亚瑟·莫瑞尔逐渐长大了。他是一个粗心大意、性情急躁、容易冲动的男孩,极像他的父亲。他讨厌学问,如果他不得不去干活,他就嘟囔半天,而且一有机会,他就溜出去玩。
论外表,他是家中的精华,身材匀称,风度优雅、充满活力,深棕色的头发、红润的脸色,敏锐的深蓝色的眼睛映衬着长长的睫毛,再加上慷慨大方的举止,暴躁的脾气,使他在家中倍受欢迎。但是,当他长大一点之后,他的脾气变的令人捉摸不定了。他无缘无故的大发脾气,粗暴无理,几乎让人不能忍受。
有时候,他深爱着的母亲对他很反感,他只想自己。他想娱乐的时候,他痛恨所有妨碍他的东西,甚至包括母亲。而当他碰到麻烦事时,却哼哼卿卿地对她无休止地哭诉个没完。
有一次,当他抱怨说老师恨他时,母亲说:“天哪!孩子,如果你不想被别人恨,就改了吧;要是不能改变,你就忍着吧。”
他过去爱父亲,父亲也疼爱 过他。但现在他开始厌恶父亲了。在他渐渐地长大时,莫瑞尔也开始慢慢地衰弱了。他的身体,过去一举一动都那么优美,如今却萎缩了,似乎不是随着日月而成熟稳重,而是日趋卑鄙和无赖了。每当这个面目可憎的老头对亚瑟呼来喝去时,亚瑟就忍不住要发作。而且,莫瑞尔的举止变的越来越无所顾忌,他的一举一动也让人看不顺眼。孩子们长大了,正处在关键的青春期,父亲对他们的心灵来说是一种丑恶的刺激。他在家里的举止和他在井下和矿工们在一起时一个样,丝毫不变。
“肮脏讨厌的东西!”亚瑟被父亲惹怒的时候, 他就会这么大喊着,冲出屋子。而莫瑞尔因为孩子们讨厌他,他就越赌气胡来。惹得孩子们发狂的厌恶和愤怒,莫瑞尔似乎从中得到了一种满足。孩子们在十四、五岁时都特别容易冲动,而亚瑟就是在父亲堕落衰弱的过程中明白事理的,因此最恨他。
有时候,父亲似乎也能感觉到孩子们的那种轻蔑和憎恶。
“再没有人还能像我一样辛辛苦苦地养活你们。”他会大声吼叫。“我为你们费尽心血,为你们操劳,可你们像对待一条狗一样的对待我,告诉你们吧,我再也受不了啦!”
实际上,他们对 他并没有那么坏,而他也不是像他说的那么勤奋地工作。如果真是那样,他们倒会同情他的。现在,这几乎成了父亲和孩子们之间的争执,他坚持着自己不良的习惯和令人厌恶的生活方式,以此来表明他是独立不羁的,不受旁人支配的。因而,孩子们更加痛恨他。
最后,亚瑟变的极不耐烦,也极为暴躁。因此,他获得诺丁汉文法中学奖学金后。母亲就决定让他住在城里他的一个妹妹家里。只有周末回家。
安妮仍旧是一所公立学校的低年级教师,每星期挣四先令。不过,她马上就可以每周挣十五先令了,因为她已经通过考试。这样的话,家里的经济将不成问题了。
现在,莫瑞尔太太一心一意扑在保罗身上。他尽管不十分颖悟,却是个非常恬静的孩子。他坚持画他的画,仍然深爱着母亲。他所做的一切事都是为了她。她每天晚上等着他回家,然后把她白天的所思所想一古脑地全告诉给他。他认真地坐在那里听着,两人相依为命,心心相映。
威廉已经和那个皮肤微黑的姑娘订婚了。还花了八几尼给他买了一枚订婚戒指。孩子们对这么大的价钱都咋舌不已。
“八芬尼。”莫瑞尔喊道。
“ 他真傻!还不如多给我点儿钱倒好。”
“多给你点儿钱!”莫瑞尔太太说道,“为什么要多给你点儿钱。”
她记得 他从来没给她买过什么订婚戒指。她倒是更赞同可能有些傻气但不小气的威廉了。但现在这小伙子在信上频频谈起 他如何跟未婚妻参加舞会,她穿着多么漂亮有服装,或者兴冲冲谈起他们去戏院时如何打扮得像个头面人物。
他想把姑娘带回家来。莫瑞尔太太认为应该让她在圣诞时来。这一次,威廉没带礼物,只带着这么一位小姐回 来的。莫瑞尔太太已经准备好晚饭。听到脚步声,她站起身向门口走去。威廉进来了。
“嗨,妈妈。”他匆匆地吻了她一下,就站到一边,介绍这个高挑的漂亮女孩,她穿着一套质地优良的黑白格于女装,披着毛皮领圈。
“这是吉普赛女郎!”
韦丝特伸出手来,浅浅地笑了一下,微微露出洁白牙齿。
“哦,你好,莫瑞尔太太!”她客气地打招呼。
“恐怕你们都饿了吧?”莫瑞尔太太问。
“没有,我们在火车上吃过饭了。你看到我的手套了吗?宝贝?”
身材高大、骨骼健壮的威廉·莫瑞尔飞快地看了她一眼。
“我怎么会看到呢?”她说。
“那我就丢了,你不要这么粗鲁地对待我。”
他皱了皱眉,但什么也没说。她打量着厨房四周,觉得这间房又小又怪,相片后面装饰着闪光的邀吻树枝和冬青树。摆着几把木椅和小松木桌子。就在这时,莫瑞尔进来了。
“你好,爸爸!”
“你好,儿子,我已经知道你们的事了。”
两人握握手,威廉介绍这位小姐,她同样微露玉齿笑了一下。
“你好,莫瑞尔先生!”
莫瑞尔奉承似地鞠了一躬。
“我很好,我也希望你很好,你千万不要客气。”
“哦,谢谢你。”她回答,心里觉得很有趣。
“如果你不介意我就上楼去,如果太麻烦就算了。”
“不麻烦,安妮带你去。沃尔特,来搬这个箱子。”
“不要打扮太长时间。”威廉对他的未婚妻说。
安妮拿起铜烛台,窘迫的不敢开口,引着这位小姐向莫瑞尔夫妇为她腾出来的前面卧室走去。这间屋子,在烛光下也显的窄小而阴冷。矿工的妻子们只有在得重病的时候才在卧室里生火。“需要我打开箱子吗?”安妮问道。
“哦,太谢谢你了!”
安妮扮演了仆女的角色,接着下楼去端热水。
“我想她一定很累,妈妈。”威廉说:“我们来得很匆忙,一路上也非常辛苦。”
“她需要点什么吗?”莫瑞尔太太问。
“哦!不用,她马上就会好的。”
屋子里的气氛有点叫人寒心。半小时后,韦丝特小姐下楼了,穿着一件紫色的衣服,在矿工的厨房里显得过分的豪华。
“我告诉过你,你不用换衣服。”威廉对他说。
“噢,宝贝!”她说完转过那张甜蜜蜜的 笑脸对莫瑞尔太太说:“你不觉得 他总是埋怨我吗?莫瑞尔太太?”
“是吗?”莫瑞尔太太说:“那就是他的不对了。”“是的,真是这样!”
“你很冷吧,”母亲说:“要不要靠近火炉坐着?”
莫瑞尔从扶手椅上跳起来。
“来坐这儿。”他说:“来坐这儿。”
“不,爸爸,你自己坐吧。坐在沙发上,吉普。”威廉说。
“不,不,”莫瑞尔大声说,“这把椅子最暖和了,来坐这儿,韦丝特小姐。”
“多谢了。”姑娘说着,坐在矿工的象征着荣誉的扶手椅上,她哆嗦着,感觉到了厨房的温暖渐渐浸入她体内。
“给我拿个手绢来,亲爱的宝贝。”她对他说。嘴巴翘着,那亲呢的样子仿佛只有他们俩人在场,这让家里人觉得 他们不应该呆在这里。很显然,这位小姐就 没有意识到他们是人。对她来说,现在 他们只不过是牲口罢了,威廉局促不安,不知如何是好。
对于斯特里萨姆这样一个家庭来说,韦丝特小姐的光临已经是“屈尊”了。对她来说,这些人确实是下里巴人——简单地说,是工人阶级。她何必约束自己呢?
“我去拿,”安妮说。
韦丝特小姐 没有理会,仿佛刚才是一个仆人在说话。不过,当姑娘拿着手帕又下楼来时,她和善地说了句:“哦,谢谢!”
她坐在那里,谈论着火车上吃的那顿饭是那么寒酸,谈论着伦敦,也谈了跳舞。她确实有些紧张,所以不停地说呀说。莫瑞尔一直坐在那里抽那种很烈的手捻的烟卷,一面看着他,听着她那流利的伦敦话,一面不停地吐着烟圈。穿着她最漂亮的黑绸衬衫的莫瑞尔太太,平静而简短地回答着她的话。三个孩子羡慕地坐在一起,什么也不说。韦丝特小姐像是位公主,所有最好的东西都为她拿了出来,最好的杯子,最好的匙子,最好的台布,最好的咖啡壶。孩子们觉得他一定会认为这个场面很气派,而她却觉得很不习惯,不了解这些人,也不知道如何对待 他们。威廉开着玩笑,也多少感到有些别扭。
大约10点了,他对她说:“累了吗?吉普?”
“很累,宝贝。”她马上用那种亲热的口气回答道,头稍微偏了一下。
“我去给她点蜡烛,妈妈。”他说。
“很好。”母亲回答道。
韦丝特小姐站了起来,对莫瑞尔太太伸出了手。
“晚安,莫瑞尔太太。”她说。
保罗坐在烧水锅前面,正往一只啤酒瓶里灌热水,安妮把瓶子用下井穿的旧绒布衬衫包好,吻了母亲一下,道了晚安。家里已经没有别的空房了,所以她得跟这位小姐同住一间屋子。
“等一会。”莫瑞尔太太对安妮说。安妮正坐在那儿弄着那只热水瓶。韦丝特小姐与大家—一握手,这让大家很不自在。威廉在前引路,她跟在后边走了。五分钟后,他又下楼。他心里有点恼火,自己也不知道为什么。他没说几句话。直到别人都上了床。只剩下他和妈妈, 他才像以前一样,两腿叉开站在炉边地毯上,有些犹犹豫豫地说:“怎么样,妈妈?”
“怎么样,孩子?”
她坐在摇椅上,多少有些为他而伤心和丢脸。
“你喜欢她吗?”
“是的。”她迟迟地回答道。
“她还有些害羞,妈妈。她还不习惯这儿。你知道。这里和她姑妈家里不同。”
“当然了,孩子,她一定觉得很难习惯这儿吧。”
“是的,”他顿时皱眉头,“可她不该摆她的架子!”
“她是初来乍 到,有点别扭罢了,孩子,她会好的。”
“是这样的,妈妈。”他感激地回答。不过他还是愁眉不展。“你知道,她不像你,妈妈,她从来严肃不起来,而且她也不肯用脑子。”
“她还年轻,孩子。”
“是的,不过她缺乏家教,很小的时候,她妈妈就去世了,从那以后,她就跟她姑妈住在一起,她姑妈真让她无法容忍。她父亲又是一个败家子。因此,她从没有得到过爱。”
“哦,那么,你应补偿她。”
“因此,你应该在很多方面谅解她。”
“孩子,怎么样谅解她?”
“我不知道。当她显得举止浅薄的时候,你就想想从来没有人教会她深沉的感情。再说,她确实深爱着我。”
“这一点大家都看得出来。”
“但是你知道,妈妈——她和我们不一样,那些人,就是和她生活在一起的那种人,他们好象和我们有不一样的原则。”
“你不必过早地下结论。”莫瑞尔太太说。
看起来, 他的内心还是不能轻松。
然而,第三天早晨他起来后,就又开始在屋里唱歌逗乐了。
“喂,”他坐在楼梯上喊:“你起来了吗?”
“起来了。”她轻声应道。
“圣诞快乐!”他大声对她喊着。
卧室里传来她清脆悦耳的笑声,但过去半个小时了,她还在楼上。
“刚才她说起 来了,是真的吗?”他问安妮。“是起来了。”安妮回答。
他等了一会儿,又走到楼梯口去。
“新年快乐!”他喊着祝福。
“谢谢,亲爱的!”远处又传来了笑声。
“快点!”他恳求地说。
快一个小时过去了,他还在等她。总是在六点以前就起床的莫瑞尔,看了看钟。
“哦,真奇怪。”他大声 说。
除了威廉,全家人都吃过早饭了,他又走到楼梯口。
“在那儿等着我去给你送复活节的彩蛋吗?” 他生气地喊道。
她只是哈哈笑着。全家人都想着,经过了这么长时间的准备,一定会有什么奇迹发生。终于,她下来了,穿着一件衬衫,套了一条裙子,漂亮迷人,仪态大方。
“这么长时间,你真的在梳洗打扮吗?”他问。
“亲爱的!这个问题不允许问,对吗?莫瑞尔太太?”
她一开始就扮起贵族小姐的派头。当她和威廉去教堂的时候,威廉穿着大礼服,戴着大礼帽;她穿着伦敦做的服装,披着毛皮领圈。保罗、亚瑟和安妮以为人人 见了他们都会羡慕地鞠个躬。而莫瑞尔,穿着他最好的衣服站在路头上,看着这对衣着华贵的人走过去,心里觉得他仿佛是王子的父亲了。
实际上,她并没有那么了不起。她只不过在伦敦一家公司当秘书或办事员,干了有一年。但是,当她和莫瑞尔一家在一起时,她就摆出一副女王的架式。她坐在那里让保罗或安妮服侍她,仿佛他们是她的仆人。她对待莫瑞尔太太也是油腔滑调、随随便便,对莫瑞尔却摆出一副恩赐的架式。不过,过了一两天后,她就改变了她的态度。
ARTHUR MOREL was growing up. He was a quick, careless, impulsive boy,a good deal like his father. He hated study, made a great moan if hehad to work, and escaped as soon as possible to his sport again.
In appearance he remained the flower of the family,being well made, graceful, and full of life. His dark brown hairand fresh colouring, and his exquisite dark blue eyes shaded withlong lashes, together with his generous manner and fiery temper,made him a favourite. But as he grew older his temper became uncertain. He flew into rages over nothing, seemed unbearably raw and irritable.
His mother, whom he loved, wearied of him sometimes. He thought only of himself. When he wanted amusement, all thatstood in his way he hated, even if it were she. When he was in trouble he moaned to her ceaselessly.
"Goodness, boy!" she said, when he groaned about a master who,he said, hated him, "if you don't like it, alter it, and if youcan't alter it, put up with it."
And his father, whom he had loved and who had worshipped him,he came to detest. As he grew older Morel fell into a slow ruin. His body, which had been beautiful in movement and in being,shrank, did not seem to ripen with the years, but to get meanand rather despicable. There came over him a look of meannessand of paltriness. And when the mean-looking elderly man bullied orordered the boy about, Arthur was furious. Moreover, Morel's mannersgot worse and worse, his habits somewhat disgusting. When thechildren were growing up and in the crucial stage of adolescence,the father was like some ugly irritant to their souls. His mannersin the house were the same as he used among the colliers down pit.
"Dirty nuisance!" Arthur would cry, jumping up and goingstraight out of the house when his father disgusted him. And Morel persisted the more because his children hated it. He seemed to take a kind of satisfaction in disgusting them,and driving them nearly mad, while they were so irritably sensitiveat the age of fourteen or fifteen. So that Arthur, who was growingup when his father was degenerate and elderly, hated him worstof all.
Then, sometimes, the father would seem to feel the contemptuoushatred of his children.
"There's not a man tries harder for his family!" he would shout. "He does his best for them, and then gets treated like a dog. But I'm not going to stand it, I tell you!"
But for the threat and the fact that he did not try so hardas be imagined, they would have felt sorry. As it was, the battlenow went on nearly all between father and children, he persistingin his dirty and disgusting ways, just to assert his independence. They loathed him.
Arthur was so inflamed and irritable at last, that when hewon a scholarship for the Grammar School in Nottingham, his motherdecided to let him live in town, with one of her sisters, and onlycome home at week-ends.
Annie was still a junior teacher in the Board-school, earningabout four shillings a week. But soon she would have fifteen shillings,since she had passed her examination, and there would be financialpeace in the house.
Mrs. Morel clung now to Paul. He was quiet and not brilliant. But still he stuck to his painting, and still he stuck to his mother. Everything he did was for her. She waited for his coming homein the evening, and then she unburdened herself of all shehad pondered, or of all that had occurred to her during the day. He sat and listened with his earnestness. The two shared lives.
William was engaged now to his brunette, and had bought heran engagement ring that cost eight guineas. The children gaspedat such a fabulous price.
"Eight guineas!" said Morel. "More fool him! If he'd gen mesome on't, it 'ud ha' looked better on 'im."
"Given YOU some of it!" cried Mrs. Morel. "Why give YOUsome of it!"
She remembered HE had bought no engagement ring at all,and she preferred William, who was not mean, if he were foolish. But now the young man talked only of the dances to which he wentwith his betrothed, and the different resplendent clothes she wore;or he told his mother with glee how they went to the theatre likegreat swells.
He wanted to bring the girl home. Mrs. Morel said sheshould come at the Christmas. This time William arrived witha lady, but with no presents. Mrs. Morel had prepared supper. Hearing footsteps, she rose and went to the door. William entered.
"Hello, mother!" He kissed her hastily, then stood asideto present a tall, handsome girl, who was wearing a costume of fineblack-and-white check, and furs.
"Here's Gyp!"
Miss Western held out her hand and showed her teeth in a small smile.
"Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Morel!" she exclaimed.
"I am afraid you will be hungry," said Mrs. Morel.
"Oh no, we had dinner in the train. Have you got my gloves, Chubby?"
William Morel, big and raw-boned, looked at her quickly.
"How should I?" he said.
"Then I've lost them. Don't be cross with me."
A frown went over his face, but he said nothing. She glancedround the kitchen. It was small and curious to her, with itsglittering kissing-bunch, its evergreens behind the pictures,its wooden chairs and little deal table. At that moment Morelcame in.
"Hello, dad!"
"Hello, my son! Tha's let on me!"
The two shook hands, and William presented the lady. She gave the same smile that showed her teeth.
"How do you do, Mr. Morel?"
Morel bowed obsequiously.
"I'm very well, and I hope so are you. You must make yourselfvery welcome."
"Oh, thank you," she replied, rather amused.
"You will like to go upstairs," said Mrs. Morel.
"If you don't mind; but not if it is any trouble to you."
"It is no trouble. Annie will take you. Walter, carry upthis box."
"And don't be an hour dressing yourself up," said Williamto his betrothed.
Annie took a brass candlestick, and, too shy almost to speak,preceded the young lady to the front bedroom, which Mr. and Mrs. Morelhad vacated for her. It, too, was small and cold by candlelight. The colliers' wives only lit fires in bedrooms in case of extreme illness.
"Shall I unstrap the box?" asked Annie.
"Oh, thank you very much!"
Annie played the part of maid, then went downstairs for hot water.
"I think she's rather tired, mother," said William. "It's a beastly journey, and we had such a rush."
"Is there anything I can give her?" asked Mrs. Morel.
"Oh no, she'll be all right."
But there was a chill in the atmosphere. After half an hourMiss Western came down, having put on a purplish-coloured dress,very fine for the collier's kitchen.
"I told you you'd no need to change," said William to her.
"Oh, Chubby!" Then she turned with that sweetish smileto Mrs. Morel. "Don't you think he's always grumbling, Mrs. Morel?"
"Is he?" said Mrs. Morel. "That's not very nice of him."
"It isn't, really!"
"You are cold," said the mother. "Won't you come near the fire?"
Morel jumped out of his armchair.
"Come and sit you here!" he cried. "Come and sit you here!"
"No, dad, keep your own chair. Sit on the sofa, Gyp," said William.
"No, no!" cried Morel. "This cheer's warmest. Come and sit here,Miss Wesson."
"Thank you so much," said the girl, seating herselfin the collier's armchair, the place of honour. She shivered,feeling the warmth of the kitchen penetrate her.
"Fetch me a hanky, Chubby dear!" she said, putting up her mouthto him, and using the same intimate tone as if they were alone;which made the rest of the family feel as if they ought not tobe present. The young lady evidently did not realise them as people: they were creatures to her for the present. William winced.
In such a household, in Streatham, Miss Western would have beena lady condescending to her inferiors. These people were to her,certainly clownish--in short, the working classes. How was sheto adjust herself?
"I'll go," said Annie.
Miss Western took no notice, as if a servant had spoken. But when the girl came downstairs again with the handkerchief,she said: "Oh, thank you!" in a gracious way.
She sat and talked about the dinner on the train, which had beenso poor; about London, about dances. She was really very nervous,and chattered from fear. Morel sat all the time smoking his thicktwist tobacco, watching her, and listening to her glib London speech,as he puffed. Mrs. Morel, dressed up in her best black silk blouse,answered quietly and rather briefly. The three children satround in silence and admiration. Miss Western was the princess. Everything of the best was got out for her: the best cups,the best spoons, the best table cloth, the best coffee-jug. Thechildren thought she must find it quite grand. She felt strange,not able to realise the people, not knowing how to treat them. William joked, and was slightly uncomfortable.
At about ten o'clock he said to her:
"Aren't you tired, Gyp?"
"Rather, Chubby," she answered, at once in the intimate tonesand putting her head slightly on one side.
"I'll light her the candle, mother," he said.
"Very well," replied the mother.
Miss Western stood up, held out her hand to Mrs. Morel.
"Good-night, Mrs. Morel," she said.
Paul sat at the boiler, letting the water run from the tapinto a stone beer-bottle. Annie swathed the bottle in an old flannelpit-singlet, and kissed her mother good-night. She was to sharethe room with the lady, because the house was full.
"You wait a minute," said Mrs. Morel to Annie. And Annie satnursing the hot-water bottle. Miss Western shook hands all round,to everybody's discomfort, and took her departure, preceded by William. In five minutes he was downstairs again. His heart was rather sore;he did not know why. He talked very little till everybody had goneto bed, but himself and his mother. Then he stood with his legs apart,in his old attitude on the hearthrug, and said hesitatingly:
"Well, mother?"
"Well, my son?"
She sat in the rocking-chair, feeling somehow hurt and humiliated,for his sake.
"Do you like her?"
"Yes," came the slow answer.
"She's shy yet, mother. She's not used to it. It's differentfrom her aunt's house, you know."
"Of course it is, my boy; and she must find it difficult."
"She does." Then he frowned swiftly. "If only she wouldn'tput on her BLESSED airs!"
"It's only her first awkwardness, my boy. She'll be all right."
"That's it, mother," he replied gratefully. But his browwas gloomy. "You know, she's not like you, mother. She's not serious,and she can't think."
"She's young, my boy."
"Yes; and she's had no sort of show. Her mother died when she wasa child. Since then she's lived with her aunt, whom she can't bear. And her father was a rake. She's had no love."
"No! Well, you must make up to her."
"And so--you have to forgive her a lot of things."
"WHAT do you have to forgive her, my boy?"
"I dunno. When she seems shallow, you have to remember she'snever had anybody to bring her deeper side out. And she's FEARFULLYfond of me."
"Anybody can see that."
"But you know, mother--she's--she's different from us. Those sort of people, like those she lives amongst, they don't seemto have the same principles."
"You mustn't judge too hastily," said Mrs. Morel.
But he seemed uneasy within himself.
In the morning, however, he was up singing and larking roundthe house.
"Hello!" he called, sitting on the stairs. "Are you getting up?"
"Yes," her voice called faintly.
"Merry Christmas!" he shouted to her.
Her laugh, pretty and tinkling, was heard in the bedroom. She did not come down in half an hour.
"Was she REALLY getting up when she said she was?" he askedof Annie.
"Yes, she was," replied Annie.
He waited a while, then went to the stairs again.
"Happy New Year," he called.
"Thank you, Chubby dear!" came the laughing voice, far away.
"Buck up!" he implored.
It was nearly an hour, and still he was waiting for her. Morel, who always rose before six, looked at the clock.
"Well, it's a winder!" he exclaimed.
The family had breakfasted, all but William. He wentto the foot of the stairs.
"Shall I have to send you an Easter egg up there?" he called,rather crossly. She only laughed. The family expected, after thattime of preparation, something like magic. At last she came,looking very nice in a blouse and skirt.
"Have you REALLY been all this time getting ready?" he asked.
"Chubby dear! That question is not permitted, is it,Mrs. Morel?"
She played the grand lady at first. When she went with Williamto chapel, he in his frock-coat and silk hat, she in her fursand London-made costume, Paul and Arthur and Annie expectedeverybody to bow to the ground in admiration. And Morel, standing in his Sunday suit at the end of the road,watching the gallant pair go, felt he was the father of princesand princesses.
And yet she was not so grand. For a year now she had beena sort of secretary or clerk in a London office. But while shewas with the Morels she queened it. She sat and let Annie or Paulwait on her as if they were her servants. She treated Mrs. Morelwith a certain glibness and Morel with patronage. But after a dayor so she began to change her tune.