Three Early Novels by W. Somerset Maugham

Author:W. Somerset Maugham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barnes & Noble
Published: 2017-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

Sweet Alice with hai-air so brow-own?

She wept with delight when you gave her a smile,

And trembled with feaar at your frown.’

Once upon a time Bertha had found a subtle charm in these pleasing sentiments and in the honest melody that adorned them; but it was not strange that constant repetition had left her a little callous. Edward sang the ditty with a simple, homely style—which is the same as saying with no style at all—and he made use of much pathos. But Bertha’s spirit was not forgiving; she owed him some return for the gratuitous attack on her playing; and the notion came to her to improve upon the accompaniment with little trills and flourishes that amused her immensely, but quite disconcerted her husband. Finally, just when his voice was growing flat with emotion over the grey-haired schoolmaster who had died, she wove in the strains of ‘The Blue Bells of Scotland’ and ‘God Save the Queen,’ so that Edward broke down. For once his even temper was disturbed.

‘I say, I can’t sing if you go playing the fool.’

‘I’m very sorry,’ smiled Bertha, ‘I forgot what I was doing. Let’s begin all over again.’

‘No, I’m not going to sing any more. You spoil the whole thing.’

‘Mrs Craddock has no heart,’ said Miss Hancock.

‘I don’t think it’s fair to laugh at an old song like this,’ said Edward. ‘After all, anyone can sneer. My idea of music is something that stirs one’s heart. I’m not a sentimental chap, but “Ben Bolt” almost brings the tears to my eyes every time I sing it.’

Bertha difficultly abstained from retorting that sometimes she felt inclined to burst into tears over it herself—especially when he sang out of tune. Everyone looked at her as if she had behaved very badly; she smiled at Edward calmly, but she was not amused. On the way home she asked him if he knew why she had spoilt his song.

‘I’m sure I don’t know, unless you were in one of your beastly tempers. I suppose you’re sorry now.’

‘Not at all,’ she answered.’ I thought you were rude to me just before, and I wanted to punish you a little. Sometimes you’re really too supercilious. And besides that, I object to being rowed in public. You will have the goodness in future to keep your strictures till we are alone.’

‘I should have thought you could stand a bit of good-natured chaff by now,’ he replied.

‘Oh, I can, dear Edward. Only, perhaps you may have noticed that I am fairly quick at defending myself.’

‘What d’you mean by that?’

‘Merely that I can be horrid when I like, and you will be wise not to expose yourself to a public snub.’

Edward had never heard from his wife a threat so calmly administered, and it somewhat impressed him.

But as a general rule Bertha checked the sarcasms that constantly rose to her tongue. She treasured in her heart the wrath and hatred that her husband excited in her, feeling that it was a satisfaction at last to be free from love of him.

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