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had judged well to regale a cynical public。 The case was pronounced
awfully bad； and he obtained his decree。 The folly of the wife had
been inconceivable； in spite of other examples： she had quitted her
children； she had followed the 〃other fellow〃 abroad。 The other
fellow hadn't married her； not having had time： he had lost his life
in the Mediterranean by the capsizing of a boat； before the
prohibitory term had expired。
Mrs。 Tramore had striven to extract from this accident something of
the austerity of widowhood； but her mourning only made her deviation
more public； she was a widow whose husband was awkwardly alive。 She
had not prowled about the Continent on the classic lines； she had
come back to London to take her chance。 But London would give her no
chance； would have nothing to say to her； as many persons had
remarked； you could never tell how London would behave。 It would not
receive Mrs。 Tramore again on any terms； and when she was spoken of；
which now was not often； it was inveterately said of her that she
went nowhere。 Apparently she had not the qualities for which London
compounds； though in the cases in which it does compound you may
often wonder what these qualities are。 She had not at any rate been
successful： her lover was dead； her husband was liked and her
children were pitied； for in payment for a topic London will
parenthetically pity。 It was thought interesting and magnanimous
that Charles Tramore had not married again。 The disadvantage to his
children of the miserable story was thus left uncorrected； and this；
rather oddly； was counted as HIS sacrifice。 His mother； whose
arrangements were elaborate； looked after them a great deal； and they
enjoyed a mixture of laxity and discipline under the roof of their
aunt； Miss Tramore； who was independent； having； for reasons that the
two ladies had exhaustively discussed； determined to lead her own
life。 She had set up a home at St。 Leonard's； and that contracted
shore had played a considerable part in the upbringing of the little
Tramores。 They knew about their mother； as the phrase was； but they
didn't know her； which was naturally deemed more pathetic for them
than for her。 She had a house in Chester Square and an income and a
victoriait served all purposes； as she never went out in the
eveningand flowers on her window…sills； and a remarkable appearance
of youth。 The income was supposed to be in part the result of a
bequest from the man for whose sake she had committed the error of
her life； and in the appearance of youth there was a slightly
impertinent implication that it was a sort of afterglow of the same
connection。
Her children； as they grew older； fortunately showed signs of some
individuality of disposition。 Edith； the second girl； clung to her
aunt Julia； Eric； the son； clung frantically to polo； while Rose； the
elder daughter； appeared to cling mainly to herself。 Collectively；
of course； they clung to their father； whose attitude in the family
group； however； was casual and intermittent。 He was charming and
vague； he was like a clever actor who often didn't come to rehearsal。
Fortune； which but for that one stroke had been generous to him； had
provided him with deputies and trouble…takers； as well as with
whimsical opinions； and a reputation for excellent taste； and whist
at his club； and perpetual cigars on morocco sofas； and a beautiful
absence of purpose。 Nature had thrown in a remarkably fine hand；
which he sometimes passed over his children's heads when they were
glossy from the nursery brush。 On Rose's eighteenth birthday he said
to her that she might go to see her mother； on condition that her
visits should be limited to an hour each time and to four in the
year。 She was to go alone； the other children were not included in
the arrangement。 This was the result of a visit that he himself had
paid his repudiated wife at her urgent request； their only encounter
during the fifteen years。 The girl knew as much as this from her
aunt Julia； who was full of tell…tale secrecies。 She availed herself
eagerly of the license； and in course of the period that elapsed
before her father's death she spent with Mrs。 Tramore exactly eight
hours by the watch。 Her father； who was as inconsistent and
disappointing as he was amiable； spoke to her of her mother only once
afterwards。 This occasion had been the sequel of her first visit；
and he had made no use of it to ask what she thought of the
personality in Chester Square or how she liked it。 He had only said
〃Did she take you out？〃 and when Rose answered 〃Yes； she put me
straight into a carriage and drove me up and down Bond Street；〃 had
rejoined sharply 〃See that that never occurs again。〃 It never did；
but once was enough； every one they knew having happened to be in
Bond Street at that particular hour。
After this the periodical interview took place in private； in Mrs。
Tramore's beautiful little wasted drawing…room。 Rose knew that； rare
as these occasions were； her mother would not have kept her 〃all to
herself〃 had there been anybody she could have shown her to。 But in
the poor lady's social void there was no one； she had after all her
own correctness and she consistently preferred isolation to inferior
contacts。 So her daughter was subjected only to the maternal； it was
not necessary to be definite in qualifying that。 The girl had by
this time a collection of ideas； gathered by impenetrable processes；
she had tasted； in the ostracism of her ambiguous parent； of the
acrid fruit of the tree of knowledge。 She not only had an
approximate vision of what every one had done； but she had a private
judgment for each case。 She had a particular vision of her father；
which did not interfere with his being dear to her； but which was
directly concerned in her resolution； after his death； to do the
special thing he had expressed the wish she should not do。 In the
general estimate her grandmother and her grandmother's money had
their place； and the strong probability that any enjoyment of the
latter commodity would now be withheld from her。 It included Edith's
marked inclination to receive the law； and doubtless eventually a
more substantial memento； from Miss Tramore； and opened the question
whether her own course might not contribute to make her sister's
appear heartless。 The answer to this question however would depend
on the success that might attend her own； which would very possibly
be small。 Eric's attitude was eminently simple； he didn't care to
know people who didn't know HIS people。 If his mother should ever
get back into society perhaps he would take her up。 Rose Tramore had
decided to do what she could to bring this consummation about； and
strangely enoughso mixed were her superstitions and her heresiesa
large part of her motive lay in the value she attached to such a
consecration。
Of her mother intrinsically she thought very little now； and if her
eyes were fixed on a special achievement it was much more for the
sake of that achievement and to satisfy a latent energy that was in
her than because her heart was wrung by this sufferer。 Her heart had
not been wrung a