmoremagnificentlythanbecamethewifeofahardworkingsurgeon;andthecharmingfurnitureofherhouse,theflowersamongwhichshelivedeveninwinter,suggestedanextravagancewhichhedeplored.Heheardhertalkofentertainmentsshewasgoingto;and,ashetoldhiswifeongettinghomeagain,itwasimpossibletoaccepthospitalitywithoutmakingsomereturn.Hehadseengrapesinthedining-roomthatmusthavecostatleasteightshillingsapound;andatluncheonhehadbeengivenasparagustwomonthsbeforeitwasreadyinthevicaragegarden.Nowallhehadanticipatedwascometopass:theVicarfeltthesatisfactionoftheprophetwhosawfireandbrimstoneconsumethecitywhichwouldnotmenditswaytohiswarning.PoorPhilipwaspracticallypenniless,andwhatwasthegoodofhismother’sfinefriendsnow?Heheardthathisfather’sextravagancewasreallycriminal,anditwasamercythatProvidencehadseenfittotakehisdearmothertoitself:shehadnomoreideaofmoneythanachild.

WhenPhiliphadbeenaweekatBlackstableanincidenthappenedwhichseemedtoirritatehisuncleverymuch.OnemorninghefoundonthebreakfasttableasmallpacketwhichhadbeensentonbypostfromthelateMrs.Carey’shouseinLondon.Itwasaddressedtoher.WhentheparsonopenedithefoundadozenphotographsofMrs.Carey.Theyshowedtheheadandshouldersonly,andherhairwasmoreplainlydonethanusual,lowontheforehead,whichgaveheranunusuallook;thefacewasthinandworn,butnoillnesscouldimpairthebeautyofherfeatures.TherewasinthelargedarkeyesasadnesswhichPhilipdidnotremember.ThefirstsightofthedeadwomangaveMr.Careyalittleshock,butthiswasquicklyfollowedbyperplexity.Thephotographsseemedquiterecent,andhecouldnotimaginewhohadorderedthem.

“D’youknowanythingaboutthese,Philip?”heasked.

“Iremembermammasaidshe’dbeentaken,”heanswered.“MissWatkinscoldedherShesaid:Iwantedtheboytohavesomethingtoremembermebywhenhegrowsup.”

Mr.CareylookedatPhilipforaninstant.Thechildspokeinacleartreble.Herecalledthewords,buttheymeantnothingtohim.

“You’dbettertakeoneofthephotographsandkeepitinyourroom,”saidMr.Carey.“I’llputtheothersaway.”

HesentonetoMissWatkin,andshewroteandexplainedhowtheycametobetaken.

OnedayMrs.Careywaslyinginbed,butshewasfeelingalittlebetterthanusual,andthedoctorinthemorninghadseemedhopeful;Emmahadtakenthechildout,andthemaidsweredownstairsinthebasement:suddenlyMrs.Careyfeltdesperatelyaloneintheworld.Agreatfearseizedherthatshewouldnotrecoverfromtheconfinementwhichshewasexpectinginafortnight.Hersonwasnineyearsold.Howcouldhebeexpectedtorememberher?Shecouldnotbeartothinkthathewouldgrowupandforget,forgetherutterly;andshehadlovedhimsopassionately,becausehewasweaklyanddeformed,andbecausehewasherchild.Shehadnophotographsofherselftakensincehermarriage,andthatwastenyearsbefore.Shewantedhersontoknowwhatshelookedlikeattheend.Hecouldnotforgetherthen,notforgetutterly.Sheknewthatifshecalledhermaidandtoldhershewantedtogetup,themaidwouldpreventher,andperhapssendforthedoctor,andshehadnotthestrengthnowtostruggleorargue.Shegotoutofbedandbegantodressherself.Shehadbeenonherbacksolongthatherlegsgavewaybeneathher,andthenthesolesofherfeettingledsothatshecouldhardlybeartoputthemtotheground.Butshewenton.Shewasunusedtodoingherownhairand,whensheraisedherarmsandbegantobrushit,shefeltfaint.Shecouldneverdoitashermaiddid.Itwasbeautifulhair,veryfine,andofadeeprichgold.Hereyebrowswerestraightanddark.Sheputonablackskirt,butchosethebodiceoftheeveningdresswhichshelikedbest:itwasofawhitedamaskwhichwasfashionableinthosedays.Shelookedatherselfintheglass.Herfacewasverypale,butherskinwasclear:shehadneverhadmuchcolour,andthishadalwaysmadetherednessofherbeautifulmouthemphatic.Shecouldnotrestrainasob.Butshecouldnotaffordtobesorryforherself;shewasfeelingalreadydesperatelytired;andsheputonthefurswhichHenryhadgivenhertheChristmasbefore—shehadbeensoproudofthemandsohappythen—andslippeddownstairswithbeatingheart.Shegotsafelyoutofthehouseanddrovetoaphotographer.Shepaidforadozenphotographs.Shewasobligedtoaskforaglassofwaterinthemiddleofthesitting;andtheassistant,seeingshewasill,suggestedthatsheshouldcomeanotherday,butsheinsistedonstayingtilltheend.Atlastitwasfinished,andshedrovebackagaintothedingylittlehouseinKensingtonwhichshehatedwithallherheart.Itwasahorriblehousetodiein.

Shefoundthefrontdooropen,andwhenshedroveupthemaidandEmmarandownthestepstohelpher.Theyhadbeenfrightenedwhentheyfoundherroomempty.AtfirsttheythoughtshemusthavegonetoMissWatkin,andthecookwassentround.MissWatkincamebackwithherandwaswaitinganxiouslyinthedrawing-room.Shecamedownstairsnowfullofanxietyandreproaches;buttheexertionhadbeenmorethanMrs.Careywasfitfor,andwhentheoccasionforfirmnessnolongerexistedshegaveway.ShefellheavilyintoEmma’sarmsandwascarriedupstairs.Sheremainedunconsciousforatimethatseemedincrediblylongtothosethatwatchedher,andthedoctor,hurriedlysentfor,didnotcome.Itwasnextday,whenshewasalittlebetter,thatMissWatkingotsomeexplanationoutofher.Philipwasplayingonthefloorofhismother’sbed-room,andneitheroftheladiespaidattentiontohim.Heonlyunderstoodvaguelywhattheyweretalkingabout,andhecouldnothavesaidwhythosewordsremainedinhismemory.

“Iwantedtheboytohavesomethingtoremembermebywhenhegrowsup.”

“Ican’tmakeoutwhysheorderedadozen,”saidMr.Carey.“Twowouldhavedone.”