CHAPTER XIII I think I've put her straight," said Mrs. Arb very cheerfully to Mr. Earl Forward, out in the square, and gave him an account of the interview. Mr. Earl Forward's mind was much relieved. He admired Mrs. Arb greatly in that moment. He himself could never have put Elsie straight. There were things that a woman, especially a capable and forceful woman, could do which no man could possibly do. Forceful? Perhaps a sinister adjective to attach to a woman. Yes, but the curious point about this woman was that she was also feminine. Forceful? She could yet, speaking metaphorically, cling and look up, and also she could look down in a most enchanting and disturbing way. She had done it a number of times to Mr. Earl Forward. Now, Mr. Earl Forward, from the plenitude of his inexperience of women, knew them deeply. He knew their characteristic defects and shortcomings. And it seemed to him that Mrs. Arb was remarkably free from such. It seemed to him, as it had seemed to millions of men, that he had had the luck to encounter a woman who miraculously combined the qualities of two sexes, and the talent to recognise the miracle on sight. He would not go so far as to assert that Mrs. Arb was unique, though he strongly suspected that she must be. But there could not be many Mrs. Arbs on earth. He was very happy and youthful dreams of a new and idyllic existence. His sole immediate fear was that he would be compelled to go to church with her. He knew them.  Of course it was because, as she had half admitted, they liked to feel devotional. But you could do nothing with a woman in church. And he could not leave her to go to church alone. He was unhappy. I am afraid that service of yours has begun, said he. I saw quite a number of people going in while you were talking to Elsie. I am afraid it has, she replied. He saw a glint of hope. It's a nice fresh morning, said he daringly. And what people like you and me need is fresh air. I suppose you wouldn't care for me to show you some bits of Clarkinwell. I think I should, said she. I could go to service to-night, couldn't I? Triumph. Undoubtedly she was unique. Both quite forgetting once more that they would never gain C-40, they set off with the innocent ardour of youth. You know, said Mrs. Arb, returning to the great subject. I told her plainly she'd be much better off if she kept off men. And so she will. They never know when they are well off, said Mr. Earl Forward. No, I expect this square used to belong to your family, Mrs. Arb remarked with deference. Oh, I shouldn't say that, answered Mr. Earl Forward modestly. But it was named after my grandfather's brother. It must have been very nice when it was new, said Mrs. Arb, tactfully adopting towards the square a more respectful attitude than a foretime. Clearly she desired to please. Clearly she had a kind heart. But when the working class could hold on a place, what you to do? You'd scarcely think it, said Mr. Earl Forward, with grim resignation, but this district was very fashionable once. There used to be an archery ground where our star. He enjoyed saying our steps. The phrase united him to her. Really? Yes, and at one time the Duke of Newcastle lived just close by. Look here, I'll show you something. It's quite near. In a few minutes they were at the corner of a vast square. You could have put four ricements into it, of lofty reddish houses, sombre and shabby, with a great railed garden, and great trees in the middle, and a wide roadway round. With all its solidity, in that neighbourhood, it seemed to have the unreal quality of a vision. A creation of some gin, formed in an instant and destined as quickly to dissolve. It seemed to have no business where it was. Look at that, said Mr. Earl Forward eagerly, pointing to the sign Wilmington Square. Never heard of it before? Mrs. Arb shook her astonished head. No, and nobody has, but it's here. That's London, that is. Practically every house has been divided up into tenements. Used to be very well to do people here, you know. Mrs. Arb gazed at him sadly. It's tragic, she said sympathetically. Her bright face troubled. She understands, he thought. Now I'll show you another sort of square, he went on aloud. But it's over on the other side of Farringdon Road. Not far. Not far. No distances here. He limped quickly along. Cold Bath Square easily surpassed even Ricements Square in squalor and foulness, and it was far more picturesque and deeper sunk in antiquity, save for the huge, awful block of tenements in the middle. The glimpses of interiors were appalling. At the corners stood sinister groups of young men, mysteriously well-dressed, doing nothing whatever, and in certain doorways honest-faced old men with mufflers round their necks and wearing ancient P-jackets. I don't like this at all, said Mrs. Arb, as it was sensitively shrinking. No, this is a bit too much, isn't it? Let's go on to the Priory Church. Yes, that will be better, Mrs. Arb agreed with relief at the prospect of a Priory Church. Oh, there's a news of the world, she exclaimed. Now I wonder. They were passing through a narrow, very short alley of small houses, which closed the vista of one of the towering congaries of modern tenement blocks abounding in the region. The alley, christened a hundred years earlier, model cottages, was silent and deserted, in strange contrast to the gigantic, though half-hidden, swarming of the granite tenements. The front doors are butted on the alley without even the transition of a raised step. The news of the world lay at one of the front doors. It must have been there for hours, waiting for its subscriber to awake, and secure in the marvellous integrity of the London public. I did want just to look at the news of the world, said Mrs. Arb, stopping. They had seen various news vendors in the streets. In fact, newspapers were apparently the only articles of commerce at that hour of the Sunday morning. But she had no desire to buy a paper. Clancing round fearfully at windows, she stooped and picked up the folded news of the world. Mr. Earleforward admired her, but was apprehensive. Yes, here it is, she said, having rapidly opened the paper. Over her shoulder Mr. Earleforward nervously read provisions, confect, busy WC district, 25 pounds weekly, six rooms, rent 90 pounds, 200 pounds everything, long lease or will sell premises, delay dangerous, chance lifetime, seven Reisserman steps, WC one. Then you've decided, a moment Mr. Earleforward suddenly gloomy. Oh, quite! I told you, said Mrs. Arb, dropping back the newspaper furtively, like a shameful accusing parcel, and walking on with a wonderful air of innocence. I wasn't altogether sure if you'd decided, finally. You see, Mrs. Arb continued, supposing the business failed, supposing I lost my money. I've got to think of my future. No risks for me, I say. I only want a little, but I want it certain, and I've got a little. It's a very clever advertisement. I didn't know how to put it. Of course, it's called a confectioner's, but it isn't really seeing I buy all the cakes from snowmen's. The whole stock in the shop isn't worth 25 pounds, but you see, I count the rest of the price asked as premium for the house. That's how I look at it. And it's quite fair, don't you think? Perfectly. They stood talking in front of a shut second-hand shop, where old blades of aeroplane propellers were offered at three shilling sixpence each. Mr. Earl Forward said feebly, yes and no, and hmm and ha.  Suppose she went to live in the country. His knee began to ache. His body and his mind were always reacting upon one another. Why should my knee ache, because I'm bothered? He thought, and could give no answer. But in secret he was rather proud of these mysterious inconvenient reactions.  In another environment he would have been known among his acquaintances as highly strung and highly nervously organised. And yet outwardly so calm, so serene, so even tempered. They got to the quarter of the great churches. Would you care to go in? He asked her in front of St. James, for he desired beyond almost anything to sit down. I think it's really too late now, she replied. It wouldn't be quite nice to go in just at the end of the sermon, would it? Too conspicuous. There were seats in the churchyard, but all were occupied, despite the chilliness of the morning, by persons who, for private reasons, had untimely left their beds. Moreover, he felt that Mrs. Arb, who's nice at his he much admired, would not like to sit in a churchyard with service proceeding in the church. He had begun to understand her. There were no seats round about St. John's. Mr. Earl Forward stood on one leg, while Mrs. Arb deciphered the tablet on the west front. The priory church of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, consecrated by Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 10th March 1185. Fancy that now. He doesn't look quite that old. Fancy them knowing the day of the month, too. He was too preoccupied and tortured to instruct her. He would have led her home, then, but she saw in the distance at the other side of St. John's Square a view of St. John's Gate, the majestic relic of the priory. Quite properly, she said that she must see it close. Quite properly, she thanked him for a most interesting promenade, most interesting, and me living in London, often on all my life. They do say you can't see the wood for the trees, don't they? The huge irregular square cut in two by Great Avenue was endless to Mr. Earl Forward. Then she must needs go under the gateway into a street that seemed to fascinate her. For there was an enormous twilight-shoeing forge next door to the chancery of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, and though it was Sunday morning the air rang with the hammering of a blacksmith who held a horse's hind leg between his knees. The hum of unseen machinery and inquired about it. Then the signs over the places of business attracted her. She became charmingly girlish, rouge, wholesale only, glass matches to the trade. I want five million mould skins and ten million rabbit skins. Do not desert your old friend, cash on the nail, and paint it to an abort, not just written. Gorgonzola cheese manufacturers. Oh, the myth thought of it. No, I shall never touch Gorgonzola again after this. I couldn't. But of course I see there must be places like these in a place like London. Only it's too funny seeing them all together. Barclays Bank. Well, it would be. Those banks are everywhere in these days. I do believe there are more banks than ABC shops and lionesses. You look at any nice corner site and before you can say knife there's a bank on it. I mistrust those banks. They do what they like. When I go into my bank somehow they make me feel as if I've done something wrong. Or at least I'd better mind what I was about. And they look at you superior as if you're asking a favour. Oh, very polite. But so condescending. A shrewd woman. A woman certainly not without ideas. And he perceived dimly through the veil of his physical pain that their intimacy was developing on the right lines. He would have been joyous but for the apprehension of her selling the business and vanishing from him and but for the pain. The latter was now the worst affliction. Reisserman Stepp seemed a thousand miles off through a Sabbath enchanted desert of stone and asphalt. When they returned into St John's Square a taxi cab with its flag up stood terribly inviting. Paradise. Cersei's from Agony for one shilling and perhaps a tuppany tip. But he would not look at it. He could not.  The grand passion which had rendered all his career magnificent and every hour of all his days interesting and beautiful demanded and received an intense devotional loyalty. It recompensed him for every ordeal, mortification, martyrdom. He proudly passed the taxi cab with death in his very stomach. Nowhere was there a chance of rest, not a seat, not a rail. Mrs. Arb had invaded against the lack of amenities in the district. No cinemas, no theatre, no musicals, no cafes. But Mr. Erlford realised the ruthless, stony, totally inhospitality of the district far more fully than Mrs. Arb could ever have done. He was like a wheat-kenning bird out of sight of land above the surface of the ocean. He led Mrs. Arb down towards the nearest point to Farringdon Road, the highway home. The tram-cars stopped at the corner. Every one of them would deposit him at his own door. Paratised for one penny. No tuppence, because he would have to pay for Mrs. Arb. He had thought to defeat his passion at this corner. He was mistaken. He could not. He had, after all his experience, misjudged the power of his passion. He was as helpless as the creatures who gather at the iron-barred doors of the public houses, soon to open for a couple of two short hours. And also he had the secret ecstasy which they had. He could scarcely talk now, and each tram that passed him in his slow and endless march gave him a spasm of mingled bitterness and triumph. His fear now was lest his grand passion should on this occasion be overcome by bodily weakness. He did not desire it to be overcome. He desired it to conquer even if it should kill him. I'm afraid I've walked you too far, said Mrs. Arb. Why? I thought you were limping a bit. Oh, no, I always limp a bit. Accident. Long time ago. And he smartened his gait. They reached Reisserman's steps in silence. He had done it. His passion had forced him to do it. His passion had won. There were two Mr. Earl Fowards. One splendidly uplifted the other ready to faint from pain and fatigue. The friends disappeared each into the solitude of his own establishment. In the afternoon Mr. Earl Foward heard a sharp knock on his front door. It was repeated before he could get downstairs. When he opened the door he opened it to nobody. But Mrs. Arb was just entering her shop. He called out and she returned. I was a bit anxious about your leg. She said so brightly and kindly so I thought I'd step across an inquire. Quite all right again now, thank you. An exaggeration. How delightful of her. How feminine. He could hardly believe it. He was tremendously flattered. She could not, after all, slip through his fingers. Whatever happened. They chatted for a few moments and then each disappeared a second time into the recondite and violet solitude of his own establishment. End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Ryseman's Steps by Arnold Bennett. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Antoniogus.  One morning in November at a little past eight o'clock Mrs. Arb, watching from behind the door of her yet unopened shop saw Mr. Earl Ford help Elsie to carry out the empty book stand and set it down in front of the window and then with overcoat, muffler and umbrella depart from Ryseman's Steps on business. Mrs. Arb immediately unlocked her door went out just as she was hatless, coatless, gloveless wearing a white apron locked her door and walked across to Mr. Earl Fowards. Elsie had already begun to fill the book stand with books which overnight had been conveniently piled near the entrance of the shop. Good morning, Elsie. Dull morning, isn't it? Is master up yet? said Mrs. Arb vivaciously rubbing her hands in the chilly murky dawn and brightening the dawn. Oh, mum, he's gone out. I don't expect him back till eleven. It's one of his buying mornings, you see. Oh, dear, dear, Mrs. Arb exclaimed with cheerful resignation and I've only got ten minutes. Well, I haven't really got that. Shop ought to be open now but I thought I'd let him wait a bit this morning. She glanced anxiously at her own establishment to see whether any customer had come down the steps from the square but in truth as she had now sold the business and the premises and was to give possession in a few weeks she was not genuinely concerned about the possible loss of profit on an ounce or two ounces of tea. She wandered with apparent aimlessness into Mr. Earl Fowards shop. Did you want to see in particular, ma'am? I won't say so particular as all that so you look after the shop when Mr. Earl Fowards is out, Elsie. It's like this, ma'am. All the books is marked inside and some outside. If anybody comes in that looks respectable I ask them to look round for themselves and if they take a book they'll pay me and I ask them to write down the name of it on a bit of paper. She pointed to some small sheets, prepared from old unassorted envelopes which had been cut open and laid flat with pencil close by. If it's some regular customer like that must see Mr. Earl Fowards himself I ask them to write their names down and if I don't like the look of anybody I tell them I don't know anything and out they go. What's a good arrangement? said Mrs. Arbor provingly but if you have to attend to the shop how can you do the cleaning and so on? Elsie's ingenuous kind face showed distress. Her dark blue eyes softened in solicitude. Oh, ma'am, there you've got me. I can't. I can only clean the shop these mornings and not much of that neither because I must keep my hands dry for customers. Mrs. Arbor vaguely smiling to herself trotted to and fro in the gloomy shop she had the air of a crypt except that in these days crypts are usually lighted by electricity and the shop was lighted by nature alone on this dark morning she peered bending forward into the dark spaces between the bays and described the heaps of books on the floor the dirt and the immense disorder almost frightened her she had not examined the inside of the shop before had indeed previously entered it only once when she was in no condition to observe Mr. Earl Ford had never seized an occasion to invite her within this will want some putting straight, she said if ever it is put straight and well you may say it ma'am Elsie replied compassionately he's always trying to get straight especially lately ma'am we did get one room straight upstairs but it meant letting all the others go between you and me he'll never get straight but he has hopes and it's no use saying anything to him I suppose you can do this room too on his buying mornings said Mrs. Arb peeping into Mr. Earl Ford's private back room from which the shop and the shop door could be kept under observation oh ma'am he wouldn't let me he won't have anything touched in that room then who does it he does it himself ma'am is done does he? murmured Mrs. Arb in a peculiar tone the bookshelves went up to the ceiling on every side the floor was thickly strewn with books, the table also chairs also the blind lay crumpled on the brook covered window sill the window was obscured by dirt the ceiling was a blackish gray a heavy deposit of black dust covered all things the dreadful den expressed intolerably to Mrs. Arb the pathos of the existence of a man who is determined to look after himself it convicted a whole sense of being feckless, foolish helpless, infantile absurd Mrs. Arb and Elsie exchanged glances Elsie blushed yes I'm that ashamed of it ma'am said Elsie but you know what they are Mrs. Arb gave two short nods she moved her hand as if to plum the layer of dust with one feminine finger but refrained she dared not and you do his cooking too she asked well ma'am he gets his own breakfast and he makes his own bed it's always done before I come of a morning and he cleans his own boots I begin his dinner but seeing as I go at twelve he finishes it he gets his own tea I must say isn't what you call a big eater seems to me it's all very cleverly organised oh it is ma'am it's not many gentlemen could manage as he does but it's a dreadful pity makes me fair cry sometimes and him so clean and neat himself too yes said Mrs. Arb the mask between the master and his home was miraculous awful and tragic I suppose I better not go upstairs as he isn't here Elsie the two women exchanged more glances Elsie perfectly comprehended the case of Mrs. Arb and sympathised with her Mrs. Arb was being courted Mrs. Arb had come to no decision Mrs. Arb desired as much information as possible before coming to a decision women had the right to look after themselves against no matter what man women were women and men were men the Arb Old Forward Affair was crucial for both parties oh I think you might ma'am but I can't go with you sex loyalty had triumphed over a too strict interpretation of the duty of the employees a conspiracy had been set up Mrs. Arb had to step over hummocks of books in order to reach the foot of the stairs the left hand half of every step of the stairs was stacked with books cheap editions of novels in paper jackets under titles such as just a girl, not like other girls a girl alone weak but righteous notorious girls crowded the stairs from top to bottom so that Mrs. Arb could scarcely get up the landing also was full of girls the front room on the first floor was from the evidence of its furniture a dining room though not used as such the massive mahogany table was piled up with books as also the big sideboard the mantelpiece various chairs were decorated with books less dust than in the den below but still a great deal the Victorian furniture was good it was furniture meant to survive revolutions and conflagrations and generations it was everlasting furniture it would command respect through any thickness of dust the back room with quite as large a number of books as the front room but even less dust the bedroom the very wide bed had been neatly made Mrs. Arb turned down the corner of the coverlet a fairly clean pillow slip no sheets only blankets she drew open drawers in a great mahogany chest two of them were full of blue suits absolutely new in another drawer were at least a dozen quite new grey flannel shirts a wardrobe was stuffed with books coming out of the bedroom she perceived between it and the stairs a long narrow room impossible to enter this room because of books but Mrs. Arb did the impossible and after some excavation with her foot disclosed a bath which was full to the brim and overflowing with books now Mrs. Arb was pretty well accustomed to baths she was not aware of the extreme rarity of baths in Clarkinwell and hence she could not adequately appreciate the heroism of a hero who possessing such a treasure had subdued it to the uses of mere business nevertheless her astonishment and amaze were sufficiently noticeable and she felt disturbingly and delightfully the thrill of surprising clandestinely the secrets of a man's intimate personal existence then she caught the sound of dropping water it was on the second floor in a room shaped like the bathroom a room with two shelves a gas ring and a sink the water was dropping with a queer reverberation onto the sink from a tap above there were a few plates, cups, sauces jugs, saucepans, dishes half a loaf of bread a slice of cooked bacon there was no milk no butter his kitchen and larder one gas ring, no fireplace Mrs. Arb was impressed the other rooms on the second floor were full of majestic furniture books and dust one of them had recently been cleaned and tidied but dozens of books still lay on the floor she picked up a book a large thick volume for no other reason than that the cover bore a representation of a bird it was a heavy book with many coloured pictures of birds she thought it was quite a pretty thing to look at by accident she noticed the price penciled inside the front cover £40 she was not astonished nor amazed she was staggered Mrs. Arb had probably not read ten books since childhood to her reading was a refuge from either idleness or life she was never idle and she loved life thus she condescended towards books that any book, least of all a picture book of birds could be worth £40 had not occurred to her mind and this one lying on the floor instantly in spite of her common sense she thought for a brief space of all the books in the establishment as worth £40 a piece before returning down the book encumbered stairs she paused on the top landing her throat was coated with the dust which she had displaced in her passage through the house her hands were very dirty and very cold they shone with cold no fire could have burnt in any of those rooms for years she dared not touch the handrail of the staircase even with her fingers all dirty she paused because she was disconcerted and wanted to arrange the perplexing confusion of her thoughts the more she reflected the better she realised how strange and powerful and ruthless a person was Mr Earl forward she admired, comprehended, sympathised and yet was intimidated the character of the man was displayed beyond any misunderstanding by the house with its revelations of his daily life but there was no clue to it in his appearance and deportment she was more than intimidated she was frightened with all the terror for it amounted to terror fascinated her she went down gingerly hesitating at every step at the bottom of the lower flight she heard with new alarm the bland voice of Mr Earl he was talking with a customer in his den I'll slip out she very faintly whispered to Elsie who was sweeping near the stairs Elsie nodded like a conspirator but at the same moment Mr Earl forward and his customer emerged from the back room and Mrs Arb was trapped I didn't notice you come in said the bookseller most amably what can I do for you oh thank you but I only stepped across to speak to Elsie about something the lie invented on the instant succeeded perfectly and Elsie the honest soul in Clarkinwell gave it the support of her silence in the great cause of women against men I'm glad to see you in here said Mr Earl forward gently having dismissed the customer out of luck I've gone off for houndsditch but I happen to meet someone on the road and nothing would do but I must come back with him come in here he drew her by the attraction of his small eyes into the back room books had been tipped off one of the chairs onto the floor she sat down surely Mr Earl forward as the most normal being in the world the mildest the easiest but the bath, the kitchen the blankets, the filth, the food the forty pound book and all those new suits and new shirts she had never even conceived such an inside of a house she could hardly credit her senses I've wanted to see you in here in this room said Mr Earl forward in a warm voice and then no more she could not withstand his melting glance she knew that their intimacy having developed gradually through weeks was startlingly on the point of bursting into a new phase the sense of danger with her as with nearly all women was intermittent the man was in love with her he was in her hands what could she not do with him could she not accomplish marvels could she not tame monsters and she understood his instincts she shared them and he was a rock of defence shelter, safety the alternative solitude, celibacy spinsterishness eternal self defence eternal misgivings about her security horrible I must be opening my shop she said nervously and I must be getting away again too he said and put on his hat and began to button his overcoat nothing more but at the door he added maybe I'll come across and see you tonight if it isn't intruding you'll be very welcome I'm sure she answered modestly smiling she was no better than a girl then she knew she had uttered the deciding word of her fate she resembled with apprehension and felicity he was a wonderful man and an enigma he inspired love and dread as the day passed her feeling for him became intense at closing time her ecstatic heart was liquid with acquiescence and she had too a bright adventurous valour but shot through with forebodings End of Chapter 14 End of Part 1 Part 2, Chapter 1 of Reisserman's Steps by Arnold Bennett this Librivox recording is in the public domain recording by Antoniogus the day before Sitheria reigned in Mr Earl Forward's office behind the shop invisible but she was there probably reclining ask not how on the full red lips which fascinated Mrs Arb of Mr Earl Forward it was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance they sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk with the electric light extravagantly burning above them at the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight dirt was nothing disorder was nothing Mr Earl Forward loved for weeks he had been steadfastly intending to put the place to rights for his bride and he had not put it to rights dirt and disorder were appugnant to Mrs Arb but she had said not a word she would not interfere or even suggest before the time she knew her place she was a bit prim the time was approaching and she could wait I suppose we could use that ring said Henry pointing to the wedding ring on Mrs Arb's hand which lay on the desk like the defenseless treasure of an invaded city despite a recent experience Mrs Arb was startled by this remark delivered in a tone so easy benevolent and matter of fact the recent experience had consisted in Mr Earl Forward's bland ultimatum after a discussion in which Mrs Arb had warm initially and prettily favoured a religious ceremony that they would be married at a registry because it was on the whole cheaper upon that point she had taken pleasure in yielding to him so long as you were genuinely married the method had only a secondary importance she admitted to herself that in desiring the church she might have been conventional superstitious she was eager to yield as some women are eager to be beaten morbidity of course but not wholly self-preservation was in it as well as voluptuousness Mr Earl Forward's individuality frightened while enchanting her she found she could cure the fright by intense acquiescence and why not acquiesce he was her fate she would grasp her fate with both hands and there was this point if he was her fate she was his she had already been married once whereas he was an innocent he had to learn she saw an advantage there her day was coming at least she persuaded herself that it was thus the question of the wedding ceremony had been quite satisfactorily dissolved and so well that Mrs Arb now scorned the notion of marriage in a church but the incident of the ring touched her closer it touched the aboriginal cavewoman in the very heart of her do you know she had faintly suspected that to purchase a wedding ring formed no part of his program an absurd and impossible suspicion how could he expouse without a ring but there the suspicion had lain which would have been revolted by the idea of a second husband marrying her with the ring of the first however she was not Mr Olford's natural casual tone precluded that and she answered quietly as it were hypnotized with a smile we can't use this it won't come off she displayed the finger obviously the ring would not pass the joint Mrs Arb was slim but she had been slimmer he said but you can't be married with that on you can't wear too something of the cave creature in him also I know but I was going to have it filed off tomorrow morning there wouldn't be time to have it made larger he took the supine hand and thrilled it I'll tell you what said he what carrot is it 18 he murmured I've got a little file I'll file it off now I'm rather good at odd jobs oh no I shan't hurt you I wouldn't hurt you for anything he found the file after some search in a drawer of his desk it must feel like this to be manicured she said with a slight nervous giggle when again he held her hand in his and began to operate with the file he had not boasted he was indeed rather good at odd jobs such delicate small movements such patience he was standing over her she was his prisoner and the ray of the bull blazed down on the timorous yielded hand at the finish the skin was scarcely perceptibly abraded he pulled apart the ends of the severed band and removed it soft as butter he smiled now let me the other ring of yours will you for size you know and I'll just slip across to Joe's in Farringdon Road shan't be long will you look after the shop while I'm gone if anyone comes in and there's any difficulty ask them to wait but all the prices are marked I'll leave the light on in the shop you won't feel lonely oh but she protested leave her by herself in his house and without the protection of the ring and before marriage what would people think well else you'll be here in a minute so there's nothing to worry over he spoke most soothingly as to an irrational child I better see to it tonight and they close at six same as me except the pawn broke no time to lose he was gone she was saved from too much reflection by the entry of Elsie at the sight of Elsie Mrs. Arb's demeanor immediately became normal that is to say the strange enchantment which had held her was dissipated blown away she was no longer morbid she was not supine her body resumed all its active little movements her glance its authority, cheerfulness, liveliness and variety she rose from the chair smoothed her dress and was ready to deal with the universe oh Elsie so you've come Mr. Earlford was expecting you he's just slipped out on urgent business for a minute or two and he said you'll be in to attend to customers and I must say I didn't much fancy being left here alone because you see but of course business must be attended to we all know that don't we she gave a poke to the dull embers of the stove which warmed the shop in winter Mr. Earlford rarely replenished it after four o'clock he liked it to be just out at closing time yes mum Elsie although wearing her best jacket and hat and looking rather Sunday-ish had carried not easily into the shop a sizeable tin trunk with thin handles that cut uncomfortably into the hands this box contained her late husband's metals and all that was hers including some very strange things the French polisher's wife by now quite accustomed to having three infants instead of two had procured for herself a pleasant little change from the monotony of home life by helping Elsie to transport the trunk from Reissmann Square to Mr. Earlford shop door the depositing of the dented trunk on the uneven floor of the shop constituted Elsie's moving in I'll take this upstairs now shall I mum Elsie suggested somewhat timidly because she was beginning a new life and didn't quite know how she stood well it certainly mustn't be here where Mr. Earlford returns said Mrs. Arb gravely Elsie fully concurred masters of households ought not to be offended by the quasi obscene sight of the private belongings of servants no you can't carry it up by yourself you might hurt yourself you never know come come Elsie as Elsie protested do you suppose I've never helped to carry a box upstairs before now take the other hand we'll do where's your umbrella I know you've got one it's coming tomorrow mum I've lent it Mrs. Arb was extremely cheerful kindly and energetic over the care of the trunk and Elsie extremely apologetic now nip your apron on and come down as quick as you can there might be a customer you must remember I'm not mistress here until tomorrow I'm only a visitor thus spoke Mrs. Arb gaily and a little breathless at the door of the small bedroom which Elsie was to share with a vast collection of various sermons in 80 volumes some state trials in 20 volumes and a lot of other piled sensationalism when Elsie still impressed by the fact of having a new home and by Mrs. Arb's benevolent demeanor came rather self-consciously downstairs in a perfectly new apron bought for this great occasion Mrs. Arb went to the foot of the stairs to meet her and employing a confidential and mysterious tone said now don't forget all I told you about that cleaning business tomorrow will you? Oh no mum I suppose it will be all right Elsie's brow puckered with conscientiousness Mrs. Arb laughed amably what do you mean my girl it'll be all right you must remember that when I come back tomorrow I come back Mrs. Earl forward and you'll call me Mrs. Earl forward too I'd soon call you mum ma'am if it's all the same to you of course but when you're speaking about me I shall have to get into it ma'am now I expect Mr. Earl forward settled your wages with you no mum not said anything at all no mum but it'll be all right Mrs. Arb was once again amazed at Henry's marvellous faculty for letting things go oh well perhaps he was leaving it to me though I have nothing to do with this house till tomorrow now what wages do you want Elsie I prefer to leave it to you ma'am said Elsie diffidently well of course Elsie being a general is a very different thing from being a char you have a good home and all your food an irregular situation no going about for one place to another and being told you aren't wanted today or aren't wanted tomorrow and only half a day the next day and so on and so on a regular place much like or shant I own my days wage today you see don't you oh yes ma'am I'll just show you what I cut out of the west London observer yesterday she drew her purse from her pocket and from the purse an advertisement of a domestic servants agency offering innumerable places generals 20 pounds to 25 pounds a year she read suppose you start with 20 pounds of course it's very high but wages are high in these days I don't know why but they are and we have to put up with it very well ma'am Elsie agreed gratefully 20 pounds seemed a big lump of money to her and she could not divide by 52 besides there it was printed in the paper no arguing against that the two talked about washing and the kitchen and the household utensils which Mrs. Arb had abstracted from the schedule of possession sold to the purchaser of the business opposite Elsie sold a couple of books during this transaction Mrs. Arb retired to the office and after it she refused to take charge of the money which Elsie dutifully offered to her Elsie haven't I just told you I'm not mistress here you must give the money to your master then Mr. Earl Ford returned and Mrs. Arb gave Elsie a sign to withdraw upstairs and Elsie having placed the money on the paper containing the titles of the sold books went discreetly upstairs I've taken on myself to settle that woman's wages said Mrs. Arb while Henry was removing his overcoat in the back room she told me you hadn't said anything no I hadn't well I've settled 20 pounds a year 8 shillings a week rather less anyhow it's better than a half a crown every morning of your life for half a day's work did you give her half a crown I only used to give her two shillings did you give her any food certainly not neither did I unless she stayed late Mrs. Arb felt upon her Mr. Earl Ford's glance of passionate admiration and slipped into the enchantment again she was very content she was absurdly content the fact was that Mr. Earl Ford had been under the delusion of having driven a unique bargain with Elsie in the matter of wages for he knew that the recognised monstrous rate was five shillings a day and food and here this miraculous creature so gentle submissive and girlish had beaten him by six pence a half day what a woman she had every quality he gloated over her he sat on the desk by her chair boisely to watch her girlishness then he interrupted the teta-tet to go and turn off the light in the shop because the light in the office gave sufficient illumination to show that the shop was open and he called out to Elsie Elsie come down and bring the book stand inside it ought to have been brought in before it's quite dark long since oh she won't look this way he murmured with a shrug in answer to Mrs. Arb's girlish alarm as he sat down on the desk by her once more now here's the ring I've got he pulled from his waistcoat pocket a hoop of glittering gold and here's your finger ring keep it you call it see they're exactly the same size it's a very good ring and it'll last much longer than the old one harder nine carat looks better too I think Mrs. Arb examining the ring kept a smiling constrained silence the nine carat was a blow to her but of course he was right he was quite right he put the new ring back in his pocket but where's my old wedding ring oh I sold that to Joe flinty fellow I'm telling you I've sold it to him for six and sixpence more than what I've paid for this one he spoke very low because of Elsie with a contented and proud calm his little eyes fixed on her I suppose that six and six is by right yours here it is and he handed her the six and sixpence oh that's all right said Mrs. Arb weekly as if to indicate that he could keep the money oh no right, right she put the coins in her purse then she said it was time for her to be going across part of the bargain with the purchaser of her business was that he should provide her with a room and food until the day of the wedding I hope you'll slip in again tonight he urged not tonight Henry it's the night before it wouldn't be quite nice he yielded they discussed all the arrangements for the morrow as they were leaving the back room side by side Henry switched off the light Elsie had completed her task and gone upstairs total darkness for a few moments Mrs. Arb felt Henry's rich lips on hers she was sensible of the mystery of the overcrowded shop stretching from bay to bay in front of her till the gradually appearing yellow twilight from the gas lamp of Reisserman's steps she abandoned herself in an ecstasy that was perhaps less, perhaps more than what is called happiness to the agitating uncertainties of their joint future useless for her to recall to herself her mature years her experience her force, her sagacity she was no better than a raw girl under his kiss well it was a loving kiss he worshipped the ground she trod on as the saying was a point in her favour he switched on the light End of Chapter 1 Part 2 Chapter 2 of Reisserman's Steps by Arnold Bennett this Liborvox recording is in the public domain recording by Antoniogus Elsie's retreat Elsie's bedroom was a servant's bedroom and always had been though not used as such for many years its furniture comprised one narrow iron bedstead one small yellow wash stand one small yellow chest of drawers with a small mirror one Windsor chair and nothing else in the way of furniture unless three hooks behind the door could be called furniture no carpet no apparatus of illumination except a candle the flowery wallpaper was slowly divorcing itself from the walls in several places the sash cord of the window having been broken many years ago and never repaired the window could only be made to stay open by means of a trick it had in fact been closed for many years when early she had finished her work Elsie retired with an inch and a half of candle to this bedroom and shut the door and could scarcely believe her good luck happy she was not for she had a great grief the intensity of which few people suspected and still fewer attempted to realize and none troubled about but she was very grateful to the fate which had provided the bedroom the room was extremely cold but Elsie had never known of or even conceived a warm bedroom in winter it was bare but not to Elsie's sight which saw in it the main comforts of nocturnal existence it was small but not according to Elsie's scale of dimensions it was ugly but Elsie simply could not see ugliness nor could she see beauty saving a child's face a rich stuff a bright color a pink sunset that kind she looked round and saw a bed in which you slept she saw a chest of drawers which would hold three or four times as much as her trunk which trunk held all she possessed except an umbrella she saw a wash stand which if it was duly fitted out with water soap and towel might one day be useful in an emergency she saw a chair which was strong she saw hooks which were useful she saw a window which was to look through she knew that many books were piled against the wall between the window and the door but she didn't see them they were merely there and one day would go downstairs she thought of them as mysterious and valuable articles although she herself had the magic gift to decipher their rather arbitrary signs and so induced perplexing ideas in her own head she would not have dreamed of doing so but do not suppose that the bedroom had no grand exciting quality for Elsie it had one it was solely hers it was the first bedroom she had ever in all her life had entirely to herself more in her personal experience it was the first room that was used as a bedroom and nothing else she had never slept alone in a room and she had very rarely slept in a bed alone she had had no privacy she now gazed on every side and what she saw and felt was privacy a luxurious sensation exquisite and hardly credible she abandoned herself to it as Mrs. Arb had abandoned herself to the kiss of Henry Earl forward it was a balm to her grief it was a retreat in which undisturbed she could enjoy her grief unpacking her trunk she moved about walked, stooped, knelt, rose open drawers, shut drawers with the magnificent movements of a richly developed and powerful body the expression on her mild face and in her dark blue eyes denoted a sweet unconscious resignation no egotism in those features no instinct to fight for her rights and to get all she could out of the universe no apprehension of injustice no resentment against injustice no glimmer of realisation that she was the sort of the earth she thought she was in a nice comfortable, quiet house and appointed to live with kindly people of superior excellence she was still touched by Mrs. Arb's insistence on helping her upstairs with a box she looked at her post office savings bank book an enormous sum ready to her hand in the post office enough to keep her for a month if anything should happen to her she looked at her late husband's two silver medals and their ribbons they were what she called beautiful she laid them at the back of one of the small top drawers her feeling in regard to her late husband was now purely pious he had lost reality for her she took a letter out of a dirty envelope and read bending to the candle darling Elsie I feel as how I must go right away until I am better I feel it is not easy for you to forgive me all you say is quite true it is best for you not to know where I am I know I shall get better and then I shall write to you and ask you she cried Joe this man was real to her far more real than her husband had ever been she could feel him standing by her she could feel his nervous arm on her waist and she was as familiar with the shape as a blind man with his accustomed chair she had an ardent longing to martyrise herself to Joe to relax her dominion over him so that he might exult in ill-treating her in his affliction but she knew that her dominion over him could alone be his salvation and she had firmly exercised it and she thought how awkward it must have been for poor Dr. Rasta he's got another now but not so good no, I never will have the letter was two months old and more she had read it at least 50 times it was the dearest bitterest, most miraculous phenomenon in the world it was not a letter at all it was a talisman a fetish there came a wrap on the door shattering the immaterial fabric of her private existence and changing Elsie back into the ex-charwoman promoted to general she shuddered under the shock Elsie, are you going to burn that candle all night? Mr. Earl Forward's bland gentle authoritative voice he must have seen light shining under the door and crept upstairs in his slippers no sir, I'm just going to blow it out she was conscious she was conscious, stricken did you finish off all that loaf? yes sir, I'm sorry sir she was still more conscious, stricken top, top, top, top top, top Elsie put the letter under her pillow she was undressed in a minute she had no toilet to perform she no more thought of washing than a Saxon Queen would have thought of washing she did not examine the bed to see if it was comfortable she had never failed to sleep any bed was a bed as she slipped in between the blankets her brow puckered with one anxiety could she wake at six in that silent house? she must she must she extinguished the candle and as she smelt its dying fumes in the darkness and explored with her sturdy limbs the roominess of the bed a sudden surprising sensation impaired her joy in exclusive privacy she missed the warm soft body of the furniture polishes child with whom she had slept so long some people are never satisfied End of Chapter 2 Part 2 Chapter 3 of Reisserman's Steps by Arnold Bennett Michael Fox recording is in the public domain recording by Antoniogus Waxworks as Henry and Violet approach the turnstile Henry murmured to Violet how much is it how much is it one and three including tax Violet murmured in reply half a crown for the two was less than he had feared but he felt in his trouser pocket and half a crown was more than he had there and he slowly pulled out of his breast pocket an old treasury note case the total expenses of the wedding ceremony at the registry had been considerable he seemed to have been dispersing the whole time since they left Clarke and Weld for the marriage and honeymoon which according to arrangement was to be limited to one day the wedding breakfast two covers present many flawed music in live and swarming lions establishment in Oxford Street had been he was prepared to believe relatively cheap and there were no tips and everything was very good and splendid but really the bill amounted to a lot of money in the judgment of a man who for years had never spent more than six months on a meal outside his own home and whom the mere appearance of luxury frightened throughout the wedding breakfast he had indeed been scared by the gilding, the carving the seemingly careless profusion the noise and the vastness of the throng which flung its money about in futile extravagance he had been unable to dismiss the disturbing notion that England was decadent and the structure of English society threatened by a canker similar to the canker which had destroyed England's Rome 10 shillings and 7 pence for a single repast for two persons it was fantastic he had resolved that this should be the last pleasure excursion into the West End meanwhile he was on his honeymoon and he must conduct himself in his purse with a chivalry which a loved woman would naturally if foolishly expect it was after the wedding breakfast that Violet had in true feminine capriciousness some me suggested that they should go to Madame Tussaud's wax works before the visit to the gorgeous cinema in Kingsway which was the pièce de résistance of the day's program she had never seen Madame Tussaud's nor had he and she was sure it must be a very nice place and they had plenty of time for it all her life she had longed to see Madame Tussaud's but somehow etc not that he needed too much persuading no he liked he adored the girlishness in that vivacious but dignified and mature creature so soberly dressed save for the exciting red flowers in her dark hat in consenting to gratify her whim he had the sensations of a young millionaire clasping emerald necklaces round the divine necks of stage favourites after all it was only for one day and she had spoken truly in saying that they had plenty of time the program was not to end till late previous to their departure from Ryseman's steps on the wedding journey he had seen Violet call a side Elsie who was left in charge of the shop and he doubted not that she had been enjoining the girl to retire to bed before her employers return a nice thoughtfulness and Violet's part with all as he extracted a pound note from his case he suffered agony and she was watching him with her bright eyes it was a new pound note the paper was white and substantial not a crease in it the dim watermarks whispered genuineness the green and brown of the design were more beautiful than any picture the majestic representation of the houses of parliament on the back gave assurance that the solidity of the whole realm was behind that note the thing was as lovely and touching as a young virgin daughter could he abandon it forever to the cold harsh world here give it me said Violet sympathetically and took it out of his hand what was she going to do with it I've got change she added with a smile she was looking pleasantly he was relieved his agony was soothed at any rate the note was saved for the present it was staying in the shelter of the family he felt very grateful but why should she have taken the note from him thank you ma'am said the uniform turned style man with almost eager politeness as Violet put down half a crown the character of the place had been established at once by the world trained attendant I'm sure it's a very nice place Violet observed she was a judge too Henry agreed with her there was a spacious Victorianism about the interior and especially about the ornate branching staircase which pleased both of them crowds moving to and fro crowds of plain people fashion, no distinction but respectable people solid people no riff-raff no wastrels, adventurers flighty persons it is a very nice place Violet repeated and they're much better than audiences at cinemas I must say of course she went through the common experience of mistaking a wax figure for a human being and called herself a silly suddenly she clutched Henry's arm the clutch gave him a new delightful sensation of owning and being owned and also of being a protector oh dear she exclaimed an alarm it gave me quite a turn what did? I thought he was a wax figure that young man there by the settee I looked at him for ever so long and he didn't move and then he moved alone. No, that I wouldn't there upon with a glance of trust she loosed Henry for perhaps a couple of decades Henry had not been even moderately interested in any woman and for over a decade not interested at all he had been absorbed in his secret passion and now after a sort of rip-van winkle sleep he was on his honeymoon and in full realization of the wonderfulness of being married he felt himself to be exhorted into some realm of romance surpassing his dreams the very place was romantic and uplifted him he blossomed slowly late but he blossomed and in the crowds he was truly alone with this magical woman he did not then want to kiss her he would save the kissing he would wait for it he was a patient man and enjoyed the exercise of patience quite unperturbed he was convinced and rightly that none in the ingenuous crowds could guess the situation of himself and Violet such a staid, quiet commonplace couple he savored with the most intense satisfaction that they were deceiving all the simple creatures who surrounded them he laughed at youth scorned it then his eye caught a sign Cinematograph Hall Ah! was that a device to conjure extra sixpences and shillings from the unwary he seemed to crouch in alarm like a startled hare but the entrance to the Cinematograph Hall was wide and had no barriers the Cinematograph Hall was free they walked into it a board said to empty seats an ex-performance for a clock we must see that he told Violet urgently she answered that they certainly must and there upon Henry having looked at his watch they turned into the Hall of Tableau a restful and yet impressive affair these reconstitutions of dramatic episodes in English history and there was no disturbing preciosity in the attitude of the sightseers who did not care a fig what art was to whom indeed it would never have occurred to employ such a queer word as art even in their thoughts nor did they worry themselves about composition, lighting or the theory of the right relation of subject to treatment nor did they criticize at all they accepted and if they could not accept they spared their brains the unhealthy excitement of trying to discover why they could not accept they just left the matter and passed on a poor spirited lot with not the slightest taste for hitting back against the challenge of the artist but anyhow they had the wit to put art in its place and keep it there what interested them was the stories told by the Tableau and what interested them in the stories told was the human side not the historic importance King John signing Magna Charter under the menace of his bold barons and so laying the foundation stone of British liberty no the picture could not move them but the death of Nelson Gordon's last stand the slip of a girl Victoria writing the news of her accession the execution of Mary Queen of Scots yes 100% successes every one Violet shed a diamond tear at sight of the last Violet said they do say seeing's believing she was fully persuaded at last that English history really had happened Henry's demeanour was more reserved and a little condescending he said kindly that the Tableau were very clever as they were and he smiled to himself at Violet's womanish simplicity and liked her the better for it because it increased her charm and gave to himself a secret superiority what all the sightseers did completely react to was the distorting mirrors which induced a never-ceasing loud tinkle and guffaw of mirth through the entire afternoon Violet laughed like anything at the horrid reflection of herself well, she giggled they do say you wouldn't know yourself if you met yourself in the streets I can believe it rather subtle that thought Henry as he smiled blandly at her truly surprising gaiety he hurried her away to the cinematograph the hall was full he had never in his life been to a picture theatre why should he have gone he had never felt the craving for amusement he knew just what cinemas were and how they worked but he did not lust after them by long discipline he had strictly confined his curiosity to certain fields but now that the cinemale gratis to his hand he burned with the desire to judge it he refrained from confessing to Violet that he had never been to a picture theatre as he had already decided that the cinemale was a somewhat childish business he found nothing in the show to affect this verdict while it was proceeding he explained the mechanism to Violet and also he gave her glimpses of the history of Madame Two Swords which he had picked up from books about London Violet was impressed and as she had seen many films far more sensational than those now exhibited she copied his indifference nevertheless Henry would not leave until the performance was quite finished he had a curiously logical idea in his head that although he had paid nothing he must get his full money's worth it was in the upper galleries and vast waxen groups of monarchs, princes, princesses statesmen, murderers soldiers, footballers and pugilists Violet favoured the queens and princesses that to the accompaniment of music from a bright red coated orchestra a new ordeal arose for Henry I wonder where the Chamber of Horrors is said Violet we haven't come across it yet have we an attendant indicated a turnstile leading to special rooms admittance, apence tax included Henry was hurt Madame Two Swords fell heavily in his esteem despite the free cinematograph it was a scheme to empty the pockets of a confiding public Oh! exclaimed Violet dashed also she was in a difficult position she wanted as much as Henry to keep down costs but at the same time she wanted her admired mate to behave in a grand and reckless manner suitable to the occasion meeting her glance Henry hesitated was there to be no end to disbursements his secret passion fought against his love he turned pale he could not speak he was amazed at the power of his passion full of fine intentions he dared not affront the monster then his throat dry and constricted he said blandly with an invisible gesture of the most magnificent an extravagant heroism I hardly think we ought to consider expense on a day like this and the monster recoiled and Henry wiped his brow Violet paid the one in fourpence they entered into a new and more recondite world relics of Napoleon did not attract them but a notice at the head of a descending flight of steps fascinatingly red downstairs to the chamber of horrors the granite steps presented a grim and awe-inspiring appearance they might have been the steps into hell Violet shivered and clutched Henry's arm again no, no, she whispered in agitation I couldn't face it I couldn't but we've paid my dear said Henry gently protesting he, the strong male took command of the morbidly affected clinging woman and let her down the steps her arm kept saying to him I am in your charge nobody but you could have persuaded me into this adventure docks full of criminals of the deepest dye the genuine jury box from the original Old Bailey recumbent figures in frightful opium dens reconstitutions of illustrious murder scenes with glasses of champagne and packs of cards on the tables and sour and women on chairs wonderful past all wondering Violet was enthralled quickly she grew calmer but she never relaxed her hold on him the souvenirs of incredible crimes somehow sharpened the edge of his feeling for her and inflamed the romance he remembered with delicious pain how his longing for this unparalleled violet and made him unhappy night and day for weeks how it had seemed impossible that she could ever be his this incarnation of the very spirit of vivacity brightness, energy dominance and now he dominated her she attached herself to him wound round him the ivy to his oak she was not young and thank god she was not young a nice spectacle he would have made gallivanting round at the short skirts of some girlish thing she was ideal and she was his the exquisite thought ran to and fro in his head all the time what murder can that be she demanded in front of a kitchen interior she had identified the others close by was a lady with a catalogue would you mind telling me what crime this is supposed to be madam Henry politely asked raising his hat the lady looked at him with a malignant expression can't you buy a catalogue for yourself vulgar nasty creature muttered violet Henry said nothing made no sign they walked away he knew that he ought to have bought a catalogue at the start and now he could not no he could not the situation was dreadful but violet enchantingly eased it everything ought to be labelled she said however and she began to talk cheerfully as if nothing had happened they passed along a corridor and threw a turnstile and were once again in the less sensational hall of tablo and they heard the tinkling unbridled laughter of girls surveying themselves in the distorting mirrors Henry limped noticeably violet led the way through the restaurant towards the main hall tea laid on spotless tables jam in sources on the tables natty, pretty and smiling waitresses I could do with a cup of tea oh and there's jam exclaimed violet Henry was shocked more expense must they be eating all day nevertheless they sat down I'm afraid I'm about done for said Henry sadly disheartened my knee his knee was not troubling him in the least but a desperate plan for cutting short the honeymoon and going home had seized him he had decided that the one cure for him was to be at home alone with her he had had enough more than enough of the license of the west end he wanted tranquility he wanted to know where he was your knee oh Henry I'm so sorry what can we do we can go home he replied succinctly but the big cinema and all that well we've seen one I feel I should like to be at home oh but violet was strangely disturbed he could not understand her agitation surely they could visit the big cinema another night he was determined he said to himself that he must either go home or go mad the monster had come back upon him in ruthless might to create the monster he must at any cost bear violet down he did bear her down and she surrendered with a soft and deferential amiability which further endeared her to him they partook of tea and jam she discharged the bill and they departed I don't want to be bothered with my lameness on my wedding day he said wistfully smiling and he got into the street end of chapter 3 part 2 chapter 4 of ricemen steps by Arnold Bennett this Librevox recording is in the public domain recording by Antoniogus Vacuum for potent municipal or administrative reasons the tram car carrying Henry and his bride would not stop at ricemen steps but it stopped 50 yards farther down the road as Henry was whisked thunderingly past his home and the future nest of his love he glimpsed in the steps such a spectacle has put a strain on the credibility of his eyes only on the rarest occasions do men refuse to believe their eyes they're much more likely to allow themselves to be deluded by their deceitful eyes the vision was common gone in a moment and Henry who had great confidence in his eyes did in fact accept though with difficulty their report which was to the effect that a considerable crowd had collected in front of his house that the house was blazing with light and that forms resembling engines with serpentine hose rising there from stood between the shop door and the multitude of spectators did you see that there he demanded sharply but calmly see what dear said Violet self-consciously the house is on fire oh no it can't be on fire a strange colloquy it seemed unreal to him and the strangest thing was that he did not honestly think the house was on fire he did not know what to think but he suspected his angel and celestial scheming against him and he considered that she was beginning rather early and that his first business must be to set her in the true wifely path suspicion is a wonderful collector of evidence in its own support he recalled her agitation when he had decided to tear up the program for the day and go home earlier the agitation had soon passed on to Larkinwell it had certainly recurred increasing somewhat as they neared the destination also he recalled her private chat with Elsie before leaving in the morning at the time he had attached no significance to that whispered interview but now it suddenly took on a most sinister aspect an amazing fellow was Henry as he hurried without a word from the tram to the house he carefully maintained his limp and in pushing through the crowd he was careful to avoid any appearance of astonishment or alarm at any rate the engines both throbbing were too small to be fire engines there were no brass helmets or policemen about and the house was not on fire what distressed him was the insane expenditure of electricity that was going on the door was not open the day being Saturday it ought to have been closed hours ago he strode over a hosepipe into his establishment one side of the place looked just as if it had been newly papered and painted and all the books on that side shone like books that had been dusted and vassalined with extreme care daily for months almost the whole of the ceiling was nearly white it was magically whitening under a wide mouthed brass nozzle that a workman who stood on a pair of steps was applying to it and henry heard a swishing sound as of the in-drawing of wind he went forward mechanically into his private room which quite unbelievably was as clean as a new pin no grime, no dust anywhere and not a book displaced the books which ordinarily lay on the floor still lay on the floor and even the floor planks looked as if they had been planed or sandpapered he dropped into a chair darling how pale you are merm and violet bending to him this is my wedding present to you I wanted it to be a surprise but you've gone and spoiled it all with coming back home so soon and I couldn't stop you he did not realise for weeks the grandeur of his wife's act which had outraged a thrifty instinct in her nearly as powerful as his own but he realised at once the initiative and the talent for organised execution which had rendered her plan successful how had she managed to accomplish the affair without betraying to him the slightest hint of what she was about a prodigious performance born the faithful see too he could not like the cleanliness he had been robbed of something and the place had lost its look of home it was bare inhospitable and he was a stranger in it how much is it to cost he breathed well violet answered hesitatingly of course vacuum cleaning is a what should call cheap much labour and wear and tear and inconvenience that it pays for itself over and over again and you know I can't stand dirt and when a thing's got to be done I'm one of those that must get it over and have done with it and it's my little present to you shall I rub your knee with some zambuck I have some how much is it to cost he repeated well it ought by rights only to cost ten pounds for the whole job ten pounds yes only as I wanted it done in a great hurry I knew that would mean two machines instead of one and besides that the men expect overtime pay for Saturday afternoons I'm afraid it'll cost 13 or 14 pounds but think how nice it's going to be look at this room you wouldn't know it 14 pounds the wages of a morning child woman for over three months squandered in a few hours the potentialities of Violet's energetic brain frightened him you aren't vexed I'm sure said Violet of course I'm not he replied blandly admitting the nobility of her motives and the startling efficiency of her methods perhaps I ought to have told you yes but you see I wanted it to be a surprise for you he walked back into the shop and thence outside what do you do with the dirt he inquired of one of the men in charge of the machines oh we take it away sir we shan't leave any mess about do you sell it do you get anything for it end of chapter 4 part 2 chapter 5 Simon's Steps by Arnold Bennett this Librevox recording is in the public domain recording by Antoniogus the priestess while Henry was inquiring into the market value of the dirt which he himself had amassed the new Mrs. Elford went upstairs to inspect her best bedroom it was empty but electric current was burning away in a manner to call forth just criticism from her husband the room was incredibly clean and had a bright aspect of freshness and gaiety which delighted Violet she said to herself this vacuum business was a great idea of mine dangerous but it's gone off very well already she realized though not quite fully that she had passed under the domination of her bland Henry it was as if she had entered a fortress and heard the self-locking gates thereof clang behind her no escape but in the fortress she was sheltered she was safe according to a pre-arrangement certain dispositions have been made in the bedroom on the bed was spread a luxurious and brilliant either down quilt Violet's private possession almost her only possession beyond clothes, cash and money invested her three trunks were deposited in a corner the wardrobe had been cleared of books and one chest of drawers cleared of all four warden oddments and Violet having doffed her street attire began to unpack in the cold which she did not notice she hoped that Henry would give her time to feel at home in the chamber she was sure indeed that he would for he could practice the most delicate considerations before deciding which drawer should hold which clothes she laid out some of the garments on the bed and this act seemed to tranquilise her then she noticed that an old slipper had been tied by a piece of pink ribbon to the headrail of the bed it was a much worn white satin slipper and had once shod the small foot of some woman who understood elegance Elsie's thought Elsie's gift it could have come from none but Elsie Elsie must have bought it and perhaps its fellow at the second hand shop at the King's Cross Road past the police station and Elsie must also have bought the pink ribbon Violet was touched she wanted to run out and say something nice to Elsie wherever Elsie might be but she wanted still more to stay in the bedroom and think she enjoyed being in the bedroom alone she glanced with pleasure at the shut door the drawn blind the solidity of the walls and of the furniture and she thought of her first honeymoon a violent, extravagant and passionate week at south end what excursions what distractions what phishings what tragicomical seasickness what winkle-eatings what promenades and rides on the pier what jocularities what gigglings and what enormous laughter what late risings what frocks and hats what hairbrushings what farsenings of frocks what arrogant confidence in one's complexion what emancipations what grand, free, careless abandonments to the delight of life what sudden tendernesses what exhaustless energy what youth and then the swift change in the demeanour of the late Mr. Arb when they got into the London train realisation then that the man who could play and squander magnificently could also work and save magnificently a man in fact the late Mr. Arb and never without a grim humour unlike anybody else's and he was the very devil sometimes especially at intervals during the few days when he was making up his mind to cut his corns she did not gaze backward on that honeymoon with pangs of regret no she was not that kind of woman as she advanced from one time of life to another she had the common sense of each age she did not mourn the south end hoys and ish bride who knew nothing she had a position now both moral and material she could put honeymoons in their right perspective the honeymoon she was at that moment in the mid-stop had certainly some remarkable characteristics that is to say it was a rather funny sort of honeymoon but what matter she was happy not as a south end bride had been happy but still happy she knew that she could comprehend Henry just as well as she had comprehended the late Mr. Arb on the subject of men she was Catholic she could submit in one way to one and in another way to another and the same for manoeuvring them look at what she had by audacity accomplished in the very first hours of this second marriage cleanliness the brilliance of the results of scientific cleaning astonished even herself far surpassing her expectations and the old satin shoe influenced her there was something absurd charming romantic and inspiring about that shoe it reminded Violet that security and sagacity and affectionate constancy could not be the sole constituents of a satisfactory existence grace fancifulness impulsiveness were needed too she saw the husband the house and even the business as material upon which she had to work constructively adoringly but also willfully and perhaps a bit mischievously what could be more ridiculous than an old shoe tied to a respectable bad stead and yet it had changed Violet's mood for her it had most mysteriously changed the mood of the domestic interior of all Clarkinwell it helped Violet to like Clarkinwell an unlikable place in her opinion after a long time and reluctantly she went downstairs again nobody had disturbed her neither her husband nor Elsie nor the workman she had heard various movements beyond the citadel of the bedroom assents, descents, bumpings and she now found the upper floors in darkness the upper floors were finished the shop also was apparently finished with the exception of the principal window she paused at the turn of the stairs and watched her husband rewatching the operation on the window full of books two workmen were engaged upon it one handled the books in batches of ten or a dozen the other manipulated the cleansing swishing nozzle both men seemed to be experts laborious conscientious and exact the volumes were replaced with precision Mr Henry Alford in a critical temper as became a merchant over an important affair which affected him closely but upon which he had been in no wise consulted stood ready to pounce upon the slightest error or carelessness well he found no occasion to pounce the bland demon in him was foiled of its spring he moved away disappointed, admiring and caught sight of Violet his face welcomed her appearance undoubtedly he was pleased with and impressed by her capacity in addition to being in love with her she looked down demurely perturbed by the ardour of his glance been putting things to rights in the bedroom he murmured approaching her she nodded he lifted his hand to her shoulder and there it rested for a moment she wished to heaven the interminable job was finished and they could walk about the transformed shop alone together look here he murmured the men at the window could not possibly distinguish what he was saying yes he led her to a corner one of the sacks in which books were delivered hid a fairly large cubicle object he pulled off the sack and disclosed an old safe which he had never seen before I bought it yesterday said he and they delivered it this morning I suppose bending down he took a key from his pocket unlocked the safe and swung open the massive door two drawers you see and two compartments besides very nice I'm sure he relocked the safe and handed her the key it's for you he said a little wedding present you must decide where you'd like to have it if you wanted upstairs I might get some of these chaps to carry it up before they go cheaper than getting men in on purpose and it's no featherweight that safe isn't Violet was startled almost out of her self-possession she held the key as though she did not know what to do with it she gave a mechanical smile very unlike the smile whose vivacity drew crinkling lines from all parts of her face to the corners of her eyes and of her mouth the present was totally unexpected he had said not one word as to presents certainly he had not questioned her about her preferences nor shown even indirectly any kind of curiosity in this regard she had comprehended that he wished neither to bestow nor to receive and she was perfectly reconciled to his idiosyncrasy after all was she not at that moment wearing without resentment or discomfort the wedding ring to obtain which he had sold its predecessor and yet he had conceived the plan of giving her a present and had executed it in secret as such plans on such occasions ought to be executed and he was evidently pleased with his plan and proud of it how many husbands would have given a safe to their wives so that the dear creatures might really possess their property in privacy and in independence very few the average good husband would have expected his wife to hand over all that she had into his own safekeeping not for his own use he would have asked him for what was hers and in giving her what was hers he would have had the air of conferring a favour Henry was not like that Henry she knew admired her for her possessions as well as for her personality and he had desired to insist on them in a spectacular manner she was touched yes she was touched because she understood his motives saw the fineness the chivalry in his motives when she had thanked him she said I think I shall have it in the bathroom under the window there is plenty of room there her practical sujacity had not failed her in the bathroom she could employ her safe study the contents of her safe and take from them or add to them unsurveyed according to her most free fancy whereas if the safe was in the bedroom or in the dining room or side by side with Henry's safe in the office well you never knew he agreed instantly with her suggestion if I were you said he I shall get your things out of that Cornhill safe deposit place at once the late Mr. Arb had always been in favour of a safe deposit place for securities and valuables the arrangement was beyond doubt best for a nomad but in addition with his histrionic temperament he had loved the somewhat theatrical apparatus of triple security with which safe deposit companies impress their clients he had loved ascending into illuminated steel vaults and the smooth noise of well oiled locks and the signing and countersigning and the surveillance and the surpassing precautions the Violet had loved it also it magnified riches it induced ecstatic sensations but Mr. Henry Earl forward had other views he held that the rent which you had to pay for a coffer in a safe deposit was excessive and that to pay it was a mere squandering of money in order to keep money and quite irrational quite ridiculous indeed a sort of contradiction in terms that Mrs. Arb should patronise a safe deposit company had seemed to offend him that his wife should patronise a safe deposit company gave him positive pain imagine having to take motor buses and trams and spend money and half a day of time whenever you wanted to open your own coffer Violet had listened him at length on this topic she was pleasantly touched now but simultaneously she was frightened again standing close to him in the gloom of the corner dangling the key on its bit of string glancing at his fresh full-lipped grey-bearded kindly face and at his bland little eyes which rested on her with love she was frightened and even appalled she had made him a present of a scientific spring cleaning and he had given her a safe on their wedding day it was terrible it was horrible why? eminently sensible gifts both surely not more prosaic than those very popular and well-accepted presents a pair of fish carvers a patent carpet sweeper a copper-cold scuttle no, possibly not more prosaic than those and yet terrible no doubt she would not have thought them so horrible if she had not seen that second-hand sat-in shoe hanging on the bed-stead by a piece of print ribbon she knew that the excellent, trustworthy and adoring man who was the safe deposit in which she had deposited herself had no suspicion of the nature of her thoughts and his innocence, his simplicity his blindness, call it what you please only intensified her perturbation he turned away to speak to the workman about moving the safe at a later hour soon after the workman and the engines and the hose and all the apparatus of purification had vanished from Ryseman's steps to the regret of a persistent crowd which had been enjoying an absolutely novel sensation Mr. and Mrs. Henry Oldford who were alone and rather self-conscious and rather at a loss for something to do in the beautiful shut shop heard steps on the upper stairs Elsie they had forgotten Elsie it was not a time for them to be thoughtful of other people Elsie presently appeared on the lower stairs and was beheld of both her astonished employers for Elsie was clothed in her best and it was proved that she indeed had a best neither Henry nor Violet had ever seen the frock which Elsie was wearing yet it was obviously not a new frock it had lain in that tin trunk of hers since more glorious days possibly Joe might have seen it on some bright evening but no other among living men its colour was brown in cut it did not bear and never had born any relation to the fashions of the day but it was unquestionably a best dress over the facade of the front Elsie displayed a garment still more surprising namely a white apron now in Clarkinwell white aprons were white only once in their active careers and not always even once white aprons in Clarkinwell were white unless bought shop soiled at a reduction for about the first hour of their first wearing they were of course washed rinsed and ironed and sometimes lightly starched but they never achieved whiteness again and it was impossible that they should do so a whitish grey was the highest they could reach after the first laundry Elsie therefore was wearing a new apron and in fact she had purchased it with her own money under the influence of her modest pride informing a regular part of a household comprising a gentleman and lady freshly united in matrimony she had also purchased a cap but at the last moment after trying it on had lacked the courage to keep it on she felt too excessively odd in it she was carrying a parcel in her left hand and the other was behind her back Mrs Earl forward at sight of her guessed part of what was coming but not the more exciting part oh Elsie cried Mrs Earl forward there you are I fancied you're out oh no ma'am said Elsie in her gentle firm voice but I wasn't expecting you a master home so early and as soon as you came I run upstairs to change with that Elsie from the advantage of three stairs certainly showed her right hand and out of a paper bag flung a considerable quantity of rice onto the middle aged persons of the married she accomplished this gesture with the air of a benevolent priestess performing a necessary and gravely important right some of the rice stuck on its targets but most of it rattled on the floor and rolled about in the silence indeed there was quite a mess of rice on the floor and the pity seemed to be that the vacuum cleaners had left early Violet was the first to recover from the state of foolish and abashed stupefaction into which the deliberate assault had put man and wife Violet laughed heartily very heartily her mood was transformed again in an instant into one of gaiety, happiness and natural ease it was as if a sinister spell had been miraculously lifted Henry gradually smiled while regarding with proper regret this wanton waste of a health giving food such as formed the soul nourishment of millions of his fellow creatures in distant parts of the world sheepishly brushing his clothes with his hand he felt as though he was dissipating good rice puddings but he too suffered a change of heart I had to do it because it's for luck LC amably explained not without dignity evidently she had determined to do the wedding thoroughly in spite of the unconventionalities of the contracting parties I'm sure it's very kind of you said Mrs. Old Forward yes it is Mr. Old Forward concurred and he's a present from me LC continued blushing and offering the parcel I'm sure we very much obliged said Mrs. Old Forward taking the parcel come into the back room LC and I'll undo it now I better not hold it by the string and in the office the cutting of string and the unfolding of brown paper and of tissue paper disclosed a box and the opening of the box disclosed a wedding cake not a large one true but authentic what with the shoe and the rice and the cake LC in the grand generosity of her soul must have spent a fortune on the wedding must have exercised a large beneficence of a Rothschild and all because she had faith in the virtue of the ascent properties appertaining to the marriage ceremony she alone had seen Mrs. Old Forward as a bride and Mr. Old Forward as a bridegroom and the magic of her belief compelled the partners also to see themselves as bride and bridegroom well LC first out and she was deeply affected I really don't know what to say it's most unexpected and I don't know how to thank you but run and get a knife and we'll cut it it must be cut said LC again the priestess and she obediently ran off to get the knife whoa whoa murmured Henry flabbergasted and her wife had blushed the pair were so disturbed that they dared not look at each other you must cut it mum said LC returning with a knife and a flat dish and Mrs. Old Forward having placed the cake on the dish soared down into the cake she had to use all her strength to penetrate the brown the top icing splintered easily and fragments of it flew about the desk now LC here's your slice said Violet lifting the dish thank you mum but I must keep mine I've got a little box for it upstairs but aren't you going to eat any of it no mum with solemnity but you must I'll just taste the white part she added picking up a bit of icing from the desk the married pair I think I'll go now mum if you'll excuse me said LC but I'll just sweep up in the shop here first she was standing in the doorway they heard her with hand brush and dustpan collecting the scattered food of the Orient she peeped in at the door again good night mum good night sir she saluted them with a benign grin in which was a surprising little touch of naughtiness and then they heard her receding footfalls as she ascended cautiously the dark flights of stairs and entered into her inviolable private life on the top floor it would never have done not to eat it said Violet no Henry agreed she's a wonder that girl is you could have knocked me down with a feather yes no wonder where she bought it must have gone up to King's Cross or down to Oban King's Cross more likely yesterday in her dinner hour I'm hungry said Violet and it was a fact that they had had no evening meal seeing that they'd expressly announced their intention of eating out on that great day so must you be my dear said Violet there they were, alone together on the ground floor with one electric bulb in the back room and one other needlessly lighting the middle part of the cleansed and pleasant shop they could afford to be young and to live perilously madly absurdly they lost control of themselves and glorified in so doing the cake was a danger to existence it had the consistency of marble the richness of molasses the mysteriousness of the enigma of the universe it seemed unconquerable it seemed more fatal than daggers or jelignite but they attacked it fortunately neither of them knew the inner meaning of indigestion when Henry had taken the last slice Violet exclaimed like a child just one tiny piece more and with burning eyes she bent down and bit off a morsel from the slice in Henry's hand I am living shouted an unheard voice in Henry's soul End of Chapter 5