Chapter 111

NextdayPhilipbeganworkagain,buttheendwhichheexpectedwithinafewweeksdidnotcome.Theweekspassedintomonths.Thewinterworeaway,andintheparksthetreesburstintobudandintoleaf.AterriblelassitudesettleduponPhilip.Timewaspassing,thoughitwentwithsuchheavyfeet,andhethoughtthathisyouthwasgoingandsoonhewouldhavelostitandnothingwouldhavebeenaccomplished.Hisworkseemedmoreaimlessnowthattherewasthecertaintyofhisleavingit.Hebecameskilfulinthedesigningofcostumes,andthoughhehadnoinventivefacultyacquiredquicknessintheadaptationofFrenchfashionstotheEnglishmarket.Sometimeshewasnotdispleasedwithhisdrawings,buttheyalwaysbungledthemintheexecution.Hewasamusedtonoticethathesufferedfromalivelyirritationwhenhisideaswerenotadequatelycarriedout.Hehadtowalkwarily.WheneverhesuggestedsomethingoriginalMr.Sampsonturneditdown:theircustomersdidnotwantanythingoutre,itwasaveryrespectableclassofbusiness,andwhenyouhadaconnectionofthatsortitwasn』tworthwhiletakinglibertieswithit.OnceortwicehespokesharplytoPhilip;hethoughttheyoungmanwasgettingabitabovehimself,becausePhilip』sideasdidnotalwayscoincidewithhisown.

「Youjollywelltakecare,myfineyoungfellow,oroneofthesedaysyou』llfindyourselfinthestreet.」

Philiplongedtogivehimapunchonthenose,butherestrainedhimself.Afterallitcouldnotpossiblylastmuchlonger,andthenhewouldbedonewithallthesepeopleforever.Sometimesincomicdesperationhecriedoutthathisunclemustbemadeofiron.Whataconstitution!Theillshesufferedfromwouldhavekilledanydecentpersontwelvemonthsbefore.WhenatlastthenewscamethattheVicarwasdyingPhilip,whohadbeenthinkingofotherthings,wastakenbysurprise.ItwasinJuly,andinanotherfortnighthewastohavegoneforhisholiday.HereceivedaletterfromMrs.FostertosaythedoctordidnotgiveMr.Careymanydaystolive,andifPhilipwishedtoseehimagainhemustcomeatonce.Philipwenttothebuyerandtoldhimhewantedtoleave.Mr.Sampsonwasadecentfellow,andwhenheknewthecircumstancesmadenodifficulties.Philipsaidgood-byetothepeopleinhisdepartment;thereasonofhisleavinghadspreadamongtheminanexaggeratedform,andtheythoughthehadcomeintoafortune.Mrs.Hodgeshadtearsinhereyeswhensheshookhandswithhim.

「Isupposeweshan』toftenseeyouagain,」shesaid.

「I』mgladtogetawayfromLynn』s,」heanswered.

Itwasstrange,buthewasactuallysorrytoleavethesepeoplewhomhethoughthehadloathed,andwhenhedroveawayfromthehouseinHarringtonStreetitwaswithnoexultation.Hehadsoanticipatedtheemotionshewouldexperienceonthisoccasionthatnowhefeltnothing:hewasasunconcernedasthoughheweregoingforafewdays』holiday.

「I』vegotarottennature,」hesaidtohimself.「Ilookforwardtothingsawfully,andthenwhentheycomeI』malwaysdisappointed.」

HereachedBlackstableearlyintheafternoon.Mrs.Fostermethimatthedoor,andherfacetoldhimthathisunclewasnotyetdead.

「He』salittlebettertoday,」shesaid.「He』sgotawonderfulconstitution.」

Sheledhimintothebed-roomwhereMr.Careylayonhisback.HegavePhilipaslightsmile,inwhichwasatraceofsatisfiedcunningathavingcircumventedhisenemyoncemore.

「Ithoughtitwasallupwithmeyesterday,」hesaid,inanexhaustedvoice.「They』dallgivenmeup,hadn』tyou,Mrs.Foster?」

「You』vegotawonderfulconstitution,there』snodenyingthat.」

「There』slifeintheolddogyet.」

Mrs.FostersaidthattheVicarmustnottalk,itwouldtirehim;shetreatedhimlikeachild,withkindlydespotism;andtherewassomethingchildishintheoldman』ssatisfactionathavingcheatedalltheirexpectations.ItstruckhimatoncethatPhiliphadbeensentfor,andhewasamusedthathehadbeenbroughtonafool』serrand.Ifhecouldonlyavoidanotherofhisheartattackshewouldgetwellenoughinaweekortwo;andhehadhadtheattacksseveraltimesbefore;healwaysfeltasifheweregoingtodie,butheneverdid.Theyalltalkedofhisconstitution,buttheynoneofthemknewhowstrongitwas.

「Areyougoingtostayadayortwo?」HeaskedPhilip,pretendingtobelievehehadcomedownforaholiday.

「Iwasthinkingofit,」Philipansweredcheerfully.

「Abreathofsea-airwilldoyougood.」

PresentlyDr.Wigramcame,andafterhehadseentheVicartalkedwithPhilip.Headoptedanappropriatemanner.

「I』mafraiditistheendthistime,Philip,」hesaid.「It』llbeagreatlosstoallofus.I』veknownhimforfive-and-thirtyyears.」

「Heseemswellenoughnow,」saidPhilip.

「I』mkeepinghimaliveondrugs,butitcan』tlast.Itwasdreadfultheselasttwodays,Ithoughthewasdeadhalfadozentimes.」

Thedoctorwassilentforaminuteortwo,butatthegatehesaidsuddenlytoPhilip:

「HasMrs.Fostersaidanythingtoyou?」

「Whatd』youmean?」

「They』reverysuperstitious,thesepeople:she』sgotholdofanideathathe』sgotsomethingonhismind,andhecan』tdietillhegetsridofit;andhecan』tbringhimselftoconfessit.」

Philipdidnotanswer,andthedoctorwenton.

「Ofcourseit』snonsense.He』sledaverygoodlife,he』sdonehisduty,he』sbeenagoodparishpriest,andI』msureweshallallmisshim;hecan』thaveanythingtoreproachhimselfwith.Iverymuchdoubtwhetherthenextvicarwillsuitushalfsowell.」

ForseveraldaysMr.Careycontinuedwithoutchange.Hisappetitewhichhadbeenexcellentlefthim,andhecouldeatlittle.Dr.Wigramdidnothesitatenowtostillthepainoftheneuritiswhichtormentedhim;andthat,withtheconstantshakingofhispalsiedlimbs,wasgraduallyexhaustinghim.Hismindremainedclear.PhilipandMrs.Fosternursedhimbetweenthem.ShewassotiredbythemanymonthsduringwhichshehadbeenattentivetoallhiswantsthatPhilipinsistedonsittingupwiththepatientsothatshemighthavehernight』srest.Hepassedthelonghoursinanarm-chairsothatheshouldnotsleepsoundly,andreadbythelightofshadedcandlesTheThousandandOneNights.Hehadnotreadthemsincehewasalittleboy,andtheybroughtbackhischildhoodtohim.Sometimeshesatandlistenedtothesilenceofthenight.WhentheeffectsoftheopiateworeoffMr.Careygrewrestlessandkepthimconstantlybusy.

Atlast,earlyonemorning,whenthebirdswerechatteringnoisilyinthetrees,heheardhisnamecalled.Hewentuptothebed.Mr.Careywaslyingonhisback,withhiseyeslookingattheceiling;hedidnotturnthemonPhilip.Philipsawthatsweatwasonhisforehead,andhetookatowelandwipedit.

「Isthatyou,Philip?」theoldmanasked.

Philipwasstartledbecausethevoicewassuddenlychanged.Itwashoarseandlow.Sowouldamanspeakifhewascoldwithfear.

「Yes,d』youwantanything?」

Therewasapause,andstilltheunseeingeyesstaredattheceiling.Thenatwitchpassedovertheface.

「IthinkI』mgoingtodie,」hesaid.

「Oh,whatnonsense!」criedPhilip.「You』renotgoingtodieforyears.」

Twotearswerewrungfromtheoldman』seyes.TheymovedPhiliphorribly.Hisunclehadneverbetrayedanyparticularemotionintheaffairsoflife;anditwasdreadfultoseethemnow,fortheysignifiedaterrorthatwasunspeakable.

「SendforMr.Simmonds,」hesaid.「IwanttotaketheCommunion.」

Mr.Simmondswasthecurate.

「Now?」askedPhilip.

「Soon,orelseit』llbetoolate.」

PhilipwenttoawakeMrs.Foster,butitwaslaterthanhethoughtandshewasupalready.Hetoldhertosendthegardenerwithamessage,andhewentbacktohisuncle』sroom.

「HaveyousentforMr.Simmonds?」

「Yes.」

Therewasasilence.Philipsatbythebed-side,andoccasionallywipedthesweatingforehead.

「Letmeholdyourhand,Philip,」theoldmansaidatlast.

Philipgavehimhishandandheclungtoitastolife,forcomfortinhisextremity.Perhapshehadneverreallylovedanyoneinallhisdays,butnowheturnedinstinctivelytoahumanbeing.Hishandwaswetandcold.ItgraspedPhilip』swithfeeble,despairingenergy.Theoldmanwasfightingwiththefearofdeath.AndPhilipthoughtthatallmustgothroughthat.Oh,howmonstrousitwas,andtheycouldbelieveinaGodthatallowedhiscreaturestosuffersuchacrueltorture!Hehadnevercaredforhisuncle,andfortwoyearshehadlongedeverydayforhisdeath;butnowhecouldnotovercomethecompassionthatfilledhisheart.Whatapriceitwastopayforbeingotherthanthebeasts!

TheyremainedinsilencebrokenonlyoncebyalowinquiryfromMr.Carey.

「Hasn』thecomeyet?」

AtlastthehousekeepercameinsoftlytosaythatMr.Simmondswasthere.Hecarriedabaginwhichwerehissurpliceandhishood.Mrs.Fosterbroughtthecommunionplate.Mr.SimmondsshookhandssilentlywithPhilip,andthenwithprofessionalgravitywenttothesickman』sside.Philipandthemaidwentoutoftheroom.

Philipwalkedroundthegardenallfreshanddewyinthemorning.Thebirdsweresinginggaily.Theskywasblue,buttheair,salt-laden,wassweetandcool.Theroseswereinfullbloom.Thegreenofthetrees,thegreenofthelawns,waseagerandbrilliant.Philipwalked,andashewalkedhethoughtofthemysterywhichwasproceedinginthatbedroom.Itgavehimapeculiaremotion.PresentlyMrs.Fostercameouttohimandsaidthathisunclewishedtoseehim.Thecuratewasputtinghisthingsbackintotheblackbag.Thesickmanturnedhisheadalittleandgreetedhimwithasmile.Philipwasastonished,fortherewasachangeinhim,anextraordinarychange;hiseyeshadnolongertheterror-strickenlook,andthepinchingofhisfacehadgone:helookedhappyandserene.

「I』mquitepreparednow,」hesaid,andhisvoicehadadifferenttoneinit.「WhentheLordseesfittocallmeIamreadytogivemysoulintohishands.」

Philipdidnotspeak.Hecouldseethathisunclewassincere.Itwasalmostamiracle.HehadtakenthebodyandbloodofhisSavior,andtheyhadgivenhimstrengthsothathenolongerfearedtheinevitablepassageintothenight.Heknewhewasgoingtodie:hewasresigned.Heonlysaidonethingmore:

「Ishallrejoinmydearwife.」

ItstartledPhilip.Herememberedwithwhatacallousselfishnesshisunclehadtreatedher,howobtusehehadbeentoherhumble,devotedlove.Thecurate,deeplymoved,wentawayandMrs.Foster,weeping,accompaniedhimtothedoor.Mr.Carey,exhaustedbyhiseffort,fellintoalightdoze,andPhilipsatdownbythebedandwaitedfortheend.Themorningworeon,andtheoldman』sbreathinggrewstertorous.Thedoctorcameandsaidhewasdying.Hewasunconsciousandhepeckedfeeblyatthesheets;hewasrestlessandhecriedout.Dr.Wigramgavehimahypodermicinjection.

「Itcan』tdoanygoodnow,hemaydieatanymoment.」

Thedoctorlookedathiswatchandthenatthepatient.Philipsawthatitwasoneo』clock.Dr.Wigramwasthinkingofhisdinner.

「It』snouseyourwaiting,」hesaid.

「There』snothingIcando,」saidthedoctor.

WhenhewasgoneMrs.FosteraskedPhilipifhewouldgotothecarpenter,whowasalsotheundertaker,andtellhimtosendupawomantolayoutthebody.

「Youwantalittlefreshair,」shesaid,「it』lldoyougood.」

Theundertakerlivedhalfamileaway.WhenPhilipgavehimhismessage,hesaid:

「Whendidthepooroldgentlemandie?」

Philiphesitated.Itoccurredtohimthatitwouldseembrutaltofetchawomantowashthebodywhilehisunclestilllived,andhewonderedwhyMrs.Fosterhadaskedhimtocome.Theywouldthinkhewasinagreathurrytokilltheoldmanoff.Hethoughttheundertakerlookedathimoddly.Herepeatedthequestion.ItirritatedPhilip.Itwasnobusinessofhis.

「WhendidtheVicarpassaway?」

Philip』sfirstimpulsewastosaythatithadjusthappened,butthenitwouldseeminexplicableifthesickmanlingeredforseveralhours.Hereddenedandansweredawkwardly.

「Oh,heisn』texactlydeadyet.」

Theundertakerlookedathiminperplexity,andhehurriedtoexplain.

「Mrs.Fosterisallaloneandshewantsawomanthere.Youunderstood,don』tyou?Hemaybedeadbynow.」

Theundertakernodded.

「Oh,yes,Isee.I』llsendsomeoneupatonce.」

WhenPhilipgotbacktothevicaragehewentuptothebed-room.Mrs.Fosterrosefromherchairbythebed-side.

「He』sjustashewaswhenyouleft,」shesaid.

Shewentdowntogetherselfsomethingtoeat,andPhilipwatchedcuriouslytheprocessofdeath.Therewasnothinghumannowintheunconsciousbeingthatstruggledfeebly.Sometimesamutteredejaculationissuedfromtheloosemouth.Thesunbeatdownhotlyfromacloudlesssky,butthetreesinthegardenwerepleasantandcool.Itwasalovelyday.Abluebottlebuzzedagainstthewindowpane.Suddenlytherewasaloudrattle,itmadePhilipstart,itwashorriblyfrightening;amovementpassedthroughthelimbsandtheoldmanwasdead.Themachinehadrundown.Thebluebottlebuzzed,buzzednoisilyagainstthewindowpane.