6/17/2017 LadywithCarnationsA.J.

Cronin

LadywithCarnations
A.J.CRONIN|14MINS

ThatwetNovemberafternoonitwastheHolbeinminiaturewhichhaddrawnthedealers
toVernons,forthesaleheldnothingcomparableinvalueorimportance.Theminiature,
sentsomewhatunexpectedlyfromWroxonAbbeybytheKnellerfamily,wasthat

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knownpopularlyasLadywithCarnations,apiecebothexquisiteandremarkable,
combininginitssubjectitwasatinyportaitofMlledeQuercy,daughterofthe
AmbassadortoHenryVIIIanditsdateabout1532,shortlyafterHolbeinsreturnto
LondonfromBaselthebestmannerandthefinestperiodofthemaster.

Thelonggallerywascrowdedwhenatexactlyhalfpastfourtheminiaturecameup.
Biddingbegan,withakindofderisivecourtesy,attwothousandguineasmounted
rapidlytofivethousandstoppedamoment,thenrushedtoseven,waveredagainthen
rose,withthatalternaterhythmwhichindicatestheeliminationofallbuttwopowerful
competitors,tothesumofninethousand,fourhundredguineas.Hereithalted.

Ninethousandandfourhundredguineas.

Theauctioneer,occupyingthehighredrostrumwithalertsuavity,hishairprecisely
parted,hispearlpinneatlysheathedinhisdarktie,repeatedthefigurepersuasively
whilehisglanceremainedfixedontheimpassivelyavertedfaceofBernardRubin.Yet
Rubin,thoughthebidwasnowagainsthim,seemedloathtoadvanceuponit.
Eventually,however,hishoodedeye,hardlyvisiblebeneaththehardrimofhisbowler
hat,flickeredwithakindofsourperversity,andatoncetheauctioneermurmured:

Ninethousand,fivehundredguineas.

Immediatelytherecameanalmostimperceptiblesignalfromtheoppositesideofthe
room.

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Ninethousand,sixhundred,remarkedtheauctioneerblandly.

Ninethousand,sevenhundred!Rubinwentforwardgrimly,butagainthesigncame
upagainsthim.

Ninethousand,eighthundredguineas,declaredtheauctioneer,andleanedagain
towardsRubin.

ButthistimeRubinhadclearlyfinished,hislimitalreadypassed,hisexpressionnow
stoicallydissociatedfromtheproceedings.IfonethinghadbroughtoldBernardRubin
uptopintheantiquetrade,itwashisfacultyofknowingwhentostop.

Atninethousand,eighthundredguineas,repeatedtheauctioneer,hisgazesweeping
thecrowdedroom.Asilence.

Forthelasttime,atninethousand,eighthundredguineas.Anothersilence,portentous
andfinal,terminatedbythesharptapofthehammer.Soldatninethousand,eight
hundredguineasMissLorimer.

KatharineLorimerroseunobtrusivelyfromherseatatthelongtableandmadeherway
towardstheopendoubledoorattheendoftheloftyroom.Severalofthedealers,
steppingbackpolitelybeforeherpassage,murmuredtheircongratulations,butbeyonda
faintsmileshedidnotseemtoheedthem.Shewould,infact,havefounditdifficultto
answeratthatmoment,for,despitethehardihoodwhichexperiencehadbroughther,
shefeltherpulsethrobbingpainfullyfromthetensionofthoselastinterminable
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seconds.Shehadsetherheartontheminiature,andanotherbidfromRubinwouldhave
beatenher.

Descendingthesteps,oldBernardjoinedherandstumpedalongbesideherinan
enigmaticsilence.Hiscar,ablackandsilverContinentalmodel,extremelylargeand
costlyBernardhadnotfailedtoinformeveryoneofitspricestoodatthekerb
outside.OnthedoorstepKatharineandRubinpaused,metbythesoundandmovement
ofthetraffic,bythebrightnessandtheharshmutterofLondon,whichmadetheauction
roomseemremoteandquiteunreal.

Notgoingmyway?Rubinasked,whichwashismannerofofferingheralift.

Itwasnownearlyfive,andKatharineonasuddenimpulsedecidednottoreturnto
businessbuttogohome.Shenoddedthen,caughtbyawaftofrainandfog,she
shiveredslightlyandsteppedquicklyintothecar.

KingStreetwasbadenough,butPiccadillylayhelpless,chokedwithomnibusesand
taxicabs.AsthecarslidandstoppedandslidagaintowardsCurzonStreet,Rubins
hoodedeyesbeneaththeirmarkedSemiticbrowswerefixedonKatharinewithaqueer
ironicshrewdness.

Yougavetoomuch,MissLorimer,hesaidatlength.

Youmeantoomuchforyou,MrRubin?

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Rubinlaughedsoftly.Maybe,maybe!heagreedwitheasyopulence,pausingto
admiretheperfectsolitaireonthelittlefingerofhislefthand.Thingsmustbepretty
goodwithyouwhenyoucanrunsohigh.Eh,MissLorimer?

Oh,notsobad.Katharinestonewasperfectlyoffhand.

Ah,well,thatsfine!Thatsmarvellous!Especiallywhentherestofusinthetradeare
feelingthingssohard.Nomoneyabout,noclients,nothingdoinganywhere.Butyou
youcanupandpaytenthousandforaleetlebitofHolbein.Justlikethat!Why,its
almosttoogoodtobetrue.

Katharineslipspartedtospeak,butclosedagain.Insteadshesmiledherfaintreserved
smile,whichseemedalmosttoimposeagreaterreticenceuponher,andsatbackinher
corner,staringstraightahead.Thedecisionandcomposurewhichalwaysmarkedher
becameintensifiedyet,strangely,beneaththisreposetherelay,itseemed,asenseof
quickimpulsivenessheldfirmlyincheckandintheseriousdarknessofhereyesthere
wererichpointsoflightwhichlurkedandtrembledonthebrinkofvividlife.Butinthe
mainherexpressionwassad,andherwideforeheadborealine,asthoughinthepast
shehadknownmomentsofgreatdifficultyandperplexity.Herfeaturesandcolouring,
herbrownhairandwarmbrowneyesinthepaleovalofherface,werebeautiful.Her
teethweresowhitethattheygavefreshnesstoevenherslightestsmile.Shewasnot
morethanthirtyfive.Andyetthatsettledgravity,thatsenseofselfcontrol,herairof
contemplatingsomeremoteandabstractobject,madeheraloofandsometimeseven
formidable.
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Herdress,aplaindarkwoollen,hadclearlybeenchosencarelesslyandinahurry,and
herhat,whichsatalittlebackonherhead,wasinexpensiveanddidnotmatch.Itwas
apparentshehadnointerestinherclothes.Buthershoes,handmadeandofafine
leather,reflectedjustthefaintestvanityinherslender,beautifulfeet.

Ofcourse,remarkedRubinslyly,ifyoucaredtotakeaprofit,sayasuretenper
cent,andallnicequickreadycash

Katharineshookherheadbrusquely.Thankyou,MrRubin.ButwhenIpartwiththat
Holbein,itllbeforrealmoney.

Realmoney.Itdontexistanymore.Atleastnothere.No,no!Rubingrinned,
parodyingapopularsong.Youwontfindthattherehere.

Perhapsnot,Katharinefacedhim.Nowlisten,MrRubin,andstopcrackingatme.
ImtakingtheminiaturetoNewYorknextmonth.AndwhenIgetthere,Imsellingit
toBrandt.HesintheArgentinejustnow,buthellbebackonDecember12th.Hes
buyingtheHolbein.Hesbuyingitfrommefortwentythousandpounds.

Ah,Brandtsothatsthegamble,Rubinreflectedwithasuddenaccessofrespect.
Well,youreacleverwoman,mydear,but,onmyword,ifitwasme,Iwouldnttake
therisk!

Icanaffordtotakeit,answeredKatharinepleasantly.

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Justso.Rubinnoddedlikeamandarin.Justso,mydear,youknowyourown
positionbetterthanIdo.

Hedartedanotherglancetowardsher,wingedwithinquiryandacertainunwilling
regard,buttheblankseverityintowhichherfeaturesagainrelapsedhadalready
dismissedthesubjectfinally.SilencefellinsidethecarandcontinueduntilRubin,asif
anxioustoeraseanawkwardimpression,changedthesubject.

Thatlittleactressnieceofyours,NancySherwood,howsshegettingalong?

Katharineturnedatonce,herfacetransformed,investedwithavividinterest.First
rate,MrRubin.Shesjustbecomeengaged.

Well,well.Whostheluckyman?

Katharineslipstwitched.Ishallknowtonight.Iminvitedtoapartytomeethim,if
youplease.Itsreallyincrediblethewaythingshappennowadays.Ratherdifferentfrom
whenIwasyoung.

Butyouareyoung,mydear,interposedRubindeftly.

Oh,bosh!YouknowwhatImean.HeresNancygoesouttoNiceforafortnightsrest
beforeshestartsinhernewshowandcomesbacktrailingherfuturehusbandasifhe
wereanewhandbag.

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Well,well,thingsmoveprettyfastnow,Rubinchuckled.Butitstheoldideas
behindthemallthetime.

AsthecarswungintoCurzonStreetandcametorestoppositeKatharinesflat,Rubin
tookonelastslythrustather.

LooksasiftheHolbeinmightmaybecomeinhandyafterall!

Hepattedherhandassherosetogo.

Ifyoudontsellit,whynotgiveitasaweddingpresent?

Withtheblandmockerybuzzinginherears,Katharineturnedtowardsherapartment,
oneofablockofservicesuperflatsrecentlyerectedonthissite.Theairconditioned
luxuryandalmostbaroquemagnificenceofthebuildingwereoffensivetohertaste,yet
shefoundthisspotconvenientforherbusiness,anditaffordedher,moreover,that
implacablenecessityofherprofession,agoodaddress.Adoormanadmittedherand
conductedhertotheelevator,whileanother,equallybraided,shothertothesixthfloor
andobsequiouslybowedherout.

Though,rememberingheroriginsandsimplicityofhabit,Katharineneverceasedto
wonderatherselfinsuchsurroundingsandoften,indeed,drewasecret,childishjoy
fromthecontemplationofsuchdiverseobjectsastheautomaticmailchutesorthe
flunkiescalves,tonightherattentionwasotherwiseengrossed.Shereflectedwitha
heavyfrownonRubinsrecentremarks,askingherselfhowmuchtheoldfoxreally
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knewofherfinancialdifficultiesandadmittingwithanunconscioussighthatalthough
heprobablyknewnothing,hecertainlydivinedtheworst.

Theminuteshewaswithinherowndoorherexpressionrelaxedfurtherandbecameat
oncewearyandharassed.Shepermittedherselftoconsiderthatshehadhadadreadful
day,withaworryingandunprofitableclientatthestart,hardlyanylunchatthemiddle
ofit,andthemadadventureoftheminiatureattheendofit.Herheadached
abominably,andheroverdrivenbodyfeltlightandgiddy.Inonenervousgestureshe
toreoffherhatandflungit,withherglovesandbag,uponthecouch.Thenshewent
intothelittlekitchenettetomakesometeaand,withacertaindetermination,toboil
herselfanegg.

Fifteenminuteslater,asshesatatthechillylittlezincbenchinthetinypantry,
confrontedbytheemptycupandeggshell,theabsurdbathosofthethingstruckher.She
paidfourhundredpoundsayearinrentalforthisplacealone,andanothersixhundred
forherbusinesspremises.Shehadjustexpendedtenthousanduponaminiature.And
herdinnerhadcostapproximatelyfourpence.Shelaugheduntiltearsfilledhereyes,but
theywerebittertears,andhadshepermittedthemtooverflow,shemusthavebroken
downandwept.

Backinhersittingroomaquietapartment,sparselyyetrestfullyfurnishedwithafew
tastefulpiecesKatharinekickedoffhershoes,curledherselfupinachair,andlita
cigarette.Shesmokedseldom,onlywhenshewasveryhappyorverysad,andtonight
hersenseofdesolationwaslimitless.Latelybusinesshadbeendamnable.Theantique
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tradewaslikethatitcameandwentinwaves.Shehadriddenhighontheboomtimes
liketherestofthem,andnowshewaswallowingalmosthopelesslyintheslump.She
wasfighting,ofcourse,andwouldeventuallywinthough.Everypossibleeconomyhad
beeneffected.ThoughshecouldnotescapetheobligationsofherleasesatCurzon
StreetandKingStreet,shehadlaiduphercarandcutherpersonalexpensestothe
bone.Yetitwashardandbittergoing.

Resolutelysherefusedtoreexaminetheintricaciesofherfinancialposition.Monday
wouldbetimeenoughforthat,whenshewentdownagaintoseeMrFarraratthebank.

Besides,tonighthermelancholywasdeeperandmorepersonal.Shefeltsodesperately
alone.Shestood,intheeyesofherrelativesandfriendsindeed,intheeyesofthe
worldforthatgreatthing,success.Hermindflashedbacktoherbeginnings,andshe
sawherselfatsixteen,freshfromcouncilschoolandhersemidetachedhomeinTulse
Hill,atimidlittletypistwithTwissandWardrops,HouseholdFurnishing,DuckCourt,
HighHolborn.Shehadbeenadmittedtothatgimcrackwarehousebecauseherfather
knewoneofthepartners,azealousNonconformistlikehimselfyetshehadtrembled
despitetheintroductionatMrTwisssveryword,andquailedatMrWardropsfrown.

Lifehadchangedforhersincethen.NowshewasAntikaofKingStreet,StJamess,
andParkAvenue,NewYork,famousforhertasteanddcor,aspecialistinperiod
reconstruction,inbijouterieandthefinearts,perhapsthebestknownwomanantique
dealerintheworld.Howhadthishappened?Ithadhappened,shereflectedsombrely,
becauseshehadwilledittohappen,becauseshehadsetherselfgrimlytohaveacareer,
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sacrificingeverythingfiercely,ruthlesslysteelingthatyouthfultimidheartto
unbelievablehardshipsandeffrontery.Shehadwantedatallcoststobesomeone.Well,
itwasdonenow.Shehadachievedherambition,andoh,howhollowdidshefindits
vanity!

Thetelephoneatherelbowrang.Withatiredreflex,sinceoneofthecomplicationsof
herlifewastobeperpetuallyatthemercyofthisinstrument,shereachedoutforthe
receiver.

Itwashermother,ringingfromWimbledon,fromthesnugvillainwhichKatharinehad
installedherfiveyearsbefore.

Yourethere,Katharine.EvenoverthewireoldMrsLorimersvoiceachievedthe
summationoftribulationandlongsufferingneglect.Well,Imluckythistime,fora
wonder.IneverseemtogetyouthesedayswhenIringup.Youneverseemtohavea
momenttospeaktoyourpooroldmother.Never,never!

DidntIringyoulastnight,mother?Katharinemadetheinquirytolerantly.

Well,whatifyoudid?answeredtheoldladypeevishly.Hello,hello!Canyouhear
me?

Yes,mother,Icanhearyou.

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Thatsright,then,dontgoaway.Ivelotstosaytoyou.Justwaitaminute.Iwroteit
onapieceofpaper.Nowwheresmyglasses?Blessme,Ivegotthemon!Now,firstof
all,yourecomingdownthisweekend,arentyou,withNancyandhernewyoung
man?

Yes,werecoming.

Thatsright,mydear.Nowlisten!Iwantyoutobringmedownjustafewlittlethings:
wool,sugaralmonds,chocolatecake,andanicenewnovel.Remembermysugar
almondsespecially,Katharineyouknow,thekindyougetmeatFortnums.Oh,and
whileIthinkofit,youcanfetchmesomeanchovypastewhenyoureinthere,too.I
likealittleonmytoastthesewintereveningssomehowitmakesteasocosybythefire.
Andlisten,Katharineareyoulistening,mydear?ItsthreeplygreywoolIwantfor
mynewshawl,incaseIdidntmentionit.

Katharine,listeningpatiently,nowsmiledfaintly.Allright,mother.Illattendtoyour
orders.

Orders,indeed!Insensiblytheagedvoicetookonanoffendednote.Youreblaming
meforaskingforafewsimplenecessities!Really,Katharine,howyoucanscoldyour
pooroldmotherlikethatpasseshumanunderstanding.Ifyourfatherwerealive

AtthefamiliarinvocationtothegraveKatharinetookaquickgripofherself.Hastily
shesaid:Comenow,mother.YouknowIdidntmeananything.

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Apause.

Yourenotcrosswithme?

Ofcoursenot,mother.

Well.Alittlesighofappeasementcameoverthewire.Thatsasitshouldbe,then.
Canyouhear?Hello,hello,thatimpudentgirlattheexchangeisgoingtocutusoff
again.Goodnight.Godblessyou,mydear.Anddontforgetmysugaralmonds.

Katharinehungupthereceiverwithashakeofherhead.Thoughherdearmotherwas
morecomfortablethanevershehadbeeninherlife,withherownestablishmentand
everythingsherequired,shehad,nevertheless,aperpetualsenseofbeingmisused.She
lovedagrievance.Oftenshecouldbetryingbeyondendurance.

Butnow,withaquickglanceattheclock,Katharineputherworriesresolutelyfromher
mind.Shegotup,wentintothebathroom,andturnedonthetaps.Thoughshedidnotin
theleastfeellikegoingouttonight,nothingintheworldwouldmakeherdisappoint
Nancy.Quickly,carelessly,sheflungoffherclothesandsteppedintothebath.

Asshelayintheclear,unscentedwater,revivingunderitswarmth,shethoughtofher
niece,andinstinctivelyherfrowndissolved,whileherlipscurvedinasmileof
tenderness.SheadoredNancy,thedaughterofhereldersisterGrace,whohadmarried
JoeSherwoodagainsthermotherswishes,livedwithhimhappilyforfifteenyears,then
justifiedthoseforgottenpropheciesandforebodingsbydyingwithhiminstantlyand
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ingloriouslyinamotorsmashontheGreatWestRoad.Eversincethattragicday
KatharinehadtakenchargeofNancy,thenalankygirloffourteen,lavishingeverycare
uponher,completinghereducation,helpingherlatertostudyattheSchoolofDramatic
Art,evenyieldingindulgentlytwelvemonthsagotoherurgentwishtogoonthestage.
Yet,despitethisrecordofdevotion,Katharinehadasharpwaywiththosewhohinted
thatshespoiledherniecenothingwastoogoodforNancy,thefinest,dearestgirlin
theworld.

Itseemedstrangetothinkofherasgrownupnow,returningfromtheRivierawiththis
calmannouncementofherengagement.Andyetitwasgood,thebestthingthatcould
happentoher,tobesettledquickly,toenjoythebestofherlifewithherhusbandand
herchildren.ThatwasKatharineswishforNancyandtonight,forsomequeerreason,
shewisheditwithherwholeheart.

Rising,Katharinerubbedherselfbrisklywitharoughtowelwhileherfinewhiteskin
glowedrespondingly.Subconsciouslyshecouldnothelpathoughtofgratitudeforher
healthybody,withoutwhichshecouldneverhavewithstoodtheburdensandbuffetings
oftheselastfewyears.

Shedressedmoreslowlythanusual,choosingafrockshehadboughtduringherlast
visittoParis.OrdinarilyclotheswereofscantimportancetoKatharine.Shetoldherself
bluntlyshehadneithercausenortimeforbrilliantplumage,andoftenindeedshewent
downrightshabbyanattitudegenerallyacceptedwithasmileasthewilfulnessofa

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rich,successfulwoman.Buttonight,withrisingspirits,shefeltshemustmakeherself
presentableforNancy.

Athalfpasteight,seatedbeforethesmallVauxhallmirroronherdressingtable,she
wasready,andshedecided,asshestudiedherreflection,thatdespitethehecticworries
ofthedayshemightpass.Afewlineslaybeneathhereyes,buthercomplexion,freeof
allmakeup,wasfreshandclear.Andthefinecolourofherlips,incontrasttothe
whitenessofherteeth,bespokeacleanandvigorousblood.

Outside,therainhadceased,andthepavements,scoureddrybyakeenwind,inviteda
bracingwalk.OnsuchanightKatharinelikednothingbetterthantostepoutthrough
thequieterstreets,herbodyinclinedtomeetthebreeze,hercheekstinglingfromher
ownbriskpassage.Butforonce,respectinghereveningshoesandtheproprieties,she
resistedthetemptation.ShetookataxitotheAdelphi,where,atthetopofanoldAdam
houseoffJohnStreet,Nancyhadherrooms.

Therewasnoliftinthebuilding,whichinitslowerfloorswasgivenovermainlyto
legaloffices,andasKatharineclimbedthewornstonestepsthatcircledbetweenhigh
stuccoedwalls,theunmistakablepromiseofthepartycametowardsher.Indeed,when
shewasadmitted,passingthroughthehandsofNancysownsmartmaidandaformal
manservantevokedonsuchoccasions,thebigdoubleroomwasalreadyfullofpeople,
cigarettesmoke,andnoise.

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ThemomentKatharineentered,Nancycameforwardwithalittleoutstretchedsignof
welcomeandkissedher.

Oh,Katharine,shesaid,itstoomarvelloustoseeyouagain.Ivebeendyingto,for
days.

Katharinesmiled.Thenwhydidntyoucomeround?YougotbackonWednesday.

Iknow,darling,Iwantedtomostfrightfully,but,oh,heavens,youdontknowhow
rushedIvebeenwiththenewshowinrehearsal,andclothes,andChrisand
everything.

Iunderstand.

KatharinegazedaffectionatelyatNancy,thinkinghowattractiveshelookedtonight.
Thoughshewasonlytwentyfour,shehadamostfinished,akindofstreamlined,
beauty.Herfacewaslovely,rathertaut,withhighcheekbones,slightlyslantingblue
eyes,andthinlypencilledbrows.Herhairwaslovely,toowashedtothelatestblonde
shade,itgleamedlikespungold.Hermouthwasthinandscarlet,foruponitNancyhad
notsparedherlipstick.Herslenderfigure,underapretenceofindolence,heldanodd
intensitythatwasquiteelectric.

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