The Way We Live Now

by Anthony Trollope

  CHAPTER LXXVIII.

  MISS LONGESTAFFE AGAIN AT CAVERSHAM.

  All this time Mr. Longestaffe was necessarily detained in Londonwhile the three ladies of his family were living forlornly atCaversham. He had taken his younger daughter home on the day afterhis visit to Lady Monogram, and in all his intercourse with her hadspoken of her suggested marriage with Mr. Brehgert as a thing utterlyout of the question. Georgiana had made one little fight for herindependence at the Jermyn Street Hotel. "Indeed, papa, I think it'svery hard," she said.

  "What's hard? I think a great many things are hard; but I have tobear them."

  "You can do nothing for me."

  "Do nothing for you! Haven't you got a home to live in, and clothesto wear, and a carriage to go about in,--and books to read if youchoose to read them? What do you expect?"

  "You know, papa, that's nonsense."

  "How do you dare to tell me that what I say is nonsense?"

  "Of course there's a house to live in and clothes to wear; but what'sto be the end of it? Sophia, I suppose, is going to be married."

  "I am happy to say she is,--to a most respectable young man and athorough gentleman."

  "And Dolly has his own way of going on."

  "You have nothing to do with Adolphus."

  "Nor will he have anything to do with me. If I don't marry what's tobecome of me? It isn't that Mr. Brehgert is the sort of man I shouldchoose."

  "Do not mention his name to me."

  "But what am I to do? You give up the house in town, and how am I tosee people? It was you sent me to Mr. Melmotte."

  "I didn't send you to Mr. Melmotte."

  "It was at your suggestion I went there, papa. And of course I couldonly see the people he had there. I like nice people as well asanybody."

  "There's no use talking any more about it."

  "I don't see that. I must talk about it, and think about it too. IfI can put up with Mr. Brehgert I don't see why you and mamma shouldcomplain."

  "A Jew!"

  "People don't think about that as they used to, papa. He has a veryfine income, and I should always have a house in--"

  Then Mr. Longestaffe became so furious and loud, that he stopped herfor that time. "Look here," he said, "if you mean to tell me that youwill marry that man without my consent, I can't prevent it. But youshall not marry him as my daughter. You shall be turned out of myhouse, and I will never have your name pronounced in my presenceagain. It is disgusting,--degrading,--disgraceful!" And then he lefther.

  On the next morning before he started for Caversham he did see Mr.Brehgert; but he told Georgiana nothing of the interview, nor hadshe the courage to ask him. The objectionable name was not mentionedagain in her father's hearing, but there was a sad scene betweenherself, Lady Pomona, and her sister. When Mr. Longestaffe and hisyounger daughter arrived, the poor mother did not go down into thehall to meet her child,--from whom she had that morning received thedreadful tidings about the Jew. As to these tidings she had as yetheard no direct condemnation from her husband. The effect upon LadyPomona had been more grievous even than that made upon the father.Mr. Longestaffe had been able to declare immediately that theproposed marriage was out of the question, that nothing of the kindshould be allowed, and could take upon himself to see the Jew withthe object of breaking off the engagement. But poor Lady Pomona washelpless in her sorrow. If Georgiana chose to marry a Jew tradesmanshe could not help it. But such an occurrence in the family would,she felt, be to her as though the end of all things had come. Shecould never again hold up her head, never go into society, nevertake pleasure in her powdered footmen. When her daughter should havemarried a Jew, she didn't think that she could pluck up the courageto look even her neighbours Mrs. Yeld and Mrs. Hepworth in the face.Georgiana found no one in the hall to meet her, and dreaded to go toher mother. She first went with her maid to her own room, and waitedthere till Sophia came to her. As she sat pretending to watch theprocess of unpacking, she strove to regain her courage. Why need shebe afraid of anybody? Why, at any rate, should she be afraid of otherfemales? Had she not always been dominant over her mother and sister?"Oh, Georgey," said Sophia, "this is wonderful news!"

  "I suppose it seems wonderful that anybody should be going to bemarried except yourself."

  "No;--but such a very odd match!"

  "Look here, Sophia. If you don't like it, you need not talk about it.We shall always have a house in town, and you will not. If you don'tlike to come to us, you needn't. That's about all."

  "George wouldn't let me go there at all," said Sophia.

  "Then--George--had better keep you at home at Toodlam. Where's mamma?I should have thought somebody might have come and met me to say aword to me, instead of allowing me to creep into the house likethis."

  "Mamma isn't at all well; but she's up and in her own room. Youmustn't be surprised, Georgey, if you find mamma very--very much cutup about this." Then Georgiana understood that she must be content tostand all alone in the world, unless she made up her mind to give upMr. Brehgert.

  "So I've come back," said Georgiana, stooping down and kissing hermother.

  "Oh, Georgiana; oh, Georgiana!" said Lady Pomona, slowly raisingherself and covering her face with one of her hands. "This isdreadful. It will kill me. It will indeed. I didn't expect it fromyou."

  "What is the good of all that, mamma?"

  "It seems to me that it can't be possible. It's unnatural. It's worsethan your wife's sister. I'm sure there's something in the Bibleagainst it. You never would read your Bible, or you wouldn't be goingto do this."

  "Lady Julia Start has done just the same thing,--and she goeseverywhere."

  "What does your papa say? I'm sure your papa won't allow it. If he'sfixed about anything, it's about the Jews. An accursed race;--thinkof that, Georgiana;--expelled from Paradise."

  "Mamma, that's nonsense."

  "Scattered about all over the world, so that nobody knows who anybodyis. And it's only since those nasty Radicals came up that they havebeen able to sit in Parliament."

  "One of the greatest judges in the land is a Jew," said Georgiana,who had already learned to fortify her own case.

  "Nothing that the Radicals can do can make them anything else butwhat they are. I'm sure that Mr. Whitstable, who is to be yourbrother-in-law, will never condescend to speak to him."

  Now, if there was anybody whom Georgiana Longestaffe had despisedfrom her youth upwards it was George Whitstable. He had been alaughing-stock to her when they were children, had been regardedas a lout when he left school, and had been her common example ofrural dullness since he had become a man. He certainly was neitherbeautiful nor bright;--but he was a Conservative squire born of Toryparents. Nor was he rich,--having but a moderate income, sufficientto maintain a moderate country house and no more. When firstthere came indications that Sophia intended to put up with GeorgeWhitstable, the more ambitious sister did not spare the shafts of herscorn. And now she was told that George Whitstable would not speak toher future husband! She was not to marry Mr. Brehgert lest she shouldbring disgrace, among others, upon George Whitstable! This was not tobe endured.

  "Then Mr. Whitstable may keep himself at home at Toodlam and nottrouble his head at all about me or my husband. I'm sure I shan'ttrouble myself as to what a poor creature like that may think aboutme. George Whitstable knows as much about London as I do about themoon."

  "He has always been in county society," said Sophia, "and was stayingonly the other day at Lord Cantab's."

  "Then there were two fools together," said Georgiana, who at thismoment was very unhappy.

  "Mr. Whitstable is an excellent young man, and I am sure he will makeyour sister happy; but as for Mr. Brehgert,--I can't bear to have hisname mentioned in my hearing."

  "Then, mamma, it had better not be mentioned. At any rate it shan'tbe mentioned again by me." Having so spoken, Georgiana bounced out ofthe room and did not meet her mother and sister again till she camedown into the drawing-room before dinner.


  Her position was one very trying both to her nerves and to herfeelings. She presumed that her father had seen Mr. Brehgert, but didnot in the least know what had passed between them. It might be thather father had been so decided in his objection as to induce Mr.Brehgert to abandon his intention,--and if this were so, there couldbe no reason why she should endure the misery of having the Jewthrown in her face. Among them all they had made her think that shewould never become Mrs. Brehgert. She certainly was not prepared tonail her colours upon the mast and to live and die for Brehgert. Shewas almost sick of the thing herself. But she could not back out ofit so as to obliterate all traces of the disgrace. Even if she shouldnot ultimately marry the Jew, it would be known that she had beenengaged to a Jew,--and then it would certainly be said afterwardsthat the Jew had jilted her. She was thus vacillating in her mind,not knowing whether to go on with Brehgert or to abandon him. Thatevening Lady Pomona retired immediately after dinner, being "far fromwell." It was of course known to them all that Mr. Brehgert was herailment. She was accompanied by her elder daughter, and Georgianawas left with her father. Not a word was spoken between them. He satbehind his newspaper till he went to sleep, and she found herselfalone and deserted in that big room. It seemed to her that even theservants treated her with disdain. Her own maid had already given hernotice. It was manifestly the intention of her family to ostraciseher altogether. Of what service would it be to her that Lady JuliaGoldsheiner should be received everywhere, if she herself were tobe left without a single Christian friend? Would a life passedexclusively among the Jews content even her lessened ambition? Atten o'clock she kissed her father's head and went to bed. Her fathergrunted less audibly than usual under the operation. She had alwaysgiven herself credit for high spirits, but she began to fear that hercourage would not suffice to carry her through sufferings such asthese.

  On the next day her father returned to town, and the three ladieswere left alone. Great preparations were going on for the Whitstablewedding. Dresses were being made and linen marked, and consultationsheld,--from all which things Georgiana was kept quite apart. Theaccepted lover came over to lunch, and was made as much of as thoughthe Whitstables had always kept a town house. Sophy loomed so largein her triumph and happiness, that it was not to be borne. AllCaversham treated her with a new respect. And yet if Toodlam was acouple of thousand a year, it was all it was;--and there were twounmarried sisters! Lady Pomona went half into hysterics every timeshe saw her younger daughter, and became in her way a most oppressiveparent. Oh, heavens;--was Mr. Brehgert with his two houses worth allthis? A feeling of intense regret for the things she was losing cameover her. Even Caversham, the Caversham of old days which she hadhated, but in which she had made herself respected and partly fearedby everybody about the place,--had charms for her which seemed toher delightful now that they were lost for ever. Then she had alwaysconsidered herself to be the first personage in the house,--superioreven to her father;--but now she was decidedly the last.

  Her second evening was worse even than the first. When Mr.Longestaffe was not at home the family sat in a small dingy roombetween the library and the dining-room, and on this occasion thefamily consisted only of Georgiana. In the course of the evening shewent up-stairs and calling her sister out into the passage demandedto be told why she was thus deserted. "Poor mamma is very ill," saidSophy.

  "I won't stand it if I'm to be treated like this," said Georgiana."I'll go away somewhere."

  "How can I help it, Georgey? It's your own doing. Of course you musthave known that you were going to separate yourself from us."

  On the next morning there came a dispatch from Mr. Longestaffe,--ofwhat nature Georgey did not know as it was addressed to Lady Pomona.But one enclosure she was allowed to see. "Mamma," said Sophy,"thinks you ought to know how Dolly feels about it." And then aletter from Dolly to his father was put into Georgey's hands. Theletter was as follows:--

  MY DEAR FATHER,--

  Can it be true that Georgey is thinking of marrying that horrid vulgar Jew, old Brehgert? The fellows say so; but I can't believe it. I'm sure you wouldn't let her. You ought to lock her up.

  Yours affectionately,

  A. LONGESTAFFE.

  Dolly's letters made his father very angry, as, short as they were,they always contained advice or instruction, such as should come froma father to a son, rather than from a son to a father. This letterhad not been received with a welcome. Nevertheless the head of thefamily had thought it worth his while to make use of it, and had sentit to Caversham in order that it might be shown to his rebelliousdaughter.

  And so Dolly had said that she ought to be locked up! She'd like tosee somebody do it! As soon as she had read her brother's epistle shetore it into fragments and threw it away in her sister's presence."How can mamma be such a hypocrite as to pretend to care what Dollysays? Who doesn't know that he's an idiot? And papa has thought itworth his while to send that down here for me to see! Well, afterthat I must say that I don't much care what papa does."

  "I don't see why Dolly shouldn't have an opinion as well as anybodyelse," said Sophy.

  "As well as George Whitstable? As far as stupidness goes they areabout the same. But Dolly has a little more knowledge of the world."

  "Of course we all know, Georgiana," rejoined the elder sister,"that for cuteness and that kind of thing one must look among thecommercial classes, and especially among a certain sort."

  "I've done with you all," said Georgey rushing out of the room. "I'llhave nothing more to do with any one of you."

  But it is very difficult for a young lady to have done with herfamily! A young man may go anywhere, and may be lost at sea; or comeand claim his property after twenty years. A young man may demand anallowance, and has almost a right to live alone. The young male birdis supposed to fly away from the paternal nest. But the daughter ofa house is compelled to adhere to her father till she shall get ahusband. The only way in which Georgey could "have done" with themall at Caversham would be by trusting herself to Mr. Brehgert, and atthe present moment she did not know whether Mr. Brehgert did or didnot consider himself as engaged to her.

  That day also passed away with ineffable tedium. At one time she wasso beaten down by ennui that she almost offered her assistance toher sister in reference to the wedding garments. In spite of thevery bitter words which had been spoken in the morning she wouldhave done so had Sophy afforded her the slightest opportunity. ButSophy was heartlessly cruel in her indifference. In her younger daysshe had had her bad things, and now,--with George Whitstable by herside,--she meant to have good things, the goodness of which wasinfinitely enhanced by the badness of her sister's things. Shehad been so greatly despised that the charm of despising againwas irresistible. And she was able to reconcile her cruelty toher conscience by telling herself that duty required her to showimplacable resistance to such a marriage as this which her sistercontemplated. Therefore Georgiana dragged out another day, not in theleast knowing what was to be her fate.