My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead: Great Love Stories, From Chekhov to Munro

by Jeffrey Eugenides

  —O, what a pity! she cried. Is he coming down, Gretta?

  Gabriel heard his wife answer yes and saw her come down towards

  them. A few steps behind her were Mr Bartell D’Arcy and Miss

  O’Callaghan.

  —O, Mr D’Arcy, cried Mary Jane, it ’s downright mean of you to

  break off like that when we were all in raptures listening to you.

  —I have been at him all the evening, said Miss O’Callaghan, and

  Mrs Conroy too, and he told us he had a dreadful cold and couldn’t sing.

  —O, Mr D’Arcy, said aunt Kate, now that was a great fib to tell.

  —Can’t you see that I’m as hoarse as a crow? said Mr D’Arcy

  roughly.

  He went into the pantry hastily and put on his overcoat. The others, taken aback by his rude speech, could find nothing to say. Aunt Kate wrinkled her brows and made signs to the others to drop the subject. Mr D’Arcy stood swathing his neck carefully and frowning.

  —It ’s the weather, said aunt Julia after a pause.

  —Yes, everybody has colds, said aunt Kate readily, everybody.

  —They say, said Mary Jane, we haven’t had snow like it for thirty years: and I read this morning in the newspaper that the snow is general all over Ireland.

  —I love the look of snow, said aunt Julia sadly.

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  —So do I, said Miss O’Callaghan. I think Christmas is never really Christmas unless we have the snow on the ground.

  —But poor Mr D’Arcy doesn’t like the snow, said aunt Kate smil-

  ing.

  Mr D’Arcy came from the pantry, fully swathed and buttoned, and

  in a repentant tone told them the history of his cold. Everyone gave him advice and said it was a great pity and urged him to be very careful of his throat in the night air. Gabriel watched his wife who did not join in the conversation. She was standing right under the dusty fanlight and the flame of the gas lit up the rich bronze of her hair which he had seen her drying at the fire a few days before. She was in the same attitude and seemed unaware of the talk about her. At last she turned towards them and Gabriel saw that there was colour on her cheeks and that her eyes were shining. A sudden tide of joy went leaping out of his heart.

  —Mr D’Arcy, she said, what is the name of that song you were

  singing?

  —It ’s called The Lass of Aughrim, said Mr D’Arcy, but I couldn’t remember it properly. Why? Do you know it?

  — The Lass of Aughrim, she repeated. I couldn’t think of the name.

  —It ’s a very nice air, said Mary Jane. I’m sorry you were not in voice tonight.

  —Now, Mary Jane, said aunt Kate, don’t annoy Mr D’Arcy. I won’t

  have him annoyed.

  Seeing that all were ready to start she shepherded them to the door where goodnight was said:

  —Well, goodnight aunt Kate, and thanks for the pleasant evening.

  —Goodnight, Gabriel. Goodnight, Gretta!

  —Goodnight, aunt Kate, and thanks ever so much. Goodnight, aunt

  Julia.

  —O, goodnight, Gretta, I didn’t see you.

  —Goodnight, Mr D’Arcy. Goodnight, Miss O’Callaghan.

  —Goodnight, Miss Morkan.

  —Goodnight again.

  —Goodnight all. Safe home.

  —Goodnight. Goodnight.

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  The morning was still dark. A dull yellow light brooded over the

  houses and the river and the sky seemed to be descending. It was slushy underfoot and only streaks and patches of snow lay on the roofs, on the parapets of the quay and on the area railings. The lamps were still burning redly in the murky air and, across the river, the palace of the Four Courts stood out menacingly against the heavy sky.

  She was walking on before him with Mr Bartell D’Arcy, her shoes

  in a brown parcel tucked under one arm and her hands holding her skirt up from the slush. She had no longer any grace of attitude but Gabriel’s eyes were still bright with happiness. The blood went bounding along his veins and the thoughts went rioting through his brain, proud, joyful, tender, valorous.

  She was walking on before him so lightly and so erect that he longed to run after her noiselessly, catch her by the shoulders and say something foolish and affectionate into her ear. She seemed to him so frail that he longed to defend her against something and then to be alone with her.

  Moments of their secret life together burst like stars upon his memory.

  A heliotrope envelope was lying beside his breakfast cup and he was caressing it with his hand. Birds were twittering in the ivy and the sunny web of the curtain was shimmering along the floor: he could not eat for happiness. They were standing on the crowded platform and he was placing a ticket inside the warm palm of her glove. He was standing with her in the cold, looking in through a grated window at a man making bottles in a roaring furnace. It was very cold. Her face, fragrant in the cold air, was quite close to his and suddenly she called out to the man at the furnace:

  —Is the fire hot, sir?

  But the man could not hear her with the noise of the furnace. It was just as well. He might have answered rudely.

  A wave of yet more tender joy escaped from his heart and went

  coursing in warm flood along his arteries. Like the tender fire of stars moments of their life together, that no one knew of or would ever know of, broke upon and illumined his memory. He longed to recall to her those moments, to make her forget the years of their dull existence together and remember only their moments of ecstasy. For the years,

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  he felt, had not quenched his soul or hers. Their children, his writing, her household cares had not quenched all their souls’ tender fire. In one letter that he had written to her then he had said: Why is it that words like these seem to me so dull and cold? Is it because there is no word tender enough to be your name?

  Like distant music these words that he had written years before were borne towards him from the past. He longed to be alone with her. When the others had gone away, when he and she were in their room in the hotel, then they would be alone together. He would call her softly:

  —Gretta!

  Perhaps she would not hear at once: she would be undressing. Then something in his voice would strike her. She would turn and look at him . . .

  At the corner of Winetavern Street they met a cab. He was glad of its rattling noise as it saved him from conversation. She was looking out of the window and seemed tired. The others spoke only a few words, pointing out some building or street. The horse galloped along wearily under the murky morning sky, dragging his old rattling box after his heels, and Gabriel was again in a cab with her galloping to catch the boat, galloping to their honeymoon.

  As the cab drove across O’Connell bridge Miss O’Callaghan said:

  —They say you never cross O’Connell bridge without seeing a

  white horse.

  —I see a white man this time, said Gabriel.

  —Where? asked Mr Bartell D’Arcy.

  Gabriel pointed to the statue on which lay patches of snow.

  Then he nodded familiarly to it and waved his hand.

  —Goodnight, Dan, he said gaily.

  When the cab drew up before the hotel Gabriel jumped out and, in

  spite of Mr Bartell D’Arcy’s protest, paid the driver. He gave the man a shilling over his fare. The man saluted and said:

  —A prosperous new year to you, sir.

  —The same to you, said Gabriel cordially.

  She leaned for a moment on his arm in getting out of the cab and while standing at the kerbstone bidding the others goodnight. She leaned lightly on his arm, as lightly as when she had danced with him a few

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  hours before. He had felt
proud and happy then, happy that she was his, proud of her grace and wifely carriage. But now after the kindling again of so many memories, the first touch of her body, musical and strange and perfumed, sent through him a keen pang of lust. Under cover of her silence he pressed her arm closely to his side: and, as they stood at the hotel door, he felt that they had escaped from their lives and duties, escaped from home and friends and run away together with wild and radiant hearts to a new adventure.

  An old man was dozing in a great hooded chair in the hall. He lit a candle in the office and went before them to the stairs. They followed him in silence, their feet falling in soft thuds on the thickly carpeted stairs. She mounted the stairs behind the porter, her head bowed in the ascent, her frail shoulders curved as with a burden, her skirt girt tightly about her. He could have flung his arms about her hips and held her still for his arms were trembling with desire to seize her and only the stress of his nails against the palms of his hands held the wild impulse of his body in check. The porter halted on the stairs to settle his guttering candle. They halted too on the steps below him. In the silence Gabriel could hear the falling of the molten wax into the tray and the thumping of his own heart against his ribs.

  The porter led them along a corridor and opened a door. Then he set his unstable candle down on a toilet table and asked at what hour they were to be called in the morning.

  —Eight, said Gabriel.

  The porter pointed to the tap of the electric light and began a muttered apology but Gabriel cut him short.

  —We don’t want any light. We have light enough from the street.

  And, I say, he added pointing to the candle, you might remove that handsome article, like a good man.

  The porter took up his candle again, but slowly, for he was surprised by such a novel idea. Then he mumbled goodnight and went out. Gabriel shot the lock to.

  A ghostly light from the street lamp lay in a long shaft from one window to the door. Gabriel threw his overcoat and hat on a couch and crossed the room towards the window. He looked down into the street

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  in order that his emotion might calm a little. Then he turned and leaned against a chest of drawers with his back to the light. She had taken off her hat and cloak and was standing before a large swinging mirror, unhooking her waist. Gabriel paused for a few moments, watching her, and then said:

  —Gretta!

  She turned away from the mirror slowly and walked along the shaft of light towards him. Her face looked so serious and weary that the words would not pass Gabriel’s lips. No, it was not the moment yet.

  —You look tired, he said.

  —I am a little, she answered.

  —You don’t feel ill or weak?

  —No, tired: that ’s all.

  She went on to the window and stood there, looking out.

  Gabriel waited again and then, fearing that diffidence was about to conquer him, he said abruptly:

  —By the way, Gretta!

  —What is it?

  —You know that poor fellow Malins? he said quickly.

  —Yes, what about him?

  —Well, poor fellow, he ’s a decent sort of chap after all, continued Gabriel in a false voice. He gave me back that sovereign I lent him and I didn’t expect it really. It ’s a pity he wouldn’t keep away from that Browne because he ’s not a bad fellow at heart.

  He was trembling now with annoyance. Why did she seem so

  abstracted? He did not know how he could begin. Was she annoyed too about something? If she would only turn to him or come to him of her own accord! To take her as she was would be brutal. No, he must see some ardour in her eyes first. He longed to be master of her strange mood.

  —When did you lend him the pound? she asked after a pause.

  Gabriel strove to restrain himself from breaking out into brutal language about the sottish Malins and his pound. He longed to cry to her from his soul, to crush her body against his, to overmaster her. But he said:

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  —O, at Christmas, when he opened that little Christmas card shop

  in Henry Street.

  He was in such a fever of rage and desire that he did not hear her come from the window. She stood before him for an instant looking at him strangely. Then, suddenly raising herself on tiptoe and resting her hands lightly on his shoulders, she kissed him.

  —You are a very generous person, Gabriel, she said.

  —Gabriel, trembling with delight at her sudden kiss and at the

  quaintness of her phrase, put his hands on her hair and began smoothing it back, scarcely touching it with his fingers. The washing had made it fine and brilliant. His heart was brimming over with happiness. Just when he was wishing for it she had come to him of her own accord. Perhaps her thoughts had been running with his. Perhaps she had felt the impetuous desire that was in him and then the yielding mood had come upon her. Now that she had fallen to him so easily he wondered why he had been so diffident.

  He stood, holding her head between his hands. Then, slipping

  one arm swiftly about her body and drawing her towards him, he said softly:

  —Gretta dear, what are you thinking about?

  She did not answer nor yield wholly to his arm. He said again

  softly:

  —Tell me what it is, Gretta. I think I know what is the matter. Do I know?

  She did not answer at once. Then she said in an outburst of tears:

  —O, I am thinking about that song, The Lass of Aughrim.

  She broke loose from him and ran to the bed and, throwing her arms across the bedrail, hid her face. Gabriel stood stockstill for a moment in astonishment and then followed her. As he passed in the way of the cheval glass he caught sight of himself in full length, his broad, wellfilled shirtfront, the face whose expression always puzzled him when he saw it in a mirror and his glimmering giltrimmed eyeglasses. He halted a few paces from her and said:

  —What about the song? Why does that make you cry?

  She raised her head from her arms and dried her eyes with the back

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  of her hand like a child. A kinder note than he had intended went into his voice.

  —Why, Gretta? he asked.

  —I am thinking about a person long ago who used to sing that

  song.

  —And who was the person long ago? asked Gabriel smiling.

  —It was a person I used to know in Galway when I was living with

  my grandmother, she said.

  The smile passed away from Gabriel’s face. A dull anger began to

  gather again at the back of his mind and the dull fires of his lust began to glow angrily in his veins.

  —Someone you were in love with? he asked ironically.

  —It was a young boy I used to know, she answered, named Michael

  Furey. He used to sing that song, The Lass of Aughrim. He was very delicate.

  Gabriel was silent. He did not wish her to think that he was interested in this delicate boy.

  —I can see him so plainly, she said after a moment. Such eyes as he had, big dark eyes! And such an expression in them—an expression! . . .

  —O, then you were in love with him? said Gabriel.

  —I used to go out walking with him, she said, when I was in Gal-

  way.

  A thought flew across Gabriel’s mind.

  —Perhaps that was why you wanted to go to Galway with that Ivors

  girl? he said coldly.

  She looked at him and asked in surprise:

  —What for?

  Her eyes made Gabriel feel awkward. He shrugged his shoulders and said:

  —How do I know? To see him, perhaps.

  She looked away from him along the shaft of light towards the window in silence.

  —He is dead, she said at length. He died when he was only seven-

  teen. Isn’
t it a terrible thing to die so young as that?

  —What was he? asked Gabriel, still ironically.

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  —He was in the gasworks, she said.

  Gabriel felt humiliated by the failure of his irony and by the evoca-tion of this figure from the dead, a boy in the gasworks. The irony of his mood soured into sarcasm. While he had been full of memories of their secret life together, full of tenderness and joy and desire, she had been comparing him in her mind with another. A shameful consciousness of his own person assailed him. He saw himself as a ludicrous figure, acting as a pennyboy for his aunts, a nervous wellmeaning sentimentalist, orating to vulgarians and idealising his own clownish lusts, the pitiable fatuous fellow he had caught a glimpse of in the mirror. Instinctively he turned his back more to the light lest she might see the shame that burned upon his forehead.

  He tried to keep up his tone of cold interrogation but his voice when he spoke was humble and indifferent.

  —I suppose you were in love with this Michael Furey, Gretta, he

  said.

  —I was great with him at that time, she said.

  Her voice was veiled and sad. Gabriel, feeling now how vain it would be to try to lead her whither he had purposed, caressed one of her hands and said also sadly:

  —And what did he die of so young, Gretta? Consumption, was it?

  —I think he died for me, she answered.

  A vague terror seized Gabriel at this answer as if, at that hour when he had hoped to triumph, some impalpable and vindictive being was coming against him, gathering forces against him in its vague world.

  But he shook himself free of it with an effort of reason and continued to caress her hand. He did not question her again for he felt that she would tell him of herself. Her hand was warm and moist: it did not respond to his touch but he continued to caress it just as he had caressed her first letter to him that spring morning.

  —It was in the winter, she said, about the beginning of the win-

  ter when I was going to leave my grandmother’s and come up here to the convent. And he was ill at the time in his lodgings in Galway and wouldn’t be let out and his people in Oughterard were written to. He was in decline, they said, or something like that. I never knew rightly.