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THE SNOW
WIJ
It was always after one of
her tantrums that young Mrs
now
secure
ASSHORT STORY BY
HUGH WALPOLE
In a fury of blind temper sho,
HE second Mrs Ryder, boys who were singing, heart about the Black' bishop's Tomb was a young woman and soul in the job, so that the and the stained glass and the
old house simply rang, with” rest...........
Ryder had been most conscious her. She couldn't bear his fad, not easily frightened, their melody.
What was the Cathedral after of this hallucination, this hopeless disappointment with but now she stood in the Reassured by the warmth and all?. Only a building!
dreadful discomfort of feeling herself, their life together, dusk of the passage leaning human, company she lost her
that someone was near you who everything. had boon
Bho her back against the wall, her terrorton. Of late she had drawing room looking out over during the last week that she struck him; it was us
standing in the hated you--but it was only Imagination. hand on her heart, looking
the been nope too well. That was the dusky ghostly snow to
began to fancy that she actually.
though at the grey-faced window why she had been so irritable. great hulk of the Cathedral saw anyone, and with every she were striking herself. Ho beyond which the snow was old De-Bernard was no good: thet. Herbert said was like.
the room, There was a paúsë, steadily falling against the he didn't understand her case at flying ship, but to herself was day her sense of this figura had got up and without a word left
beast grown, stronger.
and then she heard the hall lamplight.
all. After Christmas she would more like a crouching
It was, of course, only nerves, door close. Ho had left the go to London and have the very licking its lips over the miser-
able sinners that, it was for but it was one of those nervous house. The passage where she was best advice...." led from the study to the din Had she been well she could
ever devouring.
amictions that became, tiresome
She stood there, slowly com- ing room, and the
window.
As she looked and shivered. Indeed if you did not rid your- ago, have
cure ing to her control again. When looked out on to the little paved hot, half an hour
in the warmth and in, she lost her, temper it was... DE path that ran at the edge of the shown such miserable temper feeling that in spite of herself self of it. Mrs Ryder, Cathedral green. As she stared over nothing. She knew that it her temper and misery timney of her bedroom, de though she sank under water.
threatened down the passage she couldn't was over nothing, and yet that rising so that they
and. nan knowledge did not make it any to choke her, it seemed to her termined that henceforth every. When it was all over she chme whether the- woman
her that her bright and cheerful thing should be sweetness
herself that there not; how was it that sho could she discern so
clearly the old should never be another-and fashioned grey cloak, the untidy then Herbert said something ic
the walls, the windows. -. of his all everywhere, in
cracks grey hair, and the sharp outline ritating, of the pale check and pointed muddle-headed stupidities, and and that through those
she was off again!
Altering, EVEN though Herbert was a the other that someone was in was snow
that the room with her. chin? Yes, and more than that,
dribbling, in little tracks of wetlittle trying, was not the long sweep of the-grey
need down the walls, already per the case with every husband? This time she did not dress, falling in folds to tha
to look around her. She did not haps making-pools of water on And was it not Christmas time? Goodwill to men! Pence and ground, the flash of a gold ring
only stárod on the white hand. No, No, NO. CHE could see now as she stood, the carpet.
Peace and Goodwill, to Horbert! turn at all, but
straight at the curtained win- This was madness. There was beside him at the bottom
This was, of course, imagina-
They sat down opposite to dows, seeing them very careful- no one and nothing there. Hal- of the staircase that he was still tion, but it was a fact that the lucination....
feeling it. Sho had certainly
up for somo room was most dreadfully cold, one another in the pretty title ly, as though she were summing futuro half an hour ago sald some
thick am- Very faintly a voice seemned abominably rude
Personal although a great fire was burn dining room hung with Chinese them
folds, gold rod, while lines and beyond them the meant at all-and he had taken in the house.
snow was falling. The nonsenset How for now them in his meck, qulet way.
woodcuts, the table gleaming analysis, with their
was her imagination to Carry Were he not so meek and quiet. Her? Tiny
the did he only pay her back in her house, the running of. tap own coin, she would never lose
boen
Deen
was there or no. How absurd of caster, for her to restrain de Orelit drawing room was sud- light. No more tempers! Thence more to the surface of life. her! She knew the woman was sell. After avery bout of temper & 25
to come to "I warned
fold
ono
the
open to the snow. It was were the things that did her harm. though cracks had
the.
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The second Mrs
nomewhere, a faint, volce from her temper. Of that she was Ryder didn't want
the kitchen, there and BOTTIC thing more had translated themselves into an imagined voice. "The last time....
sure.
But who wouldn't be irritated by that meekness and by the only reproachful thing that he ever said to her: "Elinar under- stood me better, my dear?" To throw the first wife up against the second! Wan't that tho most tactless thing that a man could possibly do? And Elinor, young and healthy and that work, elderly woman, the bold, fond of sport, hunt very opposite of her own
UT her terror was real. She BUT
was not normally frighten- by anything. She Wis
ed
int
Dry
True
that
that
inking shooting, risk. Now she was truls STIF bright, amusing self? That was loved her, FENED with. terter-she could why Herbert had
dvance because she was gay and bright not move, could not advance
wane and young. It WAS down the passage as she want-Elinor had been devoted, ed to and find light, warmth, safety in the dining room. All she had been so utterly wrap- in Herbert that she the time the snow fell steadily. ped up
lived only for him. People atcalthily, with its own keeret
de- were always recalling her beyond purpose, maliciously,
sufficiently the window in the pale glow of vollon, which was
rude and tactless of them, the lamplight.
Then unexpectedly there was noise from the hail, opening of doors, a rush of feet, a pauso, and then in clear beautiful voices, the well-known strains of "Good King Wenceslas" It was the Cathedral choirboye on their regular Christmas round This was Christmas Eve. always came just at this hour
Christmas Eve.
on
Well, she could not give any one that kind of old-fashioned sugary devotion; it wasn't her, and Herbert knew it this time,
in
to lose her temper on Christmas Eve, but despite the warning she found she couldn't help and with a it. shiver of terror, she realised then that the grey figure was behind her...
the door.
where she'd what she had been doing. Now she stood there, bewlider- ed, and then at ones sho aware of two things, one
WAS that
the room was bitterly cold and
and the ember, curtains richly ber dark in the fralight.
But Herbert was not himself. He was still brooding, she map posed, over their quarrel of the afternoon. Weren't men chil dron?
Incredible the children
Sho did not need to turn, but, with a shiver of terror, she was aware that that grey figure wh's had, all these last weeks, been approaching ever more closely, was almost at her elbow. She So when the mald was out of heard quite clearly: "I warned the room she went over to him, you. That was the last time." bent down and kissed his fore- head.
that they were!
"Darling....you're still cross. 1 can see you are. You mustn't be. Really you mustn't. It's Christimas time, and if I forgive you, you must forgive me."
"You forgive me?" he asked, looking at her in his most ag- gravating way. "What have you to forgive me for?"
too
Well, that was really much. When she had taken all the steps, humbled herself and her pride.
4
T the same moment Onslow the butler came in.. Onslow was broad, fat and rubleund, t good, faithful butler with passion for church music.
He was undisturbed; his ceremonial complacency clothed him securely.
"Mr Ryder has gone out," she said firmly.
Oh, surely he must eco'some- thing, feel something?
"Yes, madam!" Then smiling "It's mowing rather grandly: hard. Never seen it harder here. Shall I build up the fire in the drawing room, madam?" But Mr "No, thank you,
Then, turning, she saw Agure standing by the This time there could be no CHE went back to the seat, but
It was mistake.
grey for a while could not answer ashadow him because the maid shadow and yet with form and outline the un- there. When they were alone Ryder's study....
terribly
Wes
by tidy grey hair, the pall face again, she said, summoning all
like a moonlit lent; the long her patience. Nevertheless, she loved Her grey clothes, and something
"Bertle dear, do you really bert in her own way, 15
vindictive, he obstinate,
think that there's anything to must know, know it so well menacing in its pose. that he ought to pay no atten-
be gained by sulking like this? and the figure It isn't worthy of you. It isn't They on to the bursts of temper.
nothing worthy of you. It isn't really."
She moved
she wasn't well. She would see was gone: there was
had
for..
low
"Yes, madam. I only thought that as this room was so warmn you might find it chilly in the drawing room."
This room warm, when the to was shivering from head foot; but holding herself lest he Ile answered her quietly: there and the room was warm
should see....She longed to With an Intense.
almost in- doctor in London....
again, quite hot in fact. But
"Sulking? No, that's not the keep him there, to implore him credible relief she turned back
young Mrs Ryder, who Into the hall. At the
same
never feared anything in all her right word. But I've got to to remain; but in a moment he moment her husband came out
"door behind him. that say something I'm sorry of the study.
stood THE tle boys finished their life, save the vanishing of her keep quiet. If I don't, I shall was gone, softly closing the They
trembling so properly little carols, were
re- youth, was together, smiling at the
And tumbled liko she had to sit down, and even Then, after a pause, in a
not voice, as though to himself, a group of muffered, becoated warded,
feathery birds cut into the then her trembling did snow again." They Went into cease. Her hand shook on the stranger to her and yet a very
-old-familiar-friend.- the study, the two of them, arm of her chair. and stood beside the
bly
She had created this thing put ber open log fire. She
Imagination of her out hand up, and stroked his thin, Elinor's hatred of her and beautiful check.
own hatred of Elinor.
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answered:
her
T
TUIEN a-mad longing for flight she could seized her, and
"Don't be so self-righteous,"
not move. She was rooted to the answered, her voice of she
floor, and even as, wildly try trembling slightly. "These quaring to cry, to scream, to shriek rels are entirely my own fault,
down, sho the house aren't they?"
ly a little whisper would that only a come, she felt tha, cold of a hand on hers.
found
touch
"I'm so sorry to have been
now have been It was true that they had
"Elinor and I never quar- crossed just
that
She did not turn her head: didn't mean half I sald, you never met, but who knew but
that the spiritualists were right, relled." he said, so softly know."
her whole personality, all her But he didn't, as he usually and Elinor's spirit, jealous of the scarcely heard him.
"No! Because Elinor thought past life, her poor little courage.. did, kiss her and tell her that Herbert's love for her, had been there driving them apart; fore-
pre you perfecti. She adored you her miserable fortitude were didn't matter. Looking ther | straight in front of him, he ing her to lose her temper and You've often told me. I don't summoned to meet this sense of then hating her for losing it? think you perfect. I'm not per approaching death, and it had Such things might bel But she fect either. But we've both got always been like this, a foarful "Well Alice, I do wish you had not much time for specula faults. I'm not the only one to constriction of the heart, wouldn't. It hurts, horribly. It tion. She was preoccupied with blame."
"We'd better soparate,' he upse's me more than you think. fear, the kind of fear that one Anr it's growing on you,
You has just before one goes under mako
don't an operation. Someone or some said suddenly, looking up. "We mo miserable. I know what to do about it. And thing was threatening her. She don't get on now. We used to. clung to her chair as though to I don't know what's changed it's all about nothing."
we'd better separate.", Irritated at not receiving the leave it were to plunge into everything. But, as things are,
disaster. usual commendation for her sweetness in making it. up again, she withdrew a little and answered:
"Oh, all right. I've said I'm sorry. I can't do any more."!
"But tell me," he insisted.
to
paralysis of the limbs, a chok- ing sense of disaster like anaesthetic.
"You were
an
warned," some.
thing cald to her again.
She knew that if she turned
she would see Elinor's face, sot, while, remorseless. The woman: She looked at him and knew had always hated her, been that she loved him more than vilely Jealous of her, protecting ever, but because she wanted to her wretched Herbert
hurt him, and because he had
could A certain said that he thought he CHE longed for Herbert
protect her. get on without her, she was so seemed to come and
fear checked her, a strange une last time." analysed fear, as though some
down the
passago
Into
vindictiveness release her. She fell most kindly to- angry that she forgot all cau- found that she could move, het want to know. What makes you She
anger limbs were free. so suddenly? And wards him. She would never lan. Her love and her angry,
lose her temper with him again helped one another. The more about nothing at all?"
that same moment angry she became, the more she Sho was about to let her and at
some cold voice seemed to
loved him. anger rise, her anger at his ob- whisper in her car: "You had huyences, obstinacy, when some better not, it will be for the "I know why you want to SHE passed to the door, ran she said. "Its because the hail. Where would she separate," you're In Jove. with sordeone one had whispered to her
At length she found courage eise ('How funny something be safe? She thought of the Cathedral, where tonight there "Look out! This is the last to rise, cross the room and go-inside her said, "You don't mean, a
was a carol service, She open- time!"
up to dress for dinner. In her a word of this').ou've tried the hall door and, just as
then. her ed me as you hire, and bedroom courage came to
she was, meeting the thick, in- "It's not altogether my own
It once more. -was certainly you leave me."
volving muffing snow, the ran fault, the answered, and left)
very cold, and the snow, as she "I'm not in love with anyone out. the room.
could see when she looked be else," he said steadily. "and you tween the curtains, was falling know it. But we are so unhappy. She started across the green
door to go towards the Cathedral more heavily than ever, but aho together that it's silly had a warm bath, sat in front on....allly...The whole thing Her thin black slippers sank in SHE stood in the cold hall, of her fire, and was sensible has failed."
wondering where to go: She could feel the snow falling out-
@gain
odd
side the house and shivered: For many months, this She hated the snow, she hated sense that she was watched and THERE was to much unhappi-/ the winter, this beastly cold, accompanied by someone hos oss, so much bitterness in dark English winter, that went tile-to her had been growing.
ま
the snow. Snow, was every➡ where-in her hair, her "véyes, her nostrils, her mouth, on her. bare neck, between her breasts.
Help Help! Help! she want her. Lighis whirled about her: on, only at last to change into a It was the stronger perhaps be his voice, that she realised thated to cry, but the snow choked damp, soday English spring cause of things that Herbert at last she do truly one od The Cathedral rose like a huge and flew towards fold her about Elinór; she was far, She had lost him. She had black englobe
not meant She When Herbert the kind of woman, he winter abroad which he could who, ode the loved anyord, frightened, and her fear made here, fell forward, and ever, as quite easily do he answered would never relinquish her her so angry that she went her impatiently: he had, the grasp; she was utterly faithful across to him. strongest affection for this poky. He implied that her tengelous. "Very well, then. I'll tell dead-and-alive
town fidelity had been at times everyone....what you've been The Cathedral
to be little difficult How you've treated, me." precious to him, he wasn't happy, if he didn't go
and see "She always said," he added, "Not another scene," he
Her last knowledge was of er can't answered....... weurky, jak every day! She wouldn't ones, "that she would watch wonder if he didn't think more ever, me until I rejoined her in stand any more. Let's wait the hard outline of Elinort": than he did of the next world Poor
Tomorrow is Christmas Day pressing Into her neck
the:lay Hergel
been the
be sighed. She had a finer Archer IGESTEMDARIA
Herself maddened, savagely covered. The book about the Cathedral, mine, I fear
she fell a hand, for colder than the snow, caught her neck. She lay struggling in the snow, and as she struggled there two hands of an fry fleshless chill closed about her, throat
sana, he had even written
written ligtour faith stronger than He was so unhappy that her mor, and s
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