Elders and Betters by Ivy Compton-Burnett

Author:Ivy Compton-Burnett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2013-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter IX

JESSICA’S GREETING OF her brother showed no thought of anything but their common grief, and her manner did not change when she turned to his children. Her trouble about her sister’s state of mind overwhelmed all others. Anna, who had risen in vague apprehension, drew back and took no part in the talk. Tullia bore herself as if all eyes were watching the effect of her bereavement, and was fortunate in being in error, as the result was hardly what she thought. She held it beneath her to talk or think of money, and assumed it was always there, which would indeed have disposed of its problems. Thomas showed a simple indulgence in the matter. His daughter asked little for herself, and had a right to spurn what she did not need. Thomas and his son behaved as usual; indeed any change in them appeared in an especial care to be themselves. Claribel stood with her eyes darting from face to face, and her mouth slightly open, as if she would speak when the words came. Jenney and Reuben watched the scene in the spirit of spectators at a play, and indeed wore this expression. Thomas was the first to broach the matter in their minds.

“Well, Anna, my dear, we congratulate you on your aunt’s feeling. As for the way she chose of showing it, you are already placed above material troubles.”

“Am I?” said Anna, awkwardly. “I don’t know if that is the case. With this swarm of developing brothers about me, I should hardly have thought so. You must ask Father. I suppose it was not Aunt Sukey’s view. But thank you for what you say about her feeling. I am glad to have deserved that, or somehow to have won it. We can’t give an account of these things.”

“That is the reason of their value,” said Jessica. “I too congratulate Anna, and almost envy her. I would give much for the certainty and peace of her memory.”

“Oh, I don’t know if it is as much as that,” said Anna, looking away. “I also have my moments of compunction and doubt. I can’t stop wondering if I should have left Aunt Sukey on that last morning. But she wanted to be left to sleep, and I knew that Father was coming. I could not foresee what was going to happen; I don’t see what else I could have done.” She raised her eyes to her uncle in mute appeal.

“You could have done only what you did,” he said. “It worked out well for our sister, and we can only thank you. You can have a mind at rest.”

“I don’t think Aunt Sukey had any feeling that she was worse that morning,” said Anna, in a tone that seemed to reassure both herself and other people. “I don’t think she had any inkling that things were as they were. I only thought she was suffering from some sort of shock or strain. I had no other idea. And her mind was quite at rest when she went to sleep.

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