Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
¡¡¡¡ JUDE wondered if she had really left her handkerchief behind; or whether it were that she had miserably wished to tell him of a love that at the last moment she could not bring herself to express. ¡¡¡¡ He could not stay in his silent lodging when they were gone, and fearing that he might be tempted to drown his misery in alcohol he went upstairs, changed his dark clothes for his white, his thin boots for his thick, and proceeded to his customary work for the afternoon. ¡¡¡¡ But in the cathedral he seemed to hear a voice behind him, and to be possessed with an idea that she would come back. She could not possibly go home with Phillotson, he fancied. The feeling grew and stirred. The moment that the clock struck the last of his working hours he threw down his tools and rushed homeward. "Has anybody been for me?" he asked. ¡¡¡¡ Nobody had been there. ¡¡¡¡ As he could claim the downstairs sitting-room till twelve o'clock that night he sat in it all the evening; and even when the clock had struck eleven, and the family had retired, he could not shake off the feeling that she would come back and sleep in the little room adjoining his own in which she had slept so many previous days. Her actions were always unpredictable: why should she not come? Gladly would he have compounded for the denial of her as a sweetheart and wife by having her live thus as a fellow-lodger and friend, even on the most distant terms. His supper still remained spread, and going to the front door, and softly setting it open, he returned to the room and sat as watchers sit on Old-Mid-summer eves, expecting the phantom of the Beloved. But she did not come.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Red Nude painting
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Phillotson seemed not to notice, to be surrounded by a mist which prevented his seeing the emotions of others. As soon as they had signed their names and come away, and the suspense was over, Jude felt relieved. ¡¡¡¡ The meal at his lodging was a very simple affair, and at two o'clock they went off. In crossing the pavement to the fly she looked back; and there was a frightened light in her eyes. Could it be that Sue had acted with such unusual foolishness as to plunge into she knew not what for the sake of asserting her independence of him, of retaliating on him for his secrecy? Perhaps Sue was thus venturesome with men because she was childishly ignorant of that side of their natures which wore out women's hearts and lives. ¡¡¡¡ When her foot was on the carriage-step she turned round, saying that she had forgotten something. Jude and the landlady offered to get it. ¡¡¡¡ "No," she said, running back. "It is my handkerchief. I know where I left it." ¡¡¡¡ Jude followed her back. She had found it, and came holding it in her hand. She looked into his eyes with her own tearful ones, and her lips suddenly parted as if she were going to avow something. But she went on; and whatever she had meant to say remained unspoken.
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Phillotson seemed not to notice, to be surrounded by a mist which prevented his seeing the emotions of others. As soon as they had signed their names and come away, and the suspense was over, Jude felt relieved. ¡¡¡¡ The meal at his lodging was a very simple affair, and at two o'clock they went off. In crossing the pavement to the fly she looked back; and there was a frightened light in her eyes. Could it be that Sue had acted with such unusual foolishness as to plunge into she knew not what for the sake of asserting her independence of him, of retaliating on him for his secrecy? Perhaps Sue was thus venturesome with men because she was childishly ignorant of that side of their natures which wore out women's hearts and lives. ¡¡¡¡ When her foot was on the carriage-step she turned round, saying that she had forgotten something. Jude and the landlady offered to get it. ¡¡¡¡ "No," she said, running back. "It is my handkerchief. I know where I left it." ¡¡¡¡ Jude followed her back. She had found it, and came holding it in her hand. She looked into his eyes with her own tearful ones, and her lips suddenly parted as if she were going to avow something. But she went on; and whatever she had meant to say remained unspoken.
Nude on the Beach
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
¡¡¡¡ "It looks so odd over a bonnet," she said. "I'll take the bonnet off." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh no--let it stay," said Phillotson. And she obeyed. ¡¡¡¡ When they had passed up the church and were standing in their places Jude found that the antecedent visit had certainly taken off the edge of this performance, but by the time they were half-way on with the service he wished from his heart that he had not undertaken the business of giving her away. How could Sue have had the temerity to ask him to do it--a cruelty possibly to herself as well as to him? Women were different from men in such matters. Was it that they were, instead of more sensitive, as reputed, more callous, and less romantic; or were they more heroic? Or was Sue simply so perverse that she wilfully gave herself and him pain for the odd and mournful luxury of practising long-suffering in her own person, and of being touched with tender pity for him at having made him practise it? He could perceive that her face was nervously set, and when they reached the trying ordeal of Jude giving her to Phillotson she could hardly command herself; rather, however, as it seemed, from her knowledge of what her cousin must feel, whom she need not have had there at all, than from self-consideration. Possibly she would go on inflicting such pains again and again, and grieving for the sufferer again and again, in all her colossal inconsistency.
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
¡¡¡¡ "It looks so odd over a bonnet," she said. "I'll take the bonnet off." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh no--let it stay," said Phillotson. And she obeyed. ¡¡¡¡ When they had passed up the church and were standing in their places Jude found that the antecedent visit had certainly taken off the edge of this performance, but by the time they were half-way on with the service he wished from his heart that he had not undertaken the business of giving her away. How could Sue have had the temerity to ask him to do it--a cruelty possibly to herself as well as to him? Women were different from men in such matters. Was it that they were, instead of more sensitive, as reputed, more callous, and less romantic; or were they more heroic? Or was Sue simply so perverse that she wilfully gave herself and him pain for the odd and mournful luxury of practising long-suffering in her own person, and of being touched with tender pity for him at having made him practise it? He could perceive that her face was nervously set, and when they reached the trying ordeal of Jude giving her to Phillotson she could hardly command herself; rather, however, as it seemed, from her knowledge of what her cousin must feel, whom she need not have had there at all, than from self-consideration. Possibly she would go on inflicting such pains again and again, and grieving for the sufferer again and again, in all her colossal inconsistency.
The Kitchen Maid
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
¡¡¡¡ The oppressive strength of his affection for Sue showed itself on the morrow and following days yet more clearly. He could no longer endure the light of the Melchester lamps; the sunshine was as drab paint, and the blue sky as zinc. Then he received news that his old aunt was dangerously ill at Marygreen, which intelligence almost coincided with a letter from his former employer at Christminster, who offered him permanent work of a good class if he would come back. The letters were almost a relief to him. He started to visit Aunt Drusilla, and resolved to go onward to Christminster to see what worth there might be in the builder's offer. ¡¡¡¡ Jude found his aunt even worse than the communication from the Widow Edlin had led him to expect. There was every possibility of her lingering on for weeks or months, though little likelihood. He wrote to Sue informing her of the state of her aunt, and suggesting that she might like to see her aged relative alive. He would meet her at Alfredston Road, the following evening, Monday, on his way back from Christminster, if she could come by the up-train which crossed his down-train at that station. Next morning, according, he went on to Christminster, intending to return to Alfredston soon enough to keep the suggested appointment with Sue.
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
¡¡¡¡ The oppressive strength of his affection for Sue showed itself on the morrow and following days yet more clearly. He could no longer endure the light of the Melchester lamps; the sunshine was as drab paint, and the blue sky as zinc. Then he received news that his old aunt was dangerously ill at Marygreen, which intelligence almost coincided with a letter from his former employer at Christminster, who offered him permanent work of a good class if he would come back. The letters were almost a relief to him. He started to visit Aunt Drusilla, and resolved to go onward to Christminster to see what worth there might be in the builder's offer. ¡¡¡¡ Jude found his aunt even worse than the communication from the Widow Edlin had led him to expect. There was every possibility of her lingering on for weeks or months, though little likelihood. He wrote to Sue informing her of the state of her aunt, and suggesting that she might like to see her aged relative alive. He would meet her at Alfredston Road, the following evening, Monday, on his way back from Christminster, if she could come by the up-train which crossed his down-train at that station. Next morning, according, he went on to Christminster, intending to return to Alfredston soon enough to keep the suggested appointment with Sue.
The Abduction of Psyche
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
¡¡¡¡ Having indulged in this wild hope he went upstairs, and looked out of the window, and pictured her through the evening journey to London, whither she and Phillotson had gone for their holiday; their rattling along through the damp night to their hotel, under the same sky of ribbed cloud as that he beheld, through which the moon showed its position rather than its shape, and one or two of the larger stars made themselves visible as faint nebulae only. It was a new beginning of Sue's history. He projected his mind into the future, and saw her with children more or less in her own likeness around her. But the consolation of regarding them as a continuation of her identity was denied to him, as to all such dreamers, by the wilfulness of Nature in not allowing issue from one parent alone. Every desired renewal of an existence is debased by being half alloy. "If at the estrangement or death of my lost love, I could go and see her child--hers solely--there would be comfort in it!" said Jude. And then he again uneasily saw, as he had latterly seen with more and more frequency, the scorn of Nature for man's finer emotions, and her lack of interest in his aspirations.
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
¡¡¡¡ Having indulged in this wild hope he went upstairs, and looked out of the window, and pictured her through the evening journey to London, whither she and Phillotson had gone for their holiday; their rattling along through the damp night to their hotel, under the same sky of ribbed cloud as that he beheld, through which the moon showed its position rather than its shape, and one or two of the larger stars made themselves visible as faint nebulae only. It was a new beginning of Sue's history. He projected his mind into the future, and saw her with children more or less in her own likeness around her. But the consolation of regarding them as a continuation of her identity was denied to him, as to all such dreamers, by the wilfulness of Nature in not allowing issue from one parent alone. Every desired renewal of an existence is debased by being half alloy. "If at the estrangement or death of my lost love, I could go and see her child--hers solely--there would be comfort in it!" said Jude. And then he again uneasily saw, as he had latterly seen with more and more frequency, the scorn of Nature for man's finer emotions, and her lack of interest in his aspirations.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Samson And Delilah
Samson And Delilah
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
¡¡¡¡ Jude, will you give me away? I have nobody else who could do it so conveniently as you, being the only married relation I have here on the spot, even if my father were friendly enough to be willing, which he isn't. I hope you won't think it a trouble? I have been looking at the marriage service in the prayer-book, and it seems to me very humiliating that a giver-away should be required at all. According to the ceremony as there printed, my bridegroom chooses me of his own will and pleasure; but I don't choose him. Somebody GIVES me to him, like a she-ass or she-goat, or any other domestic animal. Bless your exalted views of woman, O churchman! But I forget: I am no longer privileged to tease you.--Ever, ¡¡¡¡ SUSANNA FLORENCE MARY BRIDEHEAD. ¡¡¡¡ Jude screwed himself up to heroic key; and replied: ¡¡¡¡ MY DEAR SUE,--Of course I wish you joy! And also of course I will give you away. What I suggest is that, as you have no house of your own, you do not marry from your school friend's, but from mine. It would be more proper, I think, since I am, as you say, the person nearest related to you in this part of the world. ¡¡¡¡ I don't see why you sign your letter in such a new and terribly formal way? Surely you care a bit about me still!--Ever your affectionate, JUDE. ¡¡¡¡ What had jarred on him even more than the signature was a little sting he had been silent on--the phrase "married relation"-- What an idiot it made him seem as her lover! If Sue had written that in satire, he could hardly forgive her; if in suffering-- ah, that was another thing!
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
¡¡¡¡ Jude, will you give me away? I have nobody else who could do it so conveniently as you, being the only married relation I have here on the spot, even if my father were friendly enough to be willing, which he isn't. I hope you won't think it a trouble? I have been looking at the marriage service in the prayer-book, and it seems to me very humiliating that a giver-away should be required at all. According to the ceremony as there printed, my bridegroom chooses me of his own will and pleasure; but I don't choose him. Somebody GIVES me to him, like a she-ass or she-goat, or any other domestic animal. Bless your exalted views of woman, O churchman! But I forget: I am no longer privileged to tease you.--Ever, ¡¡¡¡ SUSANNA FLORENCE MARY BRIDEHEAD. ¡¡¡¡ Jude screwed himself up to heroic key; and replied: ¡¡¡¡ MY DEAR SUE,--Of course I wish you joy! And also of course I will give you away. What I suggest is that, as you have no house of your own, you do not marry from your school friend's, but from mine. It would be more proper, I think, since I am, as you say, the person nearest related to you in this part of the world. ¡¡¡¡ I don't see why you sign your letter in such a new and terribly formal way? Surely you care a bit about me still!--Ever your affectionate, JUDE. ¡¡¡¡ What had jarred on him even more than the signature was a little sting he had been silent on--the phrase "married relation"-- What an idiot it made him seem as her lover! If Sue had written that in satire, he could hardly forgive her; if in suffering-- ah, that was another thing!
The British Are Coming
The British Are Coming
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
Jude staggered under the news; could eat no breakfast; and kept on drinking tea because his mouth was so dry. Then presently he went back to his work and laughed the usual bitter laugh of a man so confronted. Everything seemed turning to satire. And yet, what could the poor girl do? he asked himself: and felt worse than shedding tears. ¡¡¡¡ "O Susanna Florence Mary!" he said as he worked. "You don't know what marriage means!" ¡¡¡¡ Could it be possible that his announcement of his own marriage had pricked her on to this, just as his visit to her when in liquor may have pricked her on to her engagement? To be sure, there seemed to exist these other and sufficient reasons, practical and social, for her decision; but Sue was not a very practical or calculating person; and he was compelled to think that a pique at having his secret sprung upon her had moved her to give way to Phillotson's probable representations, that the best course to prove how unfounded were the suspicions of the school authorities would be to marry him off-hand, as in fulfilment of an ordinary engagement. Sue had, in fact, been placed in an awkward corner. Poor Sue! ¡¡¡¡ He determined to play the Spartan; to make the best of it, and support her; but he could not write the requested good wishes for a day or two. Meanwhile there came another note from his impatient little dear:
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
Jude staggered under the news; could eat no breakfast; and kept on drinking tea because his mouth was so dry. Then presently he went back to his work and laughed the usual bitter laugh of a man so confronted. Everything seemed turning to satire. And yet, what could the poor girl do? he asked himself: and felt worse than shedding tears. ¡¡¡¡ "O Susanna Florence Mary!" he said as he worked. "You don't know what marriage means!" ¡¡¡¡ Could it be possible that his announcement of his own marriage had pricked her on to this, just as his visit to her when in liquor may have pricked her on to her engagement? To be sure, there seemed to exist these other and sufficient reasons, practical and social, for her decision; but Sue was not a very practical or calculating person; and he was compelled to think that a pique at having his secret sprung upon her had moved her to give way to Phillotson's probable representations, that the best course to prove how unfounded were the suspicions of the school authorities would be to marry him off-hand, as in fulfilment of an ordinary engagement. Sue had, in fact, been placed in an awkward corner. Poor Sue! ¡¡¡¡ He determined to play the Spartan; to make the best of it, and support her; but he could not write the requested good wishes for a day or two. Meanwhile there came another note from his impatient little dear:
The British Are Coming
The British Are Coming
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
¡¡¡¡ TIDINGS from Sue a day or two after passed across Jude like a withering blast. ¡¡¡¡ Before reading the letter he was led to suspect that its contents were of a somewhat serious kind by catching sight of the signature-- which was in her full name, never used in her correspondence with him since her first note: ¡¡¡¡ MY DEAR JUDE,--I have something to tell you which perhaps you will not be surprised to hear, though certainly it may strike you as being accelerated (as the railway companies say of their trains). Mr. Phillotson and I are to be married quite soon--in three or four weeks. We had intended, as you know, to wait till I had gone through my course of training and obtained my certificate, so as to assist him, if necessary, in the teaching. But he generously says he does not see any object in waiting, now I am not at the training school. It is so good of him, because the awkwardness of my situation has really come about by my fault in getting expelled. ¡¡¡¡ Wish me joy. Remember I say you are to, and you mustn't refuse!-- Your affectionate cousin, ¡¡¡¡ SUSANNA FLORENCE MARY BRIDEHEAD.
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
¡¡¡¡ TIDINGS from Sue a day or two after passed across Jude like a withering blast. ¡¡¡¡ Before reading the letter he was led to suspect that its contents were of a somewhat serious kind by catching sight of the signature-- which was in her full name, never used in her correspondence with him since her first note: ¡¡¡¡ MY DEAR JUDE,--I have something to tell you which perhaps you will not be surprised to hear, though certainly it may strike you as being accelerated (as the railway companies say of their trains). Mr. Phillotson and I are to be married quite soon--in three or four weeks. We had intended, as you know, to wait till I had gone through my course of training and obtained my certificate, so as to assist him, if necessary, in the teaching. But he generously says he does not see any object in waiting, now I am not at the training school. It is so good of him, because the awkwardness of my situation has really come about by my fault in getting expelled. ¡¡¡¡ Wish me joy. Remember I say you are to, and you mustn't refuse!-- Your affectionate cousin, ¡¡¡¡ SUSANNA FLORENCE MARY BRIDEHEAD.
The Lady of Shalott
The Lady of Shalott
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
He could speak more freely now. "There were several reasons against my telling you rashly. One was what I have said; another, that it was always impressed upon me that I ought not to marry--that I belonged to an odd and peculiar family--the wrong breed for marriage." ¡¡¡¡ "Ah--who used to say that to you?" ¡¡¡¡ "My great-aunt. She said it always ended badly with us Fawleys." ¡¡¡¡ "That's strange. My father used to say the same to me!" ¡¡¡¡ They stood possessed by the same thought, ugly enough, even as an assumption: that a union between them, had such been possible, would have meant a terrible intensification of unfitness-- two bitters in one dish. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, but there can't be anything in it!" she said with nervous lightness. "Our family have been unlucky of late years in choosing mates-- that's all." ¡¡¡¡ And then they pretended to persuade themselves that all that had happened was of no consequence, and that they could still be cousins and friends and warm correspondents, and have happy genial times when they met, even if they met less frequently than before. Their parting was in good friendship, and yet Jude's last look into her eyes was tinged with inquiry, for he felt that he did not even now quite know her mind.
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
He could speak more freely now. "There were several reasons against my telling you rashly. One was what I have said; another, that it was always impressed upon me that I ought not to marry--that I belonged to an odd and peculiar family--the wrong breed for marriage." ¡¡¡¡ "Ah--who used to say that to you?" ¡¡¡¡ "My great-aunt. She said it always ended badly with us Fawleys." ¡¡¡¡ "That's strange. My father used to say the same to me!" ¡¡¡¡ They stood possessed by the same thought, ugly enough, even as an assumption: that a union between them, had such been possible, would have meant a terrible intensification of unfitness-- two bitters in one dish. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, but there can't be anything in it!" she said with nervous lightness. "Our family have been unlucky of late years in choosing mates-- that's all." ¡¡¡¡ And then they pretended to persuade themselves that all that had happened was of no consequence, and that they could still be cousins and friends and warm correspondents, and have happy genial times when they met, even if they met less frequently than before. Their parting was in good friendship, and yet Jude's last look into her eyes was tinged with inquiry, for he felt that he did not even now quite know her mind.
The Painter's Honeymoon
The Painter's Honeymoon
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
¡¡¡¡ "I don't blame you for what you couldn't help," she said, smiling. "How should I be so foolish? I do blame you a little bit for not telling me before. But, after all, it doesn't matter. We should have had to keep apart, you see, even if this had not been in your life." ¡¡¡¡ "No, we shouldn't, Sue! This is the only obstacle." ¡¡¡¡ "You forget that I must have loved you, and wanted to be your wife, even if there had been no obstacle," said Sue, with a gentle seriousness which did not reveal her mind. "And then we are cousins, and it is bad for cousins to marry. And--I am engaged to somebody else. As to our going on together as we were going, in a sort of friendly way, the people round us would have made it unable to continue. Their views of the relations of man and woman are limited, as is proved by their expelling me from the school. Their philosophy only recognizes relations based on animal desire. The wide field of strong attachment where desire plays, at least, only a secondary part, is ignored by them--the part of--who is it?-- Venus Urania." ¡¡¡¡ Her being able to talk learnedly showed that she was mistress of herself again; and before they parted she had almost regained her vivacious glance, her reciprocity of tone, her gay manner, and her second-thought attitude of critical largeness towards others of her age and sex.
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
¡¡¡¡ "I don't blame you for what you couldn't help," she said, smiling. "How should I be so foolish? I do blame you a little bit for not telling me before. But, after all, it doesn't matter. We should have had to keep apart, you see, even if this had not been in your life." ¡¡¡¡ "No, we shouldn't, Sue! This is the only obstacle." ¡¡¡¡ "You forget that I must have loved you, and wanted to be your wife, even if there had been no obstacle," said Sue, with a gentle seriousness which did not reveal her mind. "And then we are cousins, and it is bad for cousins to marry. And--I am engaged to somebody else. As to our going on together as we were going, in a sort of friendly way, the people round us would have made it unable to continue. Their views of the relations of man and woman are limited, as is proved by their expelling me from the school. Their philosophy only recognizes relations based on animal desire. The wide field of strong attachment where desire plays, at least, only a secondary part, is ignored by them--the part of--who is it?-- Venus Urania." ¡¡¡¡ Her being able to talk learnedly showed that she was mistress of herself again; and before they parted she had almost regained her vivacious glance, her reciprocity of tone, her gay manner, and her second-thought attitude of critical largeness towards others of her age and sex.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Abduction of Psyche
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
¡¡¡¡ He looked along the street after her, but she was out of sight. He had no longer any thought of a conscientious avoidance of her, and resolved to call upon her that very evening. And when he reached his lodging he found a note from her--a first note--one of those documents which, simple and commonplace in themselves, are seen retrospectively to have been pregnant with impassioned consequences. The very unconsciousness of a looming drama which is shown in such innocent first epistles from women to men, or VICE VERSA, makes them, when such a drama follows, and they are read over by the purple or lurid light of it, all the more impressive, solemn, and in cases, terrible. ¡¡¡¡ Sue's was of the most artless and natural kind. She addressed him as her dear cousin Jude; said she had only just learnt by the merest accident that he was living in Christminster, and reproached him with not letting her know. They might have had such nice times together, she said, for she was thrown much upon herself, and had hardly any congenial friend. But now there was every probability of her soon going away, so that the chance of companionship would be lost perhaps for ever.
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
¡¡¡¡ He looked along the street after her, but she was out of sight. He had no longer any thought of a conscientious avoidance of her, and resolved to call upon her that very evening. And when he reached his lodging he found a note from her--a first note--one of those documents which, simple and commonplace in themselves, are seen retrospectively to have been pregnant with impassioned consequences. The very unconsciousness of a looming drama which is shown in such innocent first epistles from women to men, or VICE VERSA, makes them, when such a drama follows, and they are read over by the purple or lurid light of it, all the more impressive, solemn, and in cases, terrible. ¡¡¡¡ Sue's was of the most artless and natural kind. She addressed him as her dear cousin Jude; said she had only just learnt by the merest accident that he was living in Christminster, and reproached him with not letting her know. They might have had such nice times together, she said, for she was thrown much upon herself, and had hardly any congenial friend. But now there was every probability of her soon going away, so that the chance of companionship would be lost perhaps for ever.
The Kitchen Maid
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
¡¡¡¡ A cold sweat overspread Jude at the news that she was going away. That was a contingency he had never thought of, and it spurred him to write all the more quickly to her. He would meet her that very evening, he said, one hour from the time of writing, at the cross in the pavement which marked the spot of the Martyrdoms. ¡¡¡¡ When he had despatched the note by a boy he regretted that in his hurry he should have suggested to her to meet him out of doors, when he might have said he would call upon her. It was, in fact, the country custom to meet thus, and nothing else had occurred to him. Arabella had been met in the same way, unfortunately, and it might not seem respectable to a dear girl like Sue. However, it could not be helped now, and he moved towards the point a few minutes before the hour, under the glimmer of the newly lighted lamps. ¡¡¡¡ The broad street was silent, and almost deserted, although it was not late. He saw a figure on the other side, which turned out to be hers, and they both converged towards the crossmark at the same moment. Before either had reached it she called out to him: ¡¡¡¡ "I am not going to meet you just there, for the first time in my life! Come further on."
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
¡¡¡¡ A cold sweat overspread Jude at the news that she was going away. That was a contingency he had never thought of, and it spurred him to write all the more quickly to her. He would meet her that very evening, he said, one hour from the time of writing, at the cross in the pavement which marked the spot of the Martyrdoms. ¡¡¡¡ When he had despatched the note by a boy he regretted that in his hurry he should have suggested to her to meet him out of doors, when he might have said he would call upon her. It was, in fact, the country custom to meet thus, and nothing else had occurred to him. Arabella had been met in the same way, unfortunately, and it might not seem respectable to a dear girl like Sue. However, it could not be helped now, and he moved towards the point a few minutes before the hour, under the glimmer of the newly lighted lamps. ¡¡¡¡ The broad street was silent, and almost deserted, although it was not late. He saw a figure on the other side, which turned out to be hers, and they both converged towards the crossmark at the same moment. Before either had reached it she called out to him: ¡¡¡¡ "I am not going to meet you just there, for the first time in my life! Come further on."
Samson And Delilah
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
That's a nice girl," said one of the men known as Uncle Joe. ¡¡¡¡ "Who is she?" asked another. ¡¡¡¡ "I don't know--I've seen her about here and there. Why, yes, she's the daughter of that clever chap Bridehead who did all the wrought ironwork at St. Silas' ten years ago, and went away to London afterwards. I don't know what he's doing now-- not much I fancy--as she's come back here." ¡¡¡¡ Meanwhile the young woman had knocked at the office door and asked if Mr. Jude Fawley was at work in the yard. It so happened that Jude had gone out somewhere or other that afternoon, which information she received with a look of disappointment, and went away immediately. When Jude returned they told him, and described her, whereupon he exclaimed, "Why--that's my cousin Sue!"
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
That's a nice girl," said one of the men known as Uncle Joe. ¡¡¡¡ "Who is she?" asked another. ¡¡¡¡ "I don't know--I've seen her about here and there. Why, yes, she's the daughter of that clever chap Bridehead who did all the wrought ironwork at St. Silas' ten years ago, and went away to London afterwards. I don't know what he's doing now-- not much I fancy--as she's come back here." ¡¡¡¡ Meanwhile the young woman had knocked at the office door and asked if Mr. Jude Fawley was at work in the yard. It so happened that Jude had gone out somewhere or other that afternoon, which information she received with a look of disappointment, and went away immediately. When Jude returned they told him, and described her, whereupon he exclaimed, "Why--that's my cousin Sue!"
Regatta At Argenteuil
Regatta At Argenteuil
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
¡¡¡¡ To be sure she was almost an ideality to him still. Perhaps to know her would be to cure himself of this unexpected and unauthorized passion. A voice whispered that, though he desired to know her, he did not desire to be cured. ¡¡¡¡ There was not the least doubt that from his own orthodox point of view the situation was growing immoral. For Sue to be the loved one of a man who was licensed by the laws of his country to love Arabella and none other unto his life's end, was a pretty bad second beginning when the man was bent on such a course as Jude purposed. This conviction was so real with him that one day when, as was frequent, he was at work in a neighbouring village church alone, he felt it to be his duty to pray against his weakness. But much as he wished to be an exemplar in these things he could not get on. It was quite impossible, he found, to ask to be delivered from temptation when your heart's desire was to be tempted unto seventy times seven. So he excused himself. "After all," he said, "it is not altogether an EROTOLEPSY that is the matter with me, as at that first time. I can see that she is exceptionally bright; and it is partly a wish for intellectual sympathy, and a craving for loving-kindness in my solitude." Thus he went on adoring her, fearing to realize that it was human perversity. For whatever Sue's virtues, talents, or ecclesiastical saturation, it was certain that those items were not at all the cause of his affection for her.
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
¡¡¡¡ To be sure she was almost an ideality to him still. Perhaps to know her would be to cure himself of this unexpected and unauthorized passion. A voice whispered that, though he desired to know her, he did not desire to be cured. ¡¡¡¡ There was not the least doubt that from his own orthodox point of view the situation was growing immoral. For Sue to be the loved one of a man who was licensed by the laws of his country to love Arabella and none other unto his life's end, was a pretty bad second beginning when the man was bent on such a course as Jude purposed. This conviction was so real with him that one day when, as was frequent, he was at work in a neighbouring village church alone, he felt it to be his duty to pray against his weakness. But much as he wished to be an exemplar in these things he could not get on. It was quite impossible, he found, to ask to be delivered from temptation when your heart's desire was to be tempted unto seventy times seven. So he excused himself. "After all," he said, "it is not altogether an EROTOLEPSY that is the matter with me, as at that first time. I can see that she is exceptionally bright; and it is partly a wish for intellectual sympathy, and a craving for loving-kindness in my solitude." Thus he went on adoring her, fearing to realize that it was human perversity. For whatever Sue's virtues, talents, or ecclesiastical saturation, it was certain that those items were not at all the cause of his affection for her.
Nude on the Beach
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Jude sat watching her pretty shoulders, her easy, curiously nonchalant risings and sittings, and her perfunctory genuflexions, and thought what a help such an Anglican would have been to him in happier circumstances. It was not so much his anxiety to get on with his work that made him go up to it immediately the worshipers began to take their leave: it was that he dared not, in this holy spot, confront the woman who was beginning to influence him in such an indescribable manner. Those three enormous reasons why he must not attempt intimate acquaintance with Sue Bridehead, now that his interest in her had shown itself to be unmistakably of a sexual kind, loomed as stubbornly as ever. But it was also obvious that man could not live by work alone; that the particular man Jude, at any rate, wanted something to love. Some men would have rushed incontinently to her, snatched the pleasure of easy friendship which she could hardly refuse, and have left the rest to chance. Not so Jude--at first. ¡¡¡¡ But as the days, and still more particularly the lonely evenings, dragged along, he found himself, to his moral consternation, to be thinking more of her instead of thinking less of her, and experiencing a fearful bliss in doing what was erratic, informal, and unexpected. Surrounded by her influence all day, walking past the spots she frequented, he was always thinking of her, and was obliged to own to himself that his conscience was likely to be the loser in this battle.
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Jude sat watching her pretty shoulders, her easy, curiously nonchalant risings and sittings, and her perfunctory genuflexions, and thought what a help such an Anglican would have been to him in happier circumstances. It was not so much his anxiety to get on with his work that made him go up to it immediately the worshipers began to take their leave: it was that he dared not, in this holy spot, confront the woman who was beginning to influence him in such an indescribable manner. Those three enormous reasons why he must not attempt intimate acquaintance with Sue Bridehead, now that his interest in her had shown itself to be unmistakably of a sexual kind, loomed as stubbornly as ever. But it was also obvious that man could not live by work alone; that the particular man Jude, at any rate, wanted something to love. Some men would have rushed incontinently to her, snatched the pleasure of easy friendship which she could hardly refuse, and have left the rest to chance. Not so Jude--at first. ¡¡¡¡ But as the days, and still more particularly the lonely evenings, dragged along, he found himself, to his moral consternation, to be thinking more of her instead of thinking less of her, and experiencing a fearful bliss in doing what was erratic, informal, and unexpected. Surrounded by her influence all day, walking past the spots she frequented, he was always thinking of her, and was obliged to own to himself that his conscience was likely to be the loser in this battle.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Nighthawks Hopper
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
he kept watch over her, and liked to feel she was there. The consciousness of her living presence stimulated him. But she remained more or less an ideal character, about whose form he began to weave curious and fantastic day-dreams. ¡¡¡¡ Between two and three weeks afterwards Jude was engaged with some more men, outside Crozier College in Old-time Street, in getting a block of worked freestone from a waggon across the pavement, before hoisting it to the parapet which they were repairing. Standing in position the head man said, "Spaik when he heave! He-ho!" And they heaved. ¡¡¡¡ All of a sudden, as he lifted, his cousin stood close to his elbow, pausing a moment on the bend of her foot till the obstructing object should have been removed. She looked right into his face with liquid, untranslatable eyes, that combined, or seemed to him to combine, keenness with tenderness, and mystery with both, their expression, as well as that of her lips, taking its life from some words just spoken to a companion, and being carried on into his face quite unconsciously. She no more observed his presence than that of the dust-motes which his manipulations raised into the sunbeams.
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
he kept watch over her, and liked to feel she was there. The consciousness of her living presence stimulated him. But she remained more or less an ideal character, about whose form he began to weave curious and fantastic day-dreams. ¡¡¡¡ Between two and three weeks afterwards Jude was engaged with some more men, outside Crozier College in Old-time Street, in getting a block of worked freestone from a waggon across the pavement, before hoisting it to the parapet which they were repairing. Standing in position the head man said, "Spaik when he heave! He-ho!" And they heaved. ¡¡¡¡ All of a sudden, as he lifted, his cousin stood close to his elbow, pausing a moment on the bend of her foot till the obstructing object should have been removed. She looked right into his face with liquid, untranslatable eyes, that combined, or seemed to him to combine, keenness with tenderness, and mystery with both, their expression, as well as that of her lips, taking its life from some words just spoken to a companion, and being carried on into his face quite unconsciously. She no more observed his presence than that of the dust-motes which his manipulations raised into the sunbeams.
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
¡¡¡¡ "A sweet, saintly, Christian business, hers!" thought he. ¡¡¡¡ Her presence here was now fairly enough explained, her skill in work of this sort having no doubt been acquired from her father's occupation as an ecclesiastical worker in metal. The lettering on which she was engaged was clearly intended to be fixed up in some chancel to assist devotion. ¡¡¡¡ He came out. It would have been easy to speak to her there and then, but it seemed scarcely honourable towards his aunt to disregard her request so incontinently. She had used him roughly, but she had brought him up: and the fact of her being powerless to control him lent a pathetic force to a wish that would have been inoperative as an argument. ¡¡¡¡ So Jude gave no sign. He would not call upon Sue just yet. He had other reasons against doing so when he had walked away. She seemed so dainty beside himself in his rough working-jacket and dusty trousers that he felt he was as yet unready to encounter her, as he had felt about Mr. Phillotson. And how possible it was that she had inherited the antipathies of her family, and would scorn him, as far as a Christian could, particularly when he had told her that unpleasant part of his history which had resulted in his becoming enchained to one of her own sex whom she would certainly not admire.
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
¡¡¡¡ "A sweet, saintly, Christian business, hers!" thought he. ¡¡¡¡ Her presence here was now fairly enough explained, her skill in work of this sort having no doubt been acquired from her father's occupation as an ecclesiastical worker in metal. The lettering on which she was engaged was clearly intended to be fixed up in some chancel to assist devotion. ¡¡¡¡ He came out. It would have been easy to speak to her there and then, but it seemed scarcely honourable towards his aunt to disregard her request so incontinently. She had used him roughly, but she had brought him up: and the fact of her being powerless to control him lent a pathetic force to a wish that would have been inoperative as an argument. ¡¡¡¡ So Jude gave no sign. He would not call upon Sue just yet. He had other reasons against doing so when he had walked away. She seemed so dainty beside himself in his rough working-jacket and dusty trousers that he felt he was as yet unready to encounter her, as he had felt about Mr. Phillotson. And how possible it was that she had inherited the antipathies of her family, and would scorn him, as far as a Christian could, particularly when he had told her that unpleasant part of his history which had resulted in his becoming enchained to one of her own sex whom she would certainly not admire.
jesus christ on the cross
jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
¡¡¡¡ As Jude was rather on an intellectual track than a theological, this news of Sue's probable opinions did not much influence him one way or the other, but the clue to her whereabouts was decidedly interesting. With an altogether singular pleasure he walked at his earliest spare minutes past the shops answering to his great-aunt's description; and beheld in one of them a young girl sitting behind a desk, who was suspiciously like the original of the portrait. He ventured to enter on a trivial errand, and having made his purchase lingered on the scene. The shop seemed to be kept entirely by women. It contained Anglican books, stationery, texts, and fancy goods: little plaster angels on brackets, Gothic-framed pictures of saints, ebony crosses that were almost crucifixes, prayer-books that were almost missals. He felt very shy of looking at the girl in the desk; she was so pretty that he could not believe it possible that she should belong to him. Then she spoke to one of the two older women behind the counter; and he recognized in the accents certain qualities of his own voice; softened and sweetened, but his own. What was she doing? He stole a glance round. Before her lay a piece of zinc, cut to the shape of a scroll three or four feet long, and coated with a dead-surface paint on one side. Hereon she was designing or illuminating, in characters of Church text, the single word
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
¡¡¡¡ As Jude was rather on an intellectual track than a theological, this news of Sue's probable opinions did not much influence him one way or the other, but the clue to her whereabouts was decidedly interesting. With an altogether singular pleasure he walked at his earliest spare minutes past the shops answering to his great-aunt's description; and beheld in one of them a young girl sitting behind a desk, who was suspiciously like the original of the portrait. He ventured to enter on a trivial errand, and having made his purchase lingered on the scene. The shop seemed to be kept entirely by women. It contained Anglican books, stationery, texts, and fancy goods: little plaster angels on brackets, Gothic-framed pictures of saints, ebony crosses that were almost crucifixes, prayer-books that were almost missals. He felt very shy of looking at the girl in the desk; she was so pretty that he could not believe it possible that she should belong to him. Then she spoke to one of the two older women behind the counter; and he recognized in the accents certain qualities of his own voice; softened and sweetened, but his own. What was she doing? He stole a glance round. Before her lay a piece of zinc, cut to the shape of a scroll three or four feet long, and coated with a dead-surface paint on one side. Hereon she was designing or illuminating, in characters of Church text, the single word
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
Having been deeply encumbered by marrying, getting a cottage, and buying the furniture which had disappeared in the wake of his wife, he had never been able to save any money since the time of those disastrous ventures, and till his wages began to come in he was obliged to live in the narrowest way. After buying a book or two he could not even afford himself a fire; and when the nights reeked with the raw and cold air from the Meadows he sat over his lamp in a great-coat, hat, and woollen gloves. ¡¡¡¡ From his window he could perceive the spire of the cathedral, and the ogee dome under which resounded the great bell of the city. The tall tower, tall belfry windows, and tall pinnacles of the college by the bridge he could also get a glimpse of by going to the staircase. These objects he used as stimulants when his faith in the future was dim. ¡¡¡¡ Like enthusiasts in general he made no inquiries into details of procedure. Picking up general notions from casual acquaintance, he never dwelt upon them. For the present, he said to himself, the one thing necessary was to get ready by accumulating money and knowledge, and await whatever chances were afforded to such an one of becoming a son of the University. "For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it." His desire absorbed him, and left no part of him to weigh its practicability.
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
Having been deeply encumbered by marrying, getting a cottage, and buying the furniture which had disappeared in the wake of his wife, he had never been able to save any money since the time of those disastrous ventures, and till his wages began to come in he was obliged to live in the narrowest way. After buying a book or two he could not even afford himself a fire; and when the nights reeked with the raw and cold air from the Meadows he sat over his lamp in a great-coat, hat, and woollen gloves. ¡¡¡¡ From his window he could perceive the spire of the cathedral, and the ogee dome under which resounded the great bell of the city. The tall tower, tall belfry windows, and tall pinnacles of the college by the bridge he could also get a glimpse of by going to the staircase. These objects he used as stimulants when his faith in the future was dim. ¡¡¡¡ Like enthusiasts in general he made no inquiries into details of procedure. Picking up general notions from casual acquaintance, he never dwelt upon them. For the present, he said to himself, the one thing necessary was to get ready by accumulating money and knowledge, and await whatever chances were afforded to such an one of becoming a son of the University. "For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it." His desire absorbed him, and left no part of him to weigh its practicability.
Dance Me to the End of Love
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
¡¡¡¡ But the future lay ahead after all; and if he could only be so fortunate as to get into good employment he would put up with the inevitable. So he thanked God for his health and strength, and took courage. For the present he was outside the gates of everything, colleges included: perhaps some day he would be inside. Those palaces of light and leading; he might some day look down on the world through their panes. ¡¡¡¡ At length he did receive a message from the stone-mason's yard-- that a job was waiting for him. It was his first encouragement, and he closed with the offer promptly. ¡¡¡¡ He was young and strong, or he never could have executed with such zest the undertakings to which he now applied himself, since they involved reading most of the night after working all the day. First he bought a shaded lamp for four and six-pence, and obtained a good light. Then he got pens, paper, and such other necessary books as he had been unable to obtain elsewhere. Then, to the consternation of his landlady, he shifted all the furniture of his room--a single one for living and sleeping--rigged up a curtain on a rope across the middle, to make a double chamber out of one, hung up a thick blind that no-body should know how he was curtailing the hours of sleep, laid out his books, and sat down.
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
¡¡¡¡ But the future lay ahead after all; and if he could only be so fortunate as to get into good employment he would put up with the inevitable. So he thanked God for his health and strength, and took courage. For the present he was outside the gates of everything, colleges included: perhaps some day he would be inside. Those palaces of light and leading; he might some day look down on the world through their panes. ¡¡¡¡ At length he did receive a message from the stone-mason's yard-- that a job was waiting for him. It was his first encouragement, and he closed with the offer promptly. ¡¡¡¡ He was young and strong, or he never could have executed with such zest the undertakings to which he now applied himself, since they involved reading most of the night after working all the day. First he bought a shaded lamp for four and six-pence, and obtained a good light. Then he got pens, paper, and such other necessary books as he had been unable to obtain elsewhere. Then, to the consternation of his landlady, he shifted all the furniture of his room--a single one for living and sleeping--rigged up a curtain on a rope across the middle, to make a double chamber out of one, hung up a thick blind that no-body should know how he was curtailing the hours of sleep, laid out his books, and sat down.
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Jewel Casket
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
"Inspector Craddock!"
The eager whisper made the inspector jump.
He had been just on the point of ringing the front-door bell.
Alexander and his friend Stoddart-West emerged cautiously from the shadows.
"We heard your car, and we wanted to get hold of you."
"Well, let's come inside." Craddock's hand went out to the door bell again, but Alexander pulled at his coat with the eagerness of a pawing dog.
"We've found a clue," he breathed.
"Yes, we've found a clue." Stoddart-West echoed.
"Damn that girl," thought Craddock unamiably.
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
"Inspector Craddock!"
The eager whisper made the inspector jump.
He had been just on the point of ringing the front-door bell.
Alexander and his friend Stoddart-West emerged cautiously from the shadows.
"We heard your car, and we wanted to get hold of you."
"Well, let's come inside." Craddock's hand went out to the door bell again, but Alexander pulled at his coat with the eagerness of a pawing dog.
"We've found a clue," he breathed.
"Yes, we've found a clue." Stoddart-West echoed.
"Damn that girl," thought Craddock unamiably.
Sweet Nothings
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken PitcherNow there," said the doctor, "you have got something odd. It is exactly that fact that leads to believe that I have been, as old Morris puts it, a damned fool. You see, it's obviously not a case of small doses of arsenic administered regularly – which is what you might call the classic method of arsenic poisoning. Crackenthorpe has never had any chronic gastric trouble. In a way, that's what makes these sudden violent attacks seem unlikely. So, assuming they are not due to natural causes, it looks as though the poisoner is muffing it every time – which hardly makes sense."
"Giving an inadequate dose, you mean?"
"Yes. On the other hand, Crackenthorpe's got a strong constitution and what might do in another man, doesn't do him in. there's always personal idiosyncrasy to be reckoned with. But you'd think that by now the poisoner – unless he's unusually timid – would have stepped up the dose. Why hasn't he?"
"That is," he added, “if there is a poisoner which there probably isn't! Probably all my ruddy imagination from start to finish."
"It's an odd problem, the inspector agreed. It doesn't seem to make sense."
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken PitcherNow there," said the doctor, "you have got something odd. It is exactly that fact that leads to believe that I have been, as old Morris puts it, a damned fool. You see, it's obviously not a case of small doses of arsenic administered regularly – which is what you might call the classic method of arsenic poisoning. Crackenthorpe has never had any chronic gastric trouble. In a way, that's what makes these sudden violent attacks seem unlikely. So, assuming they are not due to natural causes, it looks as though the poisoner is muffing it every time – which hardly makes sense."
"Giving an inadequate dose, you mean?"
"Yes. On the other hand, Crackenthorpe's got a strong constitution and what might do in another man, doesn't do him in. there's always personal idiosyncrasy to be reckoned with. But you'd think that by now the poisoner – unless he's unusually timid – would have stepped up the dose. Why hasn't he?"
"That is," he added, “if there is a poisoner which there probably isn't! Probably all my ruddy imagination from start to finish."
"It's an odd problem, the inspector agreed. It doesn't seem to make sense."
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Throwing discretion aside, Doctor, there are people who stand to benefit pretty considerably from Luther Crackenthorpe's death." The doctor nodded. "He's an old man - and a hale and hearty one. He may live to be ninety odd?"
"Easily. He spends his life taking care of himself, and his constitution is sound."
"And his sons - and daughter - are all getting on, and they are all feeling the pinch?"
"You leave Emma out of it. She's no poisoner. These attacks only happen when the others are there – not when she and he are alone."
"An elementary precaution – if she's the one," the inspector thought, but was careful not to say aloud.
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"Surely - I'm ignorant in these matters - but supposing just as a hypothesis that arsenic was administered - hasn't Crackenthorpe been very lucky not to succumb?"
precious time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
And what was the result of your inquiries?"
"It seemed that what I suspected could not possibly be true. Mr. Crackenthorpe assured me that he had similar attacks before I attended him - and from the same cause, he said. They had always taken place when there was too much rich food about."
"Which was when the house was full? With the family? Or guests?"
"Yes. That seemed reasonable enough. But frankly, Craddock, I wasn't happy. I went so far as to write to old Dr. Morris. He was my senior partner and retired soon after I joined him. Crackenthorpe was his patient originally. I asked about these earlier attacks that the old man had had."
"And what response did you get?"
Quimper grinned.
"I got a flea in the ear. I was more or less told not to be a damned fool. Well - he shrugged his shoulders – presumably I was a damned fool."
"I wonder." Craddock was thoughtfully.
Then he decided to speak frankly.
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
And what was the result of your inquiries?"
"It seemed that what I suspected could not possibly be true. Mr. Crackenthorpe assured me that he had similar attacks before I attended him - and from the same cause, he said. They had always taken place when there was too much rich food about."
"Which was when the house was full? With the family? Or guests?"
"Yes. That seemed reasonable enough. But frankly, Craddock, I wasn't happy. I went so far as to write to old Dr. Morris. He was my senior partner and retired soon after I joined him. Crackenthorpe was his patient originally. I asked about these earlier attacks that the old man had had."
"And what response did you get?"
Quimper grinned.
"I got a flea in the ear. I was more or less told not to be a damned fool. Well - he shrugged his shoulders – presumably I was a damned fool."
"I wonder." Craddock was thoughtfully.
Then he decided to speak frankly.
precious time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
And what was the result of your inquiries?"
"It seemed that what I suspected could not possibly be true. Mr. Crackenthorpe assured me that he had similar attacks before I attended him - and from the same cause, he said. They had always taken place when there was too much rich food about."
"Which was when the house was full? With the family? Or guests?"
"Yes. That seemed reasonable enough. But frankly, Craddock, I wasn't happy. I went so far as to write to old Dr. Morris. He was my senior partner and retired soon after I joined him. Crackenthorpe was his patient originally. I asked about these earlier attacks that the old man had had."
"And what response did you get?"
Quimper grinned.
"I got a flea in the ear. I was more or less told not to be a damned fool. Well - he shrugged his shoulders – presumably I was a damned fool."
"I wonder." Craddock was thoughtfully.
Then he decided to speak frankly.
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
And what was the result of your inquiries?"
"It seemed that what I suspected could not possibly be true. Mr. Crackenthorpe assured me that he had similar attacks before I attended him - and from the same cause, he said. They had always taken place when there was too much rich food about."
"Which was when the house was full? With the family? Or guests?"
"Yes. That seemed reasonable enough. But frankly, Craddock, I wasn't happy. I went so far as to write to old Dr. Morris. He was my senior partner and retired soon after I joined him. Crackenthorpe was his patient originally. I asked about these earlier attacks that the old man had had."
"And what response did you get?"
Quimper grinned.
"I got a flea in the ear. I was more or less told not to be a damned fool. Well - he shrugged his shoulders – presumably I was a damned fool."
"I wonder." Craddock was thoughtfully.
Then he decided to speak frankly.
Naiade oil painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Dr. Quimper said evasively:
"Old Crackenthorpe leads a fairly frugal life. When the family comes down, Emma steps up the food. Result - a nasty attack of gastro-enteritis. The symptoms were consistent with that diagnosis."
Craddock persisted.
"I see. You were quite satisfied? You were not at all - shall we say - puzzled?"
"All right. All right. Yes, I was Yours Truly Puzzled! Does that please you?"
"It interests me," said Craddock. "What actually did you suspect – or fear?"
"Gastric cases vary, of course, but there were certain indications that would have been, shall we say, more consistent with arsenical poisoning than with plain gastro-enteritis. Mind you, the two things are very much alike. Better men than myself have failed to recognise arsenical poisoning – and have given a certificate in all good faith."
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Dr. Quimper said evasively:
"Old Crackenthorpe leads a fairly frugal life. When the family comes down, Emma steps up the food. Result - a nasty attack of gastro-enteritis. The symptoms were consistent with that diagnosis."
Craddock persisted.
"I see. You were quite satisfied? You were not at all - shall we say - puzzled?"
"All right. All right. Yes, I was Yours Truly Puzzled! Does that please you?"
"It interests me," said Craddock. "What actually did you suspect – or fear?"
"Gastric cases vary, of course, but there were certain indications that would have been, shall we say, more consistent with arsenical poisoning than with plain gastro-enteritis. Mind you, the two things are very much alike. Better men than myself have failed to recognise arsenical poisoning – and have given a certificate in all good faith."
Madonna Litta
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
"He spoke of you as an old fuss-pot." Quimper smiled. "He said you had asked him all sorts of questions, not only as to what he had eaten, but as to who prepared it and served it."
The doctor was not smiling now. His face was hard again.
"Go on."
"He used some such phrase as – ‘Talked as though he believed someone had poisoned me.’"
There was a pause.
"Had you - any suspicion of that kind?"
Quimper did not answer at once. He got up and walked up and down. Finally, he wheeled round on Craddock.
"What the devil do you expect me to say? Do you think a doctor can go about flinging accusations of poisoning here and there without any real evidence?"
"I'd just like to know, off the record, if - that idea – did enter your head?"
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
"He spoke of you as an old fuss-pot." Quimper smiled. "He said you had asked him all sorts of questions, not only as to what he had eaten, but as to who prepared it and served it."
The doctor was not smiling now. His face was hard again.
"Go on."
"He used some such phrase as – ‘Talked as though he believed someone had poisoned me.’"
There was a pause.
"Had you - any suspicion of that kind?"
Quimper did not answer at once. He got up and walked up and down. Finally, he wheeled round on Craddock.
"What the devil do you expect me to say? Do you think a doctor can go about flinging accusations of poisoning here and there without any real evidence?"
"I'd just like to know, off the record, if - that idea – did enter your head?"
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
"Good-oh!" said Stoddart-West, pronouncing the word carefully.
"I don't like it pale," said Alexander anxiously.
"It won't be pale."
"She's a smashing cook," said Alexander to his father.
Lucy had a momentary impression that their roles were reversed. Alexander spoke like a kindly father to his son.
"Can we help you, Miss Eyelesbarrow?" asked Stoddart-West politely.
Abstract Painting
Yes, you can. Alexander, go and sound the gong. James, will you carry this tray into the dining-room? And will you take the joint in, Mr. Eastley? I'll bring the potatoes and the Yorkshire pudding."
"There's a Scotland Yard man here," said Alexander. "Do you think he will have lunch with us?"
"That depends on what your aunt arranges."
Abstract Painting
"Good-oh!" said Stoddart-West, pronouncing the word carefully.
"I don't like it pale," said Alexander anxiously.
"It won't be pale."
"She's a smashing cook," said Alexander to his father.
Lucy had a momentary impression that their roles were reversed. Alexander spoke like a kindly father to his son.
"Can we help you, Miss Eyelesbarrow?" asked Stoddart-West politely.
Abstract Painting
Yes, you can. Alexander, go and sound the gong. James, will you carry this tray into the dining-room? And will you take the joint in, Mr. Eastley? I'll bring the potatoes and the Yorkshire pudding."
"There's a Scotland Yard man here," said Alexander. "Do you think he will have lunch with us?"
"That depends on what your aunt arranges."
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
brooded.
"You didn't know Edie, did you? My wife. No, of course you didn't. She was quite different from all this lot. Younger, for one thing. She was in the W.A.A.F. She always said her old man was crackers. He is, you know. Mean as hell over money. And it's not as though he could take it with him. It's got to be divided up when he dies. Edie's share will go to Alexander, of course. He won't be able to touch the capital until he's twenty-one, though."
"I'm sorry, but will you get off the table again? I want to dish up and make gravy."
Rembrandt Painting
At that moment Alexander and Stoddart-West arrived with rosy faces and very much out of breath.
"Hallo, Bryan," said Alexander kindly to his father. "So this is where you've got to. I say, what a smashing piece of beef. Is there Yorkshire pudding?"
"Yes, there is."
"We have awful Yorkshire pudding at school – all damp and limp."
"Get out of my way," said Lucy. "I want to make the gravy."
"Make lots of gravy. Can we have two sauce-boats full?"
"Yes."Rembrandt Painting
brooded.
"You didn't know Edie, did you? My wife. No, of course you didn't. She was quite different from all this lot. Younger, for one thing. She was in the W.A.A.F. She always said her old man was crackers. He is, you know. Mean as hell over money. And it's not as though he could take it with him. It's got to be divided up when he dies. Edie's share will go to Alexander, of course. He won't be able to touch the capital until he's twenty-one, though."
"I'm sorry, but will you get off the table again? I want to dish up and make gravy."
Rembrandt Painting
At that moment Alexander and Stoddart-West arrived with rosy faces and very much out of breath.
"Hallo, Bryan," said Alexander kindly to his father. "So this is where you've got to. I say, what a smashing piece of beef. Is there Yorkshire pudding?"
"Yes, there is."
"We have awful Yorkshire pudding at school – all damp and limp."
"Get out of my way," said Lucy. "I want to make the gravy."
"Make lots of gravy. Can we have two sauce-boats full?"
"Yes."Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
It struck Lucy that there was something strangely forlorn about Bryan Eastley. Looking closely at him, she realised that he was older than she had at first thought. He must be close on forty. It seemed difficult to think of him as Alexander's father. He reminded her of innumerable young pilots she had known during the war when she had been at the impressionable age of fourteen. She had gone on and grown up into a postwar world - but she felt as though Bryan had not gone on, but had been passed by in the passage of years. His next words confirmed this. He had subsided on to the kitchen table again.
The Singing Butler
It's a difficult sort of world, he said, isn't it? To get your bearings in, I mean. You see, one hasn't been trained for it.
Lucy recalled what she had heard from Emma."
"You were a fighter pilot, weren't you?" she said. "You've got a D.F.C."
"That's the sort of thing that puts you wrong. You've got a gong and so people try to make it easy for you. Give you a job and all that. Very decent of them. But they're all admin jobs, and one simply isn't any good at that sort of thing. Sitting at a desk getting tangled up in figures. I've had ideas of my own, you know, tried out a wheeze or two. But you can't get the backing. Can't get the chaps to come in and put down the money. If I had a bit of capital
The Singing Butler
It struck Lucy that there was something strangely forlorn about Bryan Eastley. Looking closely at him, she realised that he was older than she had at first thought. He must be close on forty. It seemed difficult to think of him as Alexander's father. He reminded her of innumerable young pilots she had known during the war when she had been at the impressionable age of fourteen. She had gone on and grown up into a postwar world - but she felt as though Bryan had not gone on, but had been passed by in the passage of years. His next words confirmed this. He had subsided on to the kitchen table again.
The Singing Butler
It's a difficult sort of world, he said, isn't it? To get your bearings in, I mean. You see, one hasn't been trained for it.
Lucy recalled what she had heard from Emma."
"You were a fighter pilot, weren't you?" she said. "You've got a D.F.C."
"That's the sort of thing that puts you wrong. You've got a gong and so people try to make it easy for you. Give you a job and all that. Very decent of them. But they're all admin jobs, and one simply isn't any good at that sort of thing. Sitting at a desk getting tangled up in figures. I've had ideas of my own, you know, tried out a wheeze or two. But you can't get the backing. Can't get the chaps to come in and put down the money. If I had a bit of capital
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Burn yourself?"
"Just a bit. It doesn't matter. What a dangerous game cooking is!"
"I suppose you never do your own cooking?"
"As a matter of fact I do – quite often. But not this sort of thing. I can boil an egg – if I don't forget to look at the clock. And I can do eggs and bacon. And I can put a steak under the grill or open a tin of soup. I've got one of those little electric whatnots in my flat."
"You live in London?"
"If you call it living – yes."
Jack Vettriano Painting
His tone was despondent. He watched Lucy shoot in the dish with the Yorkshire pudding mixture.
"This is awfully jolly," he said and sighed.
Her immediate preoccupations over, Lucy looked at him with more attention.
"What is - this kitchen?"
"Yes. Reminds me of our kitchen at home – when I was a boy.
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Burn yourself?"
"Just a bit. It doesn't matter. What a dangerous game cooking is!"
"I suppose you never do your own cooking?"
"As a matter of fact I do – quite often. But not this sort of thing. I can boil an egg – if I don't forget to look at the clock. And I can do eggs and bacon. And I can put a steak under the grill or open a tin of soup. I've got one of those little electric whatnots in my flat."
"You live in London?"
"If you call it living – yes."
Jack Vettriano Painting
His tone was despondent. He watched Lucy shoot in the dish with the Yorkshire pudding mixture.
"This is awfully jolly," he said and sighed.
Her immediate preoccupations over, Lucy looked at him with more attention.
"What is - this kitchen?"
"Yes. Reminds me of our kitchen at home – when I was a boy.
Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Bryan obeyed.
"I say, that fat's corking hot. What are you going to put in it?"
"Yorkshire pudding."
"Good old Yorkshire. Roast beef of old England, is that the menu for to-day?"
"Yes."
"The funeral baked meats, in fact. Smells good." He sniffed appreciatively. "Do you mind my gassing away?"
"If you came in to help I'd rather you helped." She drew another pan from the oven. "Here - turn all these potatoes over so that they brown on the other side…."
Bryan obeyed with alacrity.
Mary Cassatt painting
"Have all these things been fizzling away in here while we've been at the inquest? Supposing they’d been all burnt up."
"Most improbable. there's a regulating number on the oven."
"Kind of electric brain, eh, what? Is that right?"
Lucy threw a swift look in his direction.
"Quite right. Now put the pan in the oven. Here, take the cloth. On the second shelf - I want the top one for the Yorkshire pudding."
Bryan obeyed, but not without uttering a shrill yelp
Mary Cassatt painting
Bryan obeyed.
"I say, that fat's corking hot. What are you going to put in it?"
"Yorkshire pudding."
"Good old Yorkshire. Roast beef of old England, is that the menu for to-day?"
"Yes."
"The funeral baked meats, in fact. Smells good." He sniffed appreciatively. "Do you mind my gassing away?"
"If you came in to help I'd rather you helped." She drew another pan from the oven. "Here - turn all these potatoes over so that they brown on the other side…."
Bryan obeyed with alacrity.
Mary Cassatt painting
"Have all these things been fizzling away in here while we've been at the inquest? Supposing they’d been all burnt up."
"Most improbable. there's a regulating number on the oven."
"Kind of electric brain, eh, what? Is that right?"
Lucy threw a swift look in his direction.
"Quite right. Now put the pan in the oven. Here, take the cloth. On the second shelf - I want the top one for the Yorkshire pudding."
Bryan obeyed, but not without uttering a shrill yelp
Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Lucy had gone straight to the kitchen on getting back from the inquest, and was busy with preparations for lunch when Bryan Eastley put his head in.
"Can I give you a hand in any way?" he asked. "I'm handy about the house."
Lucy gave him a quick, slightly preoccupied glance. Bryan had arrived at the inquest direct in his small M.G. car, and she had not as yet had much time to size him up
Edward Hopper Painting
What she saw was likeable enough. Eastley was an amiable-looking young man of thirty-odd with brown hair, rather plaintive blue eyes and an enormous fair moustache.
"The boys aren't back yet," he said, coming in and sitting on the end of the kitchen table. "It will take 'em another twenty minutes on their bikes."
Lucy smiled.
"They were certainly determined not to miss anything."
"Can't blame them. I mean to say - first inquest in their young lives and right in the family so to speak."
"Do you mind getting off the table, Mr. Eastley? I want to put the baking dish down there."
Edward Hopper Painting
Lucy had gone straight to the kitchen on getting back from the inquest, and was busy with preparations for lunch when Bryan Eastley put his head in.
"Can I give you a hand in any way?" he asked. "I'm handy about the house."
Lucy gave him a quick, slightly preoccupied glance. Bryan had arrived at the inquest direct in his small M.G. car, and she had not as yet had much time to size him up
Edward Hopper Painting
What she saw was likeable enough. Eastley was an amiable-looking young man of thirty-odd with brown hair, rather plaintive blue eyes and an enormous fair moustache.
"The boys aren't back yet," he said, coming in and sitting on the end of the kitchen table. "It will take 'em another twenty minutes on their bikes."
Lucy smiled.
"They were certainly determined not to miss anything."
"Can't blame them. I mean to say - first inquest in their young lives and right in the family so to speak."
"Do you mind getting off the table, Mr. Eastley? I want to put the baking dish down there."
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
No, thank you, sir."
The sound of the gong rose fortissimo from the hall outside.
"Dear me," said Mr. Wimborne. "One of the boys, I think, must have been performing."
Inspector Craddock raised his voice, to be heard above the clamour, as he said:
"We'll leave the family to have lunch in peace, but Inspector Bacon and I would like to return after it – say at two-fifteen - and have a short interview with every member of the family."
"You think that is necessary?"
Van Gogh Sunflower
Well…” Craddock shrugged his shoulders. "It's just an off chance. Somebody might remember something that would give us a clue to the woman's identity."
"I doubt it, Inspector. I doubt it very much. But I wish you good luck. As I said just now, the sooner this distasteful business is cleared up, the better for everybody."
Shaking his head, he went slowly out of the room.
Van Gogh Sunflower
No, thank you, sir."
The sound of the gong rose fortissimo from the hall outside.
"Dear me," said Mr. Wimborne. "One of the boys, I think, must have been performing."
Inspector Craddock raised his voice, to be heard above the clamour, as he said:
"We'll leave the family to have lunch in peace, but Inspector Bacon and I would like to return after it – say at two-fifteen - and have a short interview with every member of the family."
"You think that is necessary?"
Van Gogh Sunflower
Well…” Craddock shrugged his shoulders. "It's just an off chance. Somebody might remember something that would give us a clue to the woman's identity."
"I doubt it, Inspector. I doubt it very much. But I wish you good luck. As I said just now, the sooner this distasteful business is cleared up, the better for everybody."
Shaking his head, he went slowly out of the room.
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
"You suppose correctly," said Mr. Wimborne. "Old Josiah was disappointed that his eldest son showed no interest in the family business – or indeed in business of any kind. Luther spent his time travelling abroad and collecting objects d'art. Old Josiah was very unsympathetic to that kind of thing. So he left his money in trust for the next generation."
"But in the meantime the next generation have no income except what they make or what their father allows them, and their father has a considerable income but no power of disposal of the capital."
Van Gogh Painting
Exactly. And what all this has to do with the murder of an unknown young woman of foreign origin I cannot imagine!"
"It doesn't seem to have anything to do with it," Inspector Craddock agreed promptly, "I just wanted to ascertain all the facts."
Mr. Wimborne looked at him sharply, then, seemingly satisfied with the result of his scrutiny, rose to his feet.
"I am proposing now to return to London," he said. "Unless there is anything further you wish to know?"
He looked from on man to the other.
Van Gogh Painting
"You suppose correctly," said Mr. Wimborne. "Old Josiah was disappointed that his eldest son showed no interest in the family business – or indeed in business of any kind. Luther spent his time travelling abroad and collecting objects d'art. Old Josiah was very unsympathetic to that kind of thing. So he left his money in trust for the next generation."
"But in the meantime the next generation have no income except what they make or what their father allows them, and their father has a considerable income but no power of disposal of the capital."
Van Gogh Painting
Exactly. And what all this has to do with the murder of an unknown young woman of foreign origin I cannot imagine!"
"It doesn't seem to have anything to do with it," Inspector Craddock agreed promptly, "I just wanted to ascertain all the facts."
Mr. Wimborne looked at him sharply, then, seemingly satisfied with the result of his scrutiny, rose to his feet.
"I am proposing now to return to London," he said. "Unless there is anything further you wish to know?"
He looked from on man to the other.
Van Gogh Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting Inspector Craddock smiled.
"Because I can look it up myself if I want to, at Somerset House."
Against his will, Mr. Wimborne gave a crabbed little smile.
"Quite right, Inspector. I was merely protesting that the information you ask for is quite irrelevant. As to Josiah Crackenthorpe's will, there is no mystery about it. He left his very considerable fortune in trust, the income from it to be paid to his son Luther for life, and after Luther's death the capital to be divided equally between Luther's children, Edmund, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith. Edmund was killed in the war, and Edith died four years ago, so that on Luther Crackenthorpe's decease the money will divided between Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith's son Alexander Eastley."
Henri Matisse Painting
And the house?"
"That will go to Luther Crackenthorpe's eldest surviving son or his issue."
"Was Edmund Crackenthorpe married?"
"No."
"So the property will actually go –?"
"To the next son - Cedric."
"Mr. Luther Crackenthorpe himself cannot dispose of it?"
"No."
"And he has no control of the capital."
"No."
"Isn't that rather unusual? I suppose," said Inspector Craddock shrewdly, “that his father didn't like him."
Henri Matisse Painting
"Because I can look it up myself if I want to, at Somerset House."
Against his will, Mr. Wimborne gave a crabbed little smile.
"Quite right, Inspector. I was merely protesting that the information you ask for is quite irrelevant. As to Josiah Crackenthorpe's will, there is no mystery about it. He left his very considerable fortune in trust, the income from it to be paid to his son Luther for life, and after Luther's death the capital to be divided equally between Luther's children, Edmund, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith. Edmund was killed in the war, and Edith died four years ago, so that on Luther Crackenthorpe's decease the money will divided between Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith's son Alexander Eastley."
Henri Matisse Painting
And the house?"
"That will go to Luther Crackenthorpe's eldest surviving son or his issue."
"Was Edmund Crackenthorpe married?"
"No."
"So the property will actually go –?"
"To the next son - Cedric."
"Mr. Luther Crackenthorpe himself cannot dispose of it?"
"No."
"And he has no control of the capital."
"No."
"Isn't that rather unusual? I suppose," said Inspector Craddock shrewdly, “that his father didn't like him."
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting Inspector Craddock smiled.
"Because I can look it up myself if I want to, at Somerset House."
Against his will, Mr. Wimborne gave a crabbed little smile.
"Quite right, Inspector. I was merely protesting that the information you ask for is quite irrelevant. As to Josiah Crackenthorpe's will, there is no mystery about it. He left his very considerable fortune in trust, the income from it to be paid to his son Luther for life, and after Luther's death the capital to be divided equally between Luther's children, Edmund, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith. Edmund was killed in the war, and Edith died four years ago, so that on Luther Crackenthorpe's decease the money will divided between Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith's son Alexander Eastley."
Henri Matisse Painting
And the house?"
"That will go to Luther Crackenthorpe's eldest surviving son or his issue."
"Was Edmund Crackenthorpe married?"
"No."
"So the property will actually go –?"
"To the next son - Cedric."
"Mr. Luther Crackenthorpe himself cannot dispose of it?"
"No."
"And he has no control of the capital."
"No."
"Isn't that rather unusual? I suppose," said Inspector Craddock shrewdly, “that his father didn't like him."
Henri Matisse Painting
"Because I can look it up myself if I want to, at Somerset House."
Against his will, Mr. Wimborne gave a crabbed little smile.
"Quite right, Inspector. I was merely protesting that the information you ask for is quite irrelevant. As to Josiah Crackenthorpe's will, there is no mystery about it. He left his very considerable fortune in trust, the income from it to be paid to his son Luther for life, and after Luther's death the capital to be divided equally between Luther's children, Edmund, Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith. Edmund was killed in the war, and Edith died four years ago, so that on Luther Crackenthorpe's decease the money will divided between Cedric, Harold, Alfred, Emma and Edith's son Alexander Eastley."
Henri Matisse Painting
And the house?"
"That will go to Luther Crackenthorpe's eldest surviving son or his issue."
"Was Edmund Crackenthorpe married?"
"No."
"So the property will actually go –?"
"To the next son - Cedric."
"Mr. Luther Crackenthorpe himself cannot dispose of it?"
"No."
"And he has no control of the capital."
"No."
"Isn't that rather unusual? I suppose," said Inspector Craddock shrewdly, “that his father didn't like him."
Henri Matisse Painting
The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
"I can only hope," said Mr. Wimborne, "that the case will be solved quickly. As you can no doubt appreciate, the whole business has been a source of much distress to the family. Although not personally concerned in any way, they are –"
He paused for a bare second, but Inspector Craddock filled the gap quickly.
"It's not a pleasant thing to find a murdered woman on your property? I couldn't agree with you more. Now I should like to have a brief interview with the various members of the family –"
The Birth of Venus
I really cannot see –"
"What they can tell me? Probably nothing of interest - but one never knows. I dare say I can get most of the information I want from you, sir. Information about this house and the family."
"And what can that possibly have to do with an unknown young woman coming from abroad and getting herself killed here."
"Well, that's rather the point," said Craddock. "Why did she come here? Had she once had some connection with this house? Had she been, for instance, a servant here at one time? A lady's maid, perhaps. Or did she come here to meet a former occupant of Rutherford Hall?"
The Birth of Venus
"I can only hope," said Mr. Wimborne, "that the case will be solved quickly. As you can no doubt appreciate, the whole business has been a source of much distress to the family. Although not personally concerned in any way, they are –"
He paused for a bare second, but Inspector Craddock filled the gap quickly.
"It's not a pleasant thing to find a murdered woman on your property? I couldn't agree with you more. Now I should like to have a brief interview with the various members of the family –"
The Birth of Venus
I really cannot see –"
"What they can tell me? Probably nothing of interest - but one never knows. I dare say I can get most of the information I want from you, sir. Information about this house and the family."
"And what can that possibly have to do with an unknown young woman coming from abroad and getting herself killed here."
"Well, that's rather the point," said Craddock. "Why did she come here? Had she once had some connection with this house? Had she been, for instance, a servant here at one time? A lady's maid, perhaps. Or did she come here to meet a former occupant of Rutherford Hall?"
The Birth of Venus
Bouguereau William
Bouguereau William
"We have been called in on the case, Mr. Wimborne," he said. "As you are representing the Crackenthorpe family, I feel it is only fair that we should give you a little confidential information."
Nobody could make a better show of presenting a very small portion of the truth and implying that it was the whole truth than Inspector Craddock.
"Inspector Bacon will agree, I am sure," he added, glancing at his colleague.
Inspector Bacon agreed with all due solemnity and not at all as though the whole matter were prearranged.
Bouguereau William
"It's like this," said Craddock. "We have reason to believe from information that has come into our possession, that the dead woman is not a native of these parts, that she travelled down here from London and that she had recently come from abroad. Probably (though we are not sure of that) from France."
Mr. Wimborne again raised his eyebrows.
"Indeed," he said. "Indeed?"
"That being the case," explained Inspector Bacon, "the Chief Constable felt that the Yard was better fitted to investigate the matter."
Bouguereau William
"We have been called in on the case, Mr. Wimborne," he said. "As you are representing the Crackenthorpe family, I feel it is only fair that we should give you a little confidential information."
Nobody could make a better show of presenting a very small portion of the truth and implying that it was the whole truth than Inspector Craddock.
"Inspector Bacon will agree, I am sure," he added, glancing at his colleague.
Inspector Bacon agreed with all due solemnity and not at all as though the whole matter were prearranged.
Bouguereau William
"It's like this," said Craddock. "We have reason to believe from information that has come into our possession, that the dead woman is not a native of these parts, that she travelled down here from London and that she had recently come from abroad. Probably (though we are not sure of that) from France."
Mr. Wimborne again raised his eyebrows.
"Indeed," he said. "Indeed?"
"That being the case," explained Inspector Bacon, "the Chief Constable felt that the Yard was better fitted to investigate the matter."
Bouguereau William
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt Painting
If I were a girl coming to meet my young man, I'd not stand for being taken to a freezing cold barn miles from anywhere," Cedric objected. "I'd stand out for a nice bit of cuddle in the cinema, wouldn't you, Miss Eyelesbarrow?"
"Do we need to go into all this?" Harold demanded plaintively.
And with the voicing of the question the car drew up before the front door of Rutherford Hall and they all got out.
Gustav Klimt Painting
On entering the library Mr. Wimborne blinked a little as his shrewd old eyes went past Inspector Bacon whom he had already met, to the fair-haired, good-looking man beyond him
Inspector Bacon performed introductions.
"This is Detective-Inspector Craddock of New Scotland Yard," he said.
"New Scotland Yard - hm." Mr. Wimborne's eyebrows rose.
Dermot Craddock, who had a pleasant manner, went easily into speech.Gustav Klimt Painting
If I were a girl coming to meet my young man, I'd not stand for being taken to a freezing cold barn miles from anywhere," Cedric objected. "I'd stand out for a nice bit of cuddle in the cinema, wouldn't you, Miss Eyelesbarrow?"
"Do we need to go into all this?" Harold demanded plaintively.
And with the voicing of the question the car drew up before the front door of Rutherford Hall and they all got out.
Gustav Klimt Painting
On entering the library Mr. Wimborne blinked a little as his shrewd old eyes went past Inspector Bacon whom he had already met, to the fair-haired, good-looking man beyond him
Inspector Bacon performed introductions.
"This is Detective-Inspector Craddock of New Scotland Yard," he said.
"New Scotland Yard - hm." Mr. Wimborne's eyebrows rose.
Dermot Craddock, who had a pleasant manner, went easily into speech.Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Not at all. It was advisable that someone should be at the inquest to watch the proceedings on behalf of the family. I have arranged for an interview with the inspector at the house. I have no doubt that, distressing as all this has been, the situation will soon be clarified. In my own mind, there seems little doubt as to what occurred. As Emma has told us, the key of the Long Barn was known locally to hang outside the door. It seems highly probable that the place was used in the winter months as a place of assignation by local couples. No doubt there was a quarrel and some young man lost control of himself. Horrified at what he had done, his eye lit on the sarcophagus and he realised that it would make an excellent place of concealment."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Lucy thought to herself, “Yes, it sounds most plausible. That's just what one might think."
Cedric said, "You say a local couple - but nobody's been able to identify the girl locally."
"It's early days yet. No doubt we shall get an identification before long. And it is possible, of course, that the man in question was a local resident, but that the girl came from elsewhere, perhaps from some other part of Brackhampton. Brackhampton's a big place - it's grown enormously in the last twenty years."
Not at all. It was advisable that someone should be at the inquest to watch the proceedings on behalf of the family. I have arranged for an interview with the inspector at the house. I have no doubt that, distressing as all this has been, the situation will soon be clarified. In my own mind, there seems little doubt as to what occurred. As Emma has told us, the key of the Long Barn was known locally to hang outside the door. It seems highly probable that the place was used in the winter months as a place of assignation by local couples. No doubt there was a quarrel and some young man lost control of himself. Horrified at what he had done, his eye lit on the sarcophagus and he realised that it would make an excellent place of concealment."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Lucy thought to herself, “Yes, it sounds most plausible. That's just what one might think."
Cedric said, "You say a local couple - but nobody's been able to identify the girl locally."
"It's early days yet. No doubt we shall get an identification before long. And it is possible, of course, that the man in question was a local resident, but that the girl came from elsewhere, perhaps from some other part of Brackhampton. Brackhampton's a big place - it's grown enormously in the last twenty years."
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
What's wrong with my clothes? They're comfortable."
"They're unsuitable."
"Well, anyway, they're the only clothes I've got with me. I didn't pack my wardrobe trunk when I came rushing home to stand in with the family over this business. I'm a painter and painters like to be comfortable in their clothes."
"So you're still trying to paint?"
"Look here, Harold, when you say trying to paint –"
Mr. Wimborne cleared his throat in an authoritative manner.
Modern Art Painting
"This discussion is unprofitable," he said reprovingly. "I hope, my dear Emma, that you will tell me if there is any further way in which I can be of service to you before I returned to town?"
The reproof had its effect. Emma Crackenthorpe said quickly:
"It was mot kind of you to come down."
Modern Art Painting
What's wrong with my clothes? They're comfortable."
"They're unsuitable."
"Well, anyway, they're the only clothes I've got with me. I didn't pack my wardrobe trunk when I came rushing home to stand in with the family over this business. I'm a painter and painters like to be comfortable in their clothes."
"So you're still trying to paint?"
"Look here, Harold, when you say trying to paint –"
Mr. Wimborne cleared his throat in an authoritative manner.
Modern Art Painting
"This discussion is unprofitable," he said reprovingly. "I hope, my dear Emma, that you will tell me if there is any further way in which I can be of service to you before I returned to town?"
The reproof had its effect. Emma Crackenthorpe said quickly:
"It was mot kind of you to come down."
Modern Art Painting
Art Painting
Art Painting
Cedric gave her a quick puzzled glance.
"You're worried, sis. What's up?"
Harold spoke with exasperation:
"Really, Cedric, can you ask?"
"Yes, I do ask. Granted a strange young woman has got herself killed in the barn at Rutherford Hall (sounds like a Victorian melodrama) and granted it gave Emma a shock at the time - but Emma's always been a sensible girl - I don't see why she goes on being worried now. Dash it, one get used to everything."
Art Painting
"Murder takes a little more getting used to by some people than it may in your case," said Harold acidly. "I dare say murders are two a penny in Majorca and –“
"Iviza, not Majorca."
"It's the same thing."
"Not at all - it's quite a different island."
Harold went on talking:
"My point is that though murder may be an everyday commonplace to you, living amongst hot-blooded Latin people, nevertheless in England we take such things seriously." He added with increasing irritation, "And really, Cedric, to appear at a public inquest in those clothes –"
Art Painting
Cedric gave her a quick puzzled glance.
"You're worried, sis. What's up?"
Harold spoke with exasperation:
"Really, Cedric, can you ask?"
"Yes, I do ask. Granted a strange young woman has got herself killed in the barn at Rutherford Hall (sounds like a Victorian melodrama) and granted it gave Emma a shock at the time - but Emma's always been a sensible girl - I don't see why she goes on being worried now. Dash it, one get used to everything."
Art Painting
"Murder takes a little more getting used to by some people than it may in your case," said Harold acidly. "I dare say murders are two a penny in Majorca and –“
"Iviza, not Majorca."
"It's the same thing."
"Not at all - it's quite a different island."
Harold went on talking:
"My point is that though murder may be an everyday commonplace to you, living amongst hot-blooded Latin people, nevertheless in England we take such things seriously." He added with increasing irritation, "And really, Cedric, to appear at a public inquest in those clothes –"
Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
Mr. Wimborne coughed, and said:
"Possibly some - er – assignation. I understand that it was a matter of local knowledge that the key was kept outside on a nail."
His tone indicated outrage at the carelessness of such procedure. So clearly marked was this that Emma spoke apologetically.
Famous painting
It started during the war. For the A.R.P. wardens. There was a little spirit stove and they made themselves hot cocoa. And afterwards, since there was really nothing there anybody could have wanted to take, we went on leaving the key hanging up. It was convenient for the Women's Institute people. If we'd kept it in the house it might have been awkward - when there was no one at home to give it them when they wanted it to get the place ready. With only daily women and no resident servants…."
Her voice tailed away. She had spoken mechanically, giving a wordy explanation without interest, as though her mind was elsewhere.Famous painting
Mr. Wimborne coughed, and said:
"Possibly some - er – assignation. I understand that it was a matter of local knowledge that the key was kept outside on a nail."
His tone indicated outrage at the carelessness of such procedure. So clearly marked was this that Emma spoke apologetically.
Famous painting
It started during the war. For the A.R.P. wardens. There was a little spirit stove and they made themselves hot cocoa. And afterwards, since there was really nothing there anybody could have wanted to take, we went on leaving the key hanging up. It was convenient for the Women's Institute people. If we'd kept it in the house it might have been awkward - when there was no one at home to give it them when they wanted it to get the place ready. With only daily women and no resident servants…."
Her voice tailed away. She had spoken mechanically, giving a wordy explanation without interest, as though her mind was elsewhere.Famous painting
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow looked at him with some interest. She had already been intrigued by the rather startling differences between the three brothers. Cedric was a big man with a weather-beaten rugged face, unkempt dark hair and a jocund manner. He had arrived from the airport unshaven, was still wearing the clothes in which he had arrived and which seemed to be the only ones he had; old grey flannel trousers, and a patched and rather threadbare baggy jacket. He looked the stage Bohemian to the life and proud of it.
Famous artist painting
His brother Harold, on the contrary, was the perfect picture of a City gentleman and a director of important companies. He was tall with a neat erect carriage, had dark hair going slightly bald on the temples, a small black moustache, and was impeccably dressed in a dark well-cut suit and a pearl-grey tie. He looked what he was, a shrewd and successful business man.
He now said stiffly:
"Really, Cedric, that seems a most uncalled for remark."
"Don't see why? She was in our barn after all. What did she come there for?"
Famous artist painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow looked at him with some interest. She had already been intrigued by the rather startling differences between the three brothers. Cedric was a big man with a weather-beaten rugged face, unkempt dark hair and a jocund manner. He had arrived from the airport unshaven, was still wearing the clothes in which he had arrived and which seemed to be the only ones he had; old grey flannel trousers, and a patched and rather threadbare baggy jacket. He looked the stage Bohemian to the life and proud of it.
Famous artist painting
His brother Harold, on the contrary, was the perfect picture of a City gentleman and a director of important companies. He was tall with a neat erect carriage, had dark hair going slightly bald on the temples, a small black moustache, and was impeccably dressed in a dark well-cut suit and a pearl-grey tie. He looked what he was, a shrewd and successful business man.
He now said stiffly:
"Really, Cedric, that seems a most uncalled for remark."
"Don't see why? She was in our barn after all. What did she come there for?"
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
"By the way - er – Miss - er - er – Eyelesbarrow, just what made you go looking in that sarcophagus?"
Lucy had already wondered just when this thought would occur to one of the family. She had known that the police would ask it first thing: what surprised her was that it seemed to have occurred to no one else until this moment.
Cedric, Emma, Harold and Mr. Wimborne all looked at her.
Her reply, for what it was worth, had naturally been prepared for some time.
Decorative painting
Really," she said in a hesitating voice, "I hardly know… I did feel that the whole place needed a thorough clearing out and cleaning. And there was" – she hesitated – “a very peculiar and disagreeable smell…."
She had counted accurately on the immediate shrinking of everyone from the unpleasantness of this idea….
Mr. Wimborne murmured: "Yes, yes, of course… about three weeks the police surgeon said… I think, you know, we must all try and not let our minds dwell on this thing." He smiled encouragingly at Emma who had turned very pale. "Remember," he said, “this wretched young woman was nothing to do with any of us."
"Ah, but you can't be so sure of that, can you?" said Cedric.
Decorative painting
"By the way - er – Miss - er - er – Eyelesbarrow, just what made you go looking in that sarcophagus?"
Lucy had already wondered just when this thought would occur to one of the family. She had known that the police would ask it first thing: what surprised her was that it seemed to have occurred to no one else until this moment.
Cedric, Emma, Harold and Mr. Wimborne all looked at her.
Her reply, for what it was worth, had naturally been prepared for some time.
Decorative painting
Really," she said in a hesitating voice, "I hardly know… I did feel that the whole place needed a thorough clearing out and cleaning. And there was" – she hesitated – “a very peculiar and disagreeable smell…."
She had counted accurately on the immediate shrinking of everyone from the unpleasantness of this idea….
Mr. Wimborne murmured: "Yes, yes, of course… about three weeks the police surgeon said… I think, you know, we must all try and not let our minds dwell on this thing." He smiled encouragingly at Emma who had turned very pale. "Remember," he said, “this wretched young woman was nothing to do with any of us."
"Ah, but you can't be so sure of that, can you?" said Cedric.
Decorative painting
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
Lucy digested all this information, continuing to press tea on her information. Finally, reluctantly, Mrs. Kidder rose to her feet.
"Seem to have got along a treat, we do, this morning, she said wonderingly. Want me to give you a hand with the potatoes, dear?"
"They're all done ready."
"Well, you are a one for getting on with things! I might as well be getting along myself as there doesn't seem anything else to do."
Abstract Painting
Mrs. Kidder departed and Lucy, with time on her hands, scrubbed the kitchen table which she had been longing to do, but which she had put off so as not to offend Mrs. Kidder whose job it properly was. Then she cleaned the silver till it shone radiantly. She cooked lunch, cleared it away, washed it up, and at two-thirty was ready to start exploration. She had set out the tea things ready on a tray, with sandwiches and bread and butter covered with a damp napkin to keep them moist.
Abstract Painting
Lucy digested all this information, continuing to press tea on her information. Finally, reluctantly, Mrs. Kidder rose to her feet.
"Seem to have got along a treat, we do, this morning, she said wonderingly. Want me to give you a hand with the potatoes, dear?"
"They're all done ready."
"Well, you are a one for getting on with things! I might as well be getting along myself as there doesn't seem anything else to do."
Abstract Painting
Mrs. Kidder departed and Lucy, with time on her hands, scrubbed the kitchen table which she had been longing to do, but which she had put off so as not to offend Mrs. Kidder whose job it properly was. Then she cleaned the silver till it shone radiantly. She cooked lunch, cleared it away, washed it up, and at two-thirty was ready to start exploration. She had set out the tea things ready on a tray, with sandwiches and bread and butter covered with a damp napkin to keep them moist.
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
The Kennedys were quite right, she said. She's wonderful."
Lucy rose at six the next morning. She did the house, prepared vegetables, assembled, cooked and served breakfast. With Mrs. Kidder she made the beds and at eleven o'clock they sat down to strong tea and biscuits in the kitchen. Mollified by the fact that Lucy “had no airs about her" and also by the strength and sweetness of the tea, Mrs. Kidder relaxed into gossip. She was a small spare woman with a sharp eye and tight lips.
Rembrandt Painting
Regular old skinflint he is. What she has to put up with! All the same, she's not what I call down-trodden. Can hold her own all right when she has to. When the gentlemen come down she sees to it there's something decent to eat."
"The gentlemen?"
"Yes. Big family it was. The eldest, Mr. Edmund, he was killed in the war. Then there's Mr. Cedric, he lives abroad somewhere. He's not married. Paints pictures in foreign parts. Mr. Harold's in the city, lives in London – married an earl's daughter. Then there's Mr. Alfred, he's got a nice way with him, but he's a bit of a black sheep, been in trouble once or twice – and there's Miss Edith's husband, Mr. Bryan, ever so nice, he is - she died some years ago, but he's always stayed one of the family, and there's Master Alexander, Miss Edith's little boy. He's at school, comes here for part of the holidays always; Miss Emma's terribly set on him."
Rembrandt Painting
The Kennedys were quite right, she said. She's wonderful."
Lucy rose at six the next morning. She did the house, prepared vegetables, assembled, cooked and served breakfast. With Mrs. Kidder she made the beds and at eleven o'clock they sat down to strong tea and biscuits in the kitchen. Mollified by the fact that Lucy “had no airs about her" and also by the strength and sweetness of the tea, Mrs. Kidder relaxed into gossip. She was a small spare woman with a sharp eye and tight lips.
Rembrandt Painting
Regular old skinflint he is. What she has to put up with! All the same, she's not what I call down-trodden. Can hold her own all right when she has to. When the gentlemen come down she sees to it there's something decent to eat."
"The gentlemen?"
"Yes. Big family it was. The eldest, Mr. Edmund, he was killed in the war. Then there's Mr. Cedric, he lives abroad somewhere. He's not married. Paints pictures in foreign parts. Mr. Harold's in the city, lives in London – married an earl's daughter. Then there's Mr. Alfred, he's got a nice way with him, but he's a bit of a black sheep, been in trouble once or twice – and there's Miss Edith's husband, Mr. Bryan, ever so nice, he is - she died some years ago, but he's always stayed one of the family, and there's Master Alexander, Miss Edith's little boy. He's at school, comes here for part of the holidays always; Miss Emma's terribly set on him."
Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
glared at Lucy.
"Your house is your castle," said Lucy.
"Laughing at me?"
"Of course not. I think it's very exciting to have a real country place all surrounded by town."
"Quite so. Can't see another house from here, can you? Fields with cows in them - right in the middle of Brackhampton. You hear the traffic a bit when the wind's that way - but otherwise it's still country."
He added, without pause or change of tone, to his daughter:
"Ring up that damn' fool of a doctor. Tell him that last medicine's no good at all."
The Singing Butler
Lucy and Emma retired. He shouted after them:
"And don't let that damned woman who sniffs dust in here. She's disarranged all my books."
Lucy asked:
"Has Mr. Crackenthorpe been an invalid long?"
Emma said, rather evasively:
"Oh, for years now…. This is the kitchen."
The kitchen was enormous. A vast kitchen range stood cold and neglected. An Aga stood demurely beside it.
Lucy asked times of meals and inspected the larder. Then she said cheerfully to Emma Crackenthorpe:
"I know everything now. Don't bother. Leave it all to me."
Emma Crackenthorpe heaved a sigh of relief as she went up to bed that night.
The Singing Butler
glared at Lucy.
"Your house is your castle," said Lucy.
"Laughing at me?"
"Of course not. I think it's very exciting to have a real country place all surrounded by town."
"Quite so. Can't see another house from here, can you? Fields with cows in them - right in the middle of Brackhampton. You hear the traffic a bit when the wind's that way - but otherwise it's still country."
He added, without pause or change of tone, to his daughter:
"Ring up that damn' fool of a doctor. Tell him that last medicine's no good at all."
The Singing Butler
Lucy and Emma retired. He shouted after them:
"And don't let that damned woman who sniffs dust in here. She's disarranged all my books."
Lucy asked:
"Has Mr. Crackenthorpe been an invalid long?"
Emma said, rather evasively:
"Oh, for years now…. This is the kitchen."
The kitchen was enormous. A vast kitchen range stood cold and neglected. An Aga stood demurely beside it.
Lucy asked times of meals and inspected the larder. Then she said cheerfully to Emma Crackenthorpe:
"I know everything now. Don't bother. Leave it all to me."
Emma Crackenthorpe heaved a sigh of relief as she went up to bed that night.
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
Old Mr. Crackenthorpe was stretched out in an invalid chair, a silver-headed stick by his side.
He was a big gaunt man, his flesh hanging in loose folds. He had a face rather like a bulldog, with a pugnacious chin. He had thick dark hair flecked with grey, and small suspicious eyes.
"Let's have a look at you, young lady."
Lucy advanced, composed and smiling.
Jack Vettriano Painting
"There's just one thing you'd better understand straight away. Just because we live in a big house doesn't mean we're rich. We're not rich. We live simply – do you hear? - simply! No good coming here with a lot of high-falutin ideas. Cod's as good as a fish as turbot any day, and don't you forget it. I don't stand for waste. I live here because my father built the house and I like it. After I'm dead they can sell it up if they want to – and I expect they will want to. No sense of family. This house is well built - it's solid, and we've got our own land round us. Keeps us private. It would bring in a lot if sold for building land but not while I'm alive. You won't get me out of here until you take me out feet first."
Jack Vettriano Painting
Old Mr. Crackenthorpe was stretched out in an invalid chair, a silver-headed stick by his side.
He was a big gaunt man, his flesh hanging in loose folds. He had a face rather like a bulldog, with a pugnacious chin. He had thick dark hair flecked with grey, and small suspicious eyes.
"Let's have a look at you, young lady."
Lucy advanced, composed and smiling.
Jack Vettriano Painting
"There's just one thing you'd better understand straight away. Just because we live in a big house doesn't mean we're rich. We're not rich. We live simply – do you hear? - simply! No good coming here with a lot of high-falutin ideas. Cod's as good as a fish as turbot any day, and don't you forget it. I don't stand for waste. I live here because my father built the house and I like it. After I'm dead they can sell it up if they want to – and I expect they will want to. No sense of family. This house is well built - it's solid, and we've got our own land round us. Keeps us private. It would bring in a lot if sold for building land but not while I'm alive. You won't get me out of here until you take me out feet first."
Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Miss Crackenthorpe hesitated a moment before saying: "My father is elderly and a little – difficult sometimes. He is very keen on economy, and he says things sometimes that upset people. I wouldn't like –"
Lucy broke in quickly:
"I'm quite used to elderly people, of all kinds, she said. I always manage to get on well with them."
Emma Crackenthorpe looked relieved.
"Trouble with father!" diagnosed Lucy. "I bet he's an old tartar."
Mary Cassatt painting
She was apportioned a large gloomy bedroom which a small electric heater did its inadequate best to warm, and was shown round the house, a vast uncomfortable mansion. As they passed a door in the hall a voice roared out:
"That you, Emma? Got the new girl there? Bring her in. I want to look at her."
Emma flushed, glanced at Lucy apologetically.
The two women entered the room. It was richly upholstered in dark velvet, the narrow windows let in very little light, and it was full of heavy mahogany Victorian furniture.Mary Cassatt painting
Miss Crackenthorpe hesitated a moment before saying: "My father is elderly and a little – difficult sometimes. He is very keen on economy, and he says things sometimes that upset people. I wouldn't like –"
Lucy broke in quickly:
"I'm quite used to elderly people, of all kinds, she said. I always manage to get on well with them."
Emma Crackenthorpe looked relieved.
"Trouble with father!" diagnosed Lucy. "I bet he's an old tartar."
Mary Cassatt painting
She was apportioned a large gloomy bedroom which a small electric heater did its inadequate best to warm, and was shown round the house, a vast uncomfortable mansion. As they passed a door in the hall a voice roared out:
"That you, Emma? Got the new girl there? Bring her in. I want to look at her."
Emma flushed, glanced at Lucy apologetically.
The two women entered the room. It was richly upholstered in dark velvet, the narrow windows let in very little light, and it was full of heavy mahogany Victorian furniture.Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Oh, there are any amount of old stables. there's no trouble about that. She frowned a moment, then said, Eyelesbarrow – rather an unusual name. Some friends of mine were telling me about a Lucy Eyelesbarrow - the Kennedys?"
"Yes. I was with them in North Devon when Mrs. Kennedy was having a baby."
Emma Crackenthorpe smiled.
"I know they said they'd never had such a wonderful time as when you were there seeing to everything. But I had the idea that you were terribly expensive. The sum I mentioned –
Edward Hopper Painting
That's quite all right," said Lucy. "I want particularly, you see, to be near Brackhampton. I have an elderly aunt in a critical state of health and I want to be within easy distance of her. That's why the salary is a secondary consideration. I can't afford to do nothing. If I could be sure of having some time off most days?"
"Oh, of course. Every afternoon, till six, if you like?"
"That seems perfect."
Edward Hopper Painting
Oh, there are any amount of old stables. there's no trouble about that. She frowned a moment, then said, Eyelesbarrow – rather an unusual name. Some friends of mine were telling me about a Lucy Eyelesbarrow - the Kennedys?"
"Yes. I was with them in North Devon when Mrs. Kennedy was having a baby."
Emma Crackenthorpe smiled.
"I know they said they'd never had such a wonderful time as when you were there seeing to everything. But I had the idea that you were terribly expensive. The sum I mentioned –
Edward Hopper Painting
That's quite all right," said Lucy. "I want particularly, you see, to be near Brackhampton. I have an elderly aunt in a critical state of health and I want to be within easy distance of her. That's why the salary is a secondary consideration. I can't afford to do nothing. If I could be sure of having some time off most days?"
"Oh, of course. Every afternoon, till six, if you like?"
"That seems perfect."
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
Then she looked doubtful.
"I wonder," she said, “if this post is really what you're looking for? I don't want a housekeeper, you know, to supervise things. I want someone to do the work."
Lucy said that that was what most people needed.
Emma Crackenthorpe said apologetically:
"So many people, you know, seem to think that just a little light dusting will answer the case - but I can do all the light dusting myself."
"I quite understand," said
Van Gogh Sunflower
said Lucy. "You want cooking and washing-up, and housework and stoking the boiler. That's all right. That's what I do. I'm not at all afraid of work."
"It's a big house, I'm afraid, and inconvenient. Of course we only live in a portion of it – my father and myself, that is. He is rather an invalid. We live quite quietly, and there is an Aga stove. I have several brothers, but they are not here very often. Two women come in, a Mrs. Kidder in the morning, and Mrs. Hart three days a week to do brasses and things like that. You have your own car?"
"Yes. It can stand out in the open if there's nowhere to put it. It's used to it."
Van Gogh Sunflower
Then she looked doubtful.
"I wonder," she said, “if this post is really what you're looking for? I don't want a housekeeper, you know, to supervise things. I want someone to do the work."
Lucy said that that was what most people needed.
Emma Crackenthorpe said apologetically:
"So many people, you know, seem to think that just a little light dusting will answer the case - but I can do all the light dusting myself."
"I quite understand," said
Van Gogh Sunflower
said Lucy. "You want cooking and washing-up, and housework and stoking the boiler. That's all right. That's what I do. I'm not at all afraid of work."
"It's a big house, I'm afraid, and inconvenient. Of course we only live in a portion of it – my father and myself, that is. He is rather an invalid. We live quite quietly, and there is an Aga stove. I have several brothers, but they are not here very often. Two women come in, a Mrs. Kidder in the morning, and Mrs. Hart three days a week to do brasses and things like that. You have your own car?"
"Yes. It can stand out in the open if there's nowhere to put it. It's used to it."
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
pulled an old-fashioned wrought-iron bell, and its clamour sounded echoing away inside. A slatternly woman, wiping her hands on her apron, opened the door and looked at her suspiciously.
"Expected, aren't you?" she said. "Miss something-barrow, she told me."
"Quite right," said Lucy.
The house was desperately cold inside. Her guide led her along a dark hall and opened a door on the right. Rather to Lucy's surprise, it was quite a pleasant sitting-room, with books and chintz-covered chairs.
Van Gogh Painting
I'll tell her," said the woman, and went away shutting the door after having given Lucy a look of profound disfavour.
After a few minutes the door opened again. From the first moment Lucy decided that she liked Emma Crackenthorpe.
She was a middle-aged woman with no very outstanding characteristics, neither good-looking nor plain, sensibly dressed in tweeds and pullover, with dark hair swept back from her forehead, steady hazel eyes and a very pleasant voice.
She said: "Miss Eyelesbarrow?" and held out her hand.
Van Gogh Painting
pulled an old-fashioned wrought-iron bell, and its clamour sounded echoing away inside. A slatternly woman, wiping her hands on her apron, opened the door and looked at her suspiciously.
"Expected, aren't you?" she said. "Miss something-barrow, she told me."
"Quite right," said Lucy.
The house was desperately cold inside. Her guide led her along a dark hall and opened a door on the right. Rather to Lucy's surprise, it was quite a pleasant sitting-room, with books and chintz-covered chairs.
Van Gogh Painting
I'll tell her," said the woman, and went away shutting the door after having given Lucy a look of profound disfavour.
After a few minutes the door opened again. From the first moment Lucy decided that she liked Emma Crackenthorpe.
She was a middle-aged woman with no very outstanding characteristics, neither good-looking nor plain, sensibly dressed in tweeds and pullover, with dark hair swept back from her forehead, steady hazel eyes and a very pleasant voice.
She said: "Miss Eyelesbarrow?" and held out her hand.
Van Gogh Painting
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Miss Marple departed, and Lucy, after a moment's reflection, rang up a Registry Office in Brackhampton, the manageress of which she knew very well. She explained her desire for a post in the neighbourhood so as to be near her "aunt." After turning down, with a little difficulty and a good deal of ingenuity, several more desirable places, Rutherford Hall was mentioned.
"That sounds exactly what I want," said Lucy firmly.
The Registry Office rang up Miss Crackenthorpe, Miss Crackenthorpe rang up Lucy.
Two days later Lucy left London en route for Rutherford Hall.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Driving her own small car, Lucy Eyelesbarrow drove through an imposing pair of vast iron gates. Just inside them was what had originally been a small lodge which now seemed completely derelict, whether through war damage, or merely through neglect, it was difficult to be sure. A long winding drive led through large gloomy clumps of rhododendrons up to the house. Lucy caught her breath in a slight gasp when she saw the house which was a kind of miniature Windsor Castle. The stone steps in front of the door could have done with attention and the gravel sweep was green with neglected weeds.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Miss Marple departed, and Lucy, after a moment's reflection, rang up a Registry Office in Brackhampton, the manageress of which she knew very well. She explained her desire for a post in the neighbourhood so as to be near her "aunt." After turning down, with a little difficulty and a good deal of ingenuity, several more desirable places, Rutherford Hall was mentioned.
"That sounds exactly what I want," said Lucy firmly.
The Registry Office rang up Miss Crackenthorpe, Miss Crackenthorpe rang up Lucy.
Two days later Lucy left London en route for Rutherford Hall.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Driving her own small car, Lucy Eyelesbarrow drove through an imposing pair of vast iron gates. Just inside them was what had originally been a small lodge which now seemed completely derelict, whether through war damage, or merely through neglect, it was difficult to be sure. A long winding drive led through large gloomy clumps of rhododendrons up to the house. Lucy caught her breath in a slight gasp when she saw the house which was a kind of miniature Windsor Castle. The stone steps in front of the door could have done with attention and the gravel sweep was green with neglected weeds.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
I shall be quite close at hand," said Miss Marple. "An old maidservant of mine, my faithful Florence, lives in Brackhampton. She has looked after her old parents for years. They are now both dead, and she takes in lodgers - all most respectable people. She has arranged for me to have rooms with her. She will look after me most devotedly, and I feel I should be close at hand. I would suggest that you mention you have an elderly aunt living in the neighbourhood, and that you want a post within easy distance of her, and also that you stipulate for a reasonable amount of spare time so that you can go and see her often."
Henri Matisse Painting
Again Lucy nodded.
"I was going to Taormina the day after to-morrow, she said. The holiday can wait. But I can only promise three weeks. After that, I am booked up."
"Three weeks should be ample," said Miss Marple. "If we can't find out anything in three weeks, we might as well give up the whole thing as a mare's nest."
Henri Matisse Painting
I shall be quite close at hand," said Miss Marple. "An old maidservant of mine, my faithful Florence, lives in Brackhampton. She has looked after her old parents for years. They are now both dead, and she takes in lodgers - all most respectable people. She has arranged for me to have rooms with her. She will look after me most devotedly, and I feel I should be close at hand. I would suggest that you mention you have an elderly aunt living in the neighbourhood, and that you want a post within easy distance of her, and also that you stipulate for a reasonable amount of spare time so that you can go and see her often."
Henri Matisse Painting
Again Lucy nodded.
"I was going to Taormina the day after to-morrow, she said. The holiday can wait. But I can only promise three weeks. After that, I am booked up."
"Three weeks should be ample," said Miss Marple. "If we can't find out anything in three weeks, we might as well give up the whole thing as a mare's nest."
Henri Matisse Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Not the difficulty so much as the danger. It might, you know, be dangerous. It's only right to warn you of that."
"I don't know," said Lucy pensively, "that the idea of danger would deter me."
"I didn't think it would," said Miss Marple. "You're not that kind of person."
"I dare say you thought it might even attract me? I've encountered very little danger in my life. But do you really believe it might be dangerous?"
Marc Chagall Painting
"Somebody," Miss Marple pointed out, "has committed a very successful crime. There has been no hue-and-cry, no real suspicion. Two elderly ladies have told a rather improbable story, the police have investigated it and found nothing in it. So everything is nice and quiet. I don't think that this somebody, whoever he may be, will care about the matter being raked up - especially if you are successful."
"What do look for exactly?"
"An signs along the embankment, a scrap of clothing, broken bushes - that kind of thing."
Lucy nodded.
"And then?"Marc Chagall Painting
Not the difficulty so much as the danger. It might, you know, be dangerous. It's only right to warn you of that."
"I don't know," said Lucy pensively, "that the idea of danger would deter me."
"I didn't think it would," said Miss Marple. "You're not that kind of person."
"I dare say you thought it might even attract me? I've encountered very little danger in my life. But do you really believe it might be dangerous?"
Marc Chagall Painting
"Somebody," Miss Marple pointed out, "has committed a very successful crime. There has been no hue-and-cry, no real suspicion. Two elderly ladies have told a rather improbable story, the police have investigated it and found nothing in it. So everything is nice and quiet. I don't think that this somebody, whoever he may be, will care about the matter being raked up - especially if you are successful."
"What do look for exactly?"
"An signs along the embankment, a scrap of clothing, broken bushes - that kind of thing."
Lucy nodded.
"And then?"Marc Chagall Painting
The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
But surely it would still be found – even there?"
"On, yes. It would have to be taken away…. But we'll come to that presently. Here's the place - on this map."
Lucy bent to study where Miss Marple's finger pointed.
"It is right in the outskirts of Brackhampton now," said Miss Marple, "but originally it was a country house with extensive park and grounds and it's still there, untouched - ringed round now with building estates and small suburban houses. It's called Rutherford Hall. It was built by a man called Crackenthorpe, a very rich manufacturer in 1884. The original Crackenthorpe's son, an elderly man, is living there still with, I understand, a daughter. The railway encircles quite half of the property."
The Birth of Venus
"And you want me to do – what?"
Miss Marple replied promptly.
"I want you to get a post there. Everyone is crying out for efficient domestic help - I should not imagine it would be difficult."
"No, I don't suppose it would be difficult."
"I understand that Mr. Crackenthorpe is said locally to be somewhat of a miser. If you accept a low salary, I will make it up to the proper figure which I should, I think, be rather more than the current rate."
"Because of the difficulty?"The Birth of Venus
But surely it would still be found – even there?"
"On, yes. It would have to be taken away…. But we'll come to that presently. Here's the place - on this map."
Lucy bent to study where Miss Marple's finger pointed.
"It is right in the outskirts of Brackhampton now," said Miss Marple, "but originally it was a country house with extensive park and grounds and it's still there, untouched - ringed round now with building estates and small suburban houses. It's called Rutherford Hall. It was built by a man called Crackenthorpe, a very rich manufacturer in 1884. The original Crackenthorpe's son, an elderly man, is living there still with, I understand, a daughter. The railway encircles quite half of the property."
The Birth of Venus
"And you want me to do – what?"
Miss Marple replied promptly.
"I want you to get a post there. Everyone is crying out for efficient domestic help - I should not imagine it would be difficult."
"No, I don't suppose it would be difficult."
"I understand that Mr. Crackenthorpe is said locally to be somewhat of a miser. If you accept a low salary, I will make it up to the proper figure which I should, I think, be rather more than the current rate."
"Because of the difficulty?"The Birth of Venus
Bouguereau William
Bouguereau William
see," said Lucy thoughtfully, "Well, let's accept it all. Where do I come in?"
"I was very much impressed by you," said Miss Marple, "and you see, I haven't got the physical strength nowadays to get about and do things."
"You want me to make inquiries? That sort of thing? But won't the police have done all that? Or do you think they have been just slack?"
Bouguereau William
Oh, no," said Miss Marple. "They haven't been slack. It's just that I've got a theory about the woman's body. It's got to be somewhere. If it wasn't found in the train, then it must have been pushed or thrown out of the train - but it hasn't been discovered anywhere on the line. So I travelled down the same way to see if there was anywhere where the body could have been thrown off the train and yet wouldn't have been found on the line – and there was. The railway line makes a big curve before getting into Brackhampton, on the edge of a high embankment. If a body were thrown out there, when the train was leaning at an angle, I think it would pitch right down the embankment."
Bouguereau William
see," said Lucy thoughtfully, "Well, let's accept it all. Where do I come in?"
"I was very much impressed by you," said Miss Marple, "and you see, I haven't got the physical strength nowadays to get about and do things."
"You want me to make inquiries? That sort of thing? But won't the police have done all that? Or do you think they have been just slack?"
Bouguereau William
Oh, no," said Miss Marple. "They haven't been slack. It's just that I've got a theory about the woman's body. It's got to be somewhere. If it wasn't found in the train, then it must have been pushed or thrown out of the train - but it hasn't been discovered anywhere on the line. So I travelled down the same way to see if there was anywhere where the body could have been thrown off the train and yet wouldn't have been found on the line – and there was. The railway line makes a big curve before getting into Brackhampton, on the edge of a high embankment. If a body were thrown out there, when the train was leaning at an angle, I think it would pitch right down the embankment."
Bouguereau William
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt Painting
For a moment the suspicion crossed Lucy's mind that Miss Marple was mentally unhinged, but she rejected the idea. Miss Marple was eminently sane. She meant exactly what she had said.
"What kind of a body?" asked Lucy Eyelesbarrow with admirable composure.
"A woman's body," said Miss Marple. "The body of a woman who was murdered - strangled actually – in a train."
Lucy's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Well, that's certainly unusual. Tell me about it."
Gustav Klimt Painting
Elspeth Mrs. McGillicuddy doesn't imagine things," said Miss Marple. "That's why I'm relying on what she said. If it had been Dorothy Cartwright, now – it would have been quite a different matter. Dorothy always has a good story, and quite often believes it herself, and there is usually a kind of basis of truth but certainly no more. But Elspeth is kind of woman who finds it very hard to make herself believe that anything at all extraordinary or out of the way could happen. She's most unsuggestible, rather like granite."
Gustav Klimt Painting
For a moment the suspicion crossed Lucy's mind that Miss Marple was mentally unhinged, but she rejected the idea. Miss Marple was eminently sane. She meant exactly what she had said.
"What kind of a body?" asked Lucy Eyelesbarrow with admirable composure.
"A woman's body," said Miss Marple. "The body of a woman who was murdered - strangled actually – in a train."
Lucy's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Well, that's certainly unusual. Tell me about it."
Gustav Klimt Painting
Elspeth Mrs. McGillicuddy doesn't imagine things," said Miss Marple. "That's why I'm relying on what she said. If it had been Dorothy Cartwright, now – it would have been quite a different matter. Dorothy always has a good story, and quite often believes it herself, and there is usually a kind of basis of truth but certainly no more. But Elspeth is kind of woman who finds it very hard to make herself believe that anything at all extraordinary or out of the way could happen. She's most unsuggestible, rather like granite."
Gustav Klimt Painting
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow frowned for a moment or two as she considered. She was in reality fully booked up. But the word unusual, and her recollection of Miss Marple's personality, carried the day and she rang up Miss Marple straight away explaining that she could not come down to St. Mary Mead as she was at the moment working, but that she was free from 2 to 4 on the following afternoon and could meet Miss Marple anywhere in London. She suggested her own club, a rather nondescript establishment which had the advantage of having several small dark writing-room which were usually empty.
Modern Art Painting
Miss Marple accepted the suggestion and on the following day the meeting took place.
Greeting were exchanged; Lucy Eyelesbarrow led her guest to the gloomiest of the writing-rooms, and said: "I'm afraid I'm rather booked up just at present, but perhaps you'll tell me what it is you want me to undertake?"
"It's very simple, really," said Miss Marple. "Unusual, but simple. I want you to find a body."
Modern Art Painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow frowned for a moment or two as she considered. She was in reality fully booked up. But the word unusual, and her recollection of Miss Marple's personality, carried the day and she rang up Miss Marple straight away explaining that she could not come down to St. Mary Mead as she was at the moment working, but that she was free from 2 to 4 on the following afternoon and could meet Miss Marple anywhere in London. She suggested her own club, a rather nondescript establishment which had the advantage of having several small dark writing-room which were usually empty.
Modern Art Painting
Miss Marple accepted the suggestion and on the following day the meeting took place.
Greeting were exchanged; Lucy Eyelesbarrow led her guest to the gloomiest of the writing-rooms, and said: "I'm afraid I'm rather booked up just at present, but perhaps you'll tell me what it is you want me to undertake?"
"It's very simple, really," said Miss Marple. "Unusual, but simple. I want you to find a body."
Modern Art Painting
Art Painting
Art Painting
she went very largely by personal liking. Mere riches would not buy you the services of Lucy Eyelesbarrow. She could pick and choose and she did pick and choose. She enjoyed her life very much and found in it a continual source of entertainment.
Lucy Eyelesbarrow read and re-read the letter from Miss Marple. She had made Miss Marple's acquaintance two years ago when her services had been retained by Raymond West, the novelist, to go and look after his old aunt who was recovering from pneumonia. Lucy had accepted the job and had gone down to St. Mary Mead. She liked Miss Marple very much. As for Miss Marple, once she had caught a glimpse out of her bedroom window of Lucy Eyelesbarrow really trenching for sweet peas in the proper way, she had leaned back on her
Art Painting
pillows with a sigh of relief, eaten the tempting little meals that Lucy Eyelesbarrow brought to her, and listened, agreeably surprised, to the tales told by her elderly irascible maidservant of how “I taught that Miss Eyelesbarrow a crochet pattern what she’d never heard of! Proper grateful, she was." And had surprised her doctor by the rapidity of her convalescence.
Miss Marple wrote asking if Miss Eyelesbarrow could undertake a certain task for her - rather an unusual one. Perhaps Miss Eyelesbarrow could arrange a meeting at which they could discuss the matter.
Art Painting
she went very largely by personal liking. Mere riches would not buy you the services of Lucy Eyelesbarrow. She could pick and choose and she did pick and choose. She enjoyed her life very much and found in it a continual source of entertainment.
Lucy Eyelesbarrow read and re-read the letter from Miss Marple. She had made Miss Marple's acquaintance two years ago when her services had been retained by Raymond West, the novelist, to go and look after his old aunt who was recovering from pneumonia. Lucy had accepted the job and had gone down to St. Mary Mead. She liked Miss Marple very much. As for Miss Marple, once she had caught a glimpse out of her bedroom window of Lucy Eyelesbarrow really trenching for sweet peas in the proper way, she had leaned back on her
Art Painting
pillows with a sigh of relief, eaten the tempting little meals that Lucy Eyelesbarrow brought to her, and listened, agreeably surprised, to the tales told by her elderly irascible maidservant of how “I taught that Miss Eyelesbarrow a crochet pattern what she’d never heard of! Proper grateful, she was." And had surprised her doctor by the rapidity of her convalescence.
Miss Marple wrote asking if Miss Eyelesbarrow could undertake a certain task for her - rather an unusual one. Perhaps Miss Eyelesbarrow could arrange a meeting at which they could discuss the matter.
Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
One of her rules was never to accept an engagement for any long length of time. A fortnight was her usual period – a month at most under exceptional circumstances. For that fortnight you had to pay the earth! But, during that fortnight, your life was heaven. You could relax completely, go abroad, stay at home, do as you pleased, secure that all was going well on the home front in Lucy Eyelesbarrow's capable hands.
Famous painting
Naturally the demand for her services was enormous. She could have booked herself up if she chose for about three years ahead. She had been offered enormous sums to go as a permanency. But Lucy had no intention of being a permanency, nor would she book herself for more than six months ahead. And within that period, unknown to her clamouring clients, she always kept certain free periods which enabled her either to take a short luxurious holiday (since she spent nothing otherwise and was handsomely paid and kept) or to accept any position at short notice that happened to take her fancy, either by reason of its character, or because she “liked the people." Since she was now at liberty to pick and choose amongst the vociferous claimants for her services
Famous painting
One of her rules was never to accept an engagement for any long length of time. A fortnight was her usual period – a month at most under exceptional circumstances. For that fortnight you had to pay the earth! But, during that fortnight, your life was heaven. You could relax completely, go abroad, stay at home, do as you pleased, secure that all was going well on the home front in Lucy Eyelesbarrow's capable hands.
Famous painting
Naturally the demand for her services was enormous. She could have booked herself up if she chose for about three years ahead. She had been offered enormous sums to go as a permanency. But Lucy had no intention of being a permanency, nor would she book herself for more than six months ahead. And within that period, unknown to her clamouring clients, she always kept certain free periods which enabled her either to take a short luxurious holiday (since she spent nothing otherwise and was handsomely paid and kept) or to accept any position at short notice that happened to take her fancy, either by reason of its character, or because she “liked the people." Since she was now at liberty to pick and choose amongst the vociferous claimants for her services
Famous painting
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow hit at once upon a very serious shortage - the shortage of any kind of skilled domestic labour. To the amazement of her friends and fellow-scholars, Lucy Eyelesbarrow entered the field of domestic labour.
Her success was immediate and assured. By now, after a lapse of some years, she was known all over the British Isles. It was quite customary for wives to say joyfully to husbands, "It will be all right. I can go with you to the States. I've got Lucy Eyelesbarrow!" The point of Lucy Eyelesbarrow was that once she came into a house, all worry, anxiety and hard work went out of it. Lucy Eyelesbarrow did everything
Famous artist painting
saw to everything, arranged everything. She was unbelievably competent in every conceivably sphere. She looked after elderly parents, accepted the care of young children, nursed the sickly, cooked divinely, got on well with any old crusted servants there might happen to be (there usually weren't), was tactful with impossible people, soothed habitual drunkards, was wonderful with dogs. Best of all she never minded what she did. She scrubbed the kitchen floor, dug in the garden, cleaned up dog messes, and carried coals!
Famous artist painting
Lucy Eyelesbarrow hit at once upon a very serious shortage - the shortage of any kind of skilled domestic labour. To the amazement of her friends and fellow-scholars, Lucy Eyelesbarrow entered the field of domestic labour.
Her success was immediate and assured. By now, after a lapse of some years, she was known all over the British Isles. It was quite customary for wives to say joyfully to husbands, "It will be all right. I can go with you to the States. I've got Lucy Eyelesbarrow!" The point of Lucy Eyelesbarrow was that once she came into a house, all worry, anxiety and hard work went out of it. Lucy Eyelesbarrow did everything
Famous artist painting
saw to everything, arranged everything. She was unbelievably competent in every conceivably sphere. She looked after elderly parents, accepted the care of young children, nursed the sickly, cooked divinely, got on well with any old crusted servants there might happen to be (there usually weren't), was tactful with impossible people, soothed habitual drunkards, was wonderful with dogs. Best of all she never minded what she did. She scrubbed the kitchen floor, dug in the garden, cleaned up dog messes, and carried coals!
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
The name of Lucy Eyelesbarrow had already made itself felt in certain circles.
Lucy Eyelesbarrow was thirty-two. She had taken a First in Mathematics at Oxford, was acknowledged to have a brilliant mind and was confidently expected to take up a distinguished academic career.
Decorative painting
But Lucy Eyelesbarrow, in addition to scholarly brilliance, had a core of good sound common sense. She could not fail to observe that a life of academic distinction was singularly ill rewarded. She had no desire whatever to teach and she took pleasure in contacts with minds much less brilliant than her own. In short, she had a taste for people, and all sorts of people - and not the same people the whole time. She also, quite frankly, liked money. To gain money one must exploit shortage.Decorative painting
The name of Lucy Eyelesbarrow had already made itself felt in certain circles.
Lucy Eyelesbarrow was thirty-two. She had taken a First in Mathematics at Oxford, was acknowledged to have a brilliant mind and was confidently expected to take up a distinguished academic career.
Decorative painting
But Lucy Eyelesbarrow, in addition to scholarly brilliance, had a core of good sound common sense. She could not fail to observe that a life of academic distinction was singularly ill rewarded. She had no desire whatever to teach and she took pleasure in contacts with minds much less brilliant than her own. In short, she had a taste for people, and all sorts of people - and not the same people the whole time. She also, quite frankly, liked money. To gain money one must exploit shortage.Decorative painting
Monday, October 22, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
"Regard，Hastings，did I not tell you that she had been a beautifulwoman?" He was right.Disfigured by old-fashioned hairdressing and weird clothes，there was no disguising the handsomeness of the girl in the picture with herclear-cut features and spirited bearing.I looked closely at the secondfigure.It was almost impossible to recognise the seedy Ascher in this smartyoung man with the military bearing. I recalled the leering drunken old man，and the toil-worn face of thedead woman-and I shivered a little at the remorselessness of time...... From the parlour a stair led to two upstairs rooms.
Abstract Painting
One was empty and unfurnished，the other had evidently been the deadwoman's bedroom. After being searched by the police it had been left as it was.A coupleof old worn blankets on the bed-a little stock of well-darned underwear in adrawer-cookery recipets in another-a paper-backed novel entitled The GreenOasis-a pair of new stockings-pathetic in their cheap shininess-a couple ofchina ornaments-a Dresden shephered much broken，and a blue and yellowspotted dog-a black raincoat and a woolly jumper hanging on pegs-such werethe worldly possessions of the late Alice Ascher. If there had been any personal papers，the police had taken them. "Pauvre femme，"murmured Poirot.
Abstract Painting
"Regard，Hastings，did I not tell you that she had been a beautifulwoman?" He was right.Disfigured by old-fashioned hairdressing and weird clothes，there was no disguising the handsomeness of the girl in the picture with herclear-cut features and spirited bearing.I looked closely at the secondfigure.It was almost impossible to recognise the seedy Ascher in this smartyoung man with the military bearing. I recalled the leering drunken old man，and the toil-worn face of thedead woman-and I shivered a little at the remorselessness of time...... From the parlour a stair led to two upstairs rooms.
Abstract Painting
One was empty and unfurnished，the other had evidently been the deadwoman's bedroom. After being searched by the police it had been left as it was.A coupleof old worn blankets on the bed-a little stock of well-darned underwear in adrawer-cookery recipets in another-a paper-backed novel entitled The GreenOasis-a pair of new stockings-pathetic in their cheap shininess-a couple ofchina ornaments-a Dresden shephered much broken，and a blue and yellowspotted dog-a black raincoat and a woolly jumper hanging on pegs-such werethe worldly possessions of the late Alice Ascher. If there had been any personal papers，the police had taken them. "Pauvre femme，"murmured Poirot.
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
"Yes，sir，you go through that door at the back，sir.You'll excuse menot coming with you，but I've got to stay-"Poirot passed through the door inquestion and I followed him.Behind the shop was a microscopic sort ofparlour and kitchen combined-it was neat and clean but very dreary lookingand scantily furnished.On the mantelpiece were a few photographs.I went upand looked at them and Poirot joined me. The photographs were three in all.One was a cheap portrait of the girlwe had been with that afternoon，Mary Drower.She was obviously wearing herbest clothes and had the self-conscious，wooden smile on her face that soofter disfigures the expression in posed photography，and makes a snapshotpreferable.
Rembrandt Painting
The second was a more expensive type of picture-an artistically blurredreproduction of an elderly woman with white hair.A high fur collar stood upround the neck. I guessed that this was probably the Miss Rose who had left Mrs Ascherthe small legacy which had enabled her to start in business. The third photograph was a very old one，now faded and yellow.Itrepresented a young man and woman in somewhat old-fashioned clothes standingarm in arm.The man had a button-hole and there was an air of bygonefestivity about the whole pose. "Probably a wedding picture，"said Poirot.
Rembrandt Painting
"Yes，sir，you go through that door at the back，sir.You'll excuse menot coming with you，but I've got to stay-"Poirot passed through the door inquestion and I followed him.Behind the shop was a microscopic sort ofparlour and kitchen combined-it was neat and clean but very dreary lookingand scantily furnished.On the mantelpiece were a few photographs.I went upand looked at them and Poirot joined me. The photographs were three in all.One was a cheap portrait of the girlwe had been with that afternoon，Mary Drower.She was obviously wearing herbest clothes and had the self-conscious，wooden smile on her face that soofter disfigures the expression in posed photography，and makes a snapshotpreferable.
Rembrandt Painting
The second was a more expensive type of picture-an artistically blurredreproduction of an elderly woman with white hair.A high fur collar stood upround the neck. I guessed that this was probably the Miss Rose who had left Mrs Ascherthe small legacy which had enabled her to start in business. The third photograph was a very old one，now faded and yellow.Itrepresented a young man and woman in somewhat old-fashioned clothes standingarm in arm.The man had a button-hole and there was an air of bygonefestivity about the whole pose. "Probably a wedding picture，"said Poirot.
Rembrandt Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
I was only too ready. We made our way through the crowd and accosted the youngpoliceman.Poirto produced the credentials which the inspector had givenhim.The constable nodded，and unlocked the door to let us pass within.We didso and entered to the intense interest of the lookers-on. Inside it was very dark owing to the shutters being closed.The constablefound and switched on the electric light.The bulb was a low-powered one sothat the interior was still dimly lit. I looked about me.
Jack Vettriano Painting
A dingy little place.A few cheap magazines strewn about，and yesterday'snewspapers-all with a day's dust on them.Behind the counter a row of shelvesreaching to the ceiling and packed with tobacco and packets of cigarettes. There were also a couple of jars of peppermint humbugs and barleysugar.A commonplace little shop，one of many thousand such others. The constable in his slow Hampshire voice was explaining the mise enscene. "Down in a heap behind the counter，that's where she was.Doctor says ashow she never knew what hit her.Must have been reaching up to one of theshelves."
Jack Vettriano Painting
I was only too ready. We made our way through the crowd and accosted the youngpoliceman.Poirto produced the credentials which the inspector had givenhim.The constable nodded，and unlocked the door to let us pass within.We didso and entered to the intense interest of the lookers-on. Inside it was very dark owing to the shutters being closed.The constablefound and switched on the electric light.The bulb was a low-powered one sothat the interior was still dimly lit. I looked about me.
Jack Vettriano Painting
A dingy little place.A few cheap magazines strewn about，and yesterday'snewspapers-all with a day's dust on them.Behind the counter a row of shelvesreaching to the ceiling and packed with tobacco and packets of cigarettes. There were also a couple of jars of peppermint humbugs and barleysugar.A commonplace little shop，one of many thousand such others. The constable in his slow Hampshire voice was explaining the mise enscene. "Down in a heap behind the counter，that's where she was.Doctor says ashow she never knew what hit her.Must have been reaching up to one of theshelves."
Jack Vettriano Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
There was nothing in her hand?" "No，sir，but there was a packet of Player's down beside her." Poirot nodded.His eyes swept round the small space observing-noting. "And the railway guide was-where?" "Here，sir."The constable pointer out the spot on the counter."It wasopen at the right page for Andover and lying face down. Seems as though he must have been looking up the trains to London.If so，it mightn't have been an Andover man at all.But then，of course，the railwayguide might have belonged to someone else what had nothing to do with themurder at all，but just forgot it here."
The Singing Butler
Fingerprints?"I suggested. The man shook his head. "The whole place was examined straight away，sir.There weren't none." "Not on the counter itself?"asked Poirot. "A long sight too many，sir!All confused and jumbled up." "Any of Ascher's among them?" "Too soon to say，sir." Poirot nodded，the asked if the dead woman lived over the shop.
The Singing Butler
There was nothing in her hand?" "No，sir，but there was a packet of Player's down beside her." Poirot nodded.His eyes swept round the small space observing-noting. "And the railway guide was-where?" "Here，sir."The constable pointer out the spot on the counter."It wasopen at the right page for Andover and lying face down. Seems as though he must have been looking up the trains to London.If so，it mightn't have been an Andover man at all.But then，of course，the railwayguide might have belonged to someone else what had nothing to do with themurder at all，but just forgot it here."
The Singing Butler
Fingerprints?"I suggested. The man shook his head. "The whole place was examined straight away，sir.There weren't none." "Not on the counter itself?"asked Poirot. "A long sight too many，sir!All confused and jumbled up." "Any of Ascher's among them?" "Too soon to say，sir." Poirot nodded，the asked if the dead woman lived over the shop.
The Singing Butler
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