Chapter CXI

by William Somerset Maugham

　　Next day Philip began work again, but the end which he expected within afew weeks did not come. The weeks passed into months. The winter woreaway, and in the parks the trees burst into bud and into leaf. A terriblelassitude settled upon Philip. Time was passing, though it went with suchheavy feet, and he thought that his youth was going and soon he would havelost it and nothing would have been accomplished. His work seemed moreaimless now that there was the certainty of his leaving it. He becameskilful in the designing of costumes, and though he had no inventivefaculty acquired quickness in the adaptation of French fashions to theEnglish market. Sometimes he was not displeased with his drawings, butthey always bungled them in the execution. He was amused to notice that hesuffered from a lively irritation when his ideas were not adequatelycarried out. He had to walk warily. Whenever he suggested somethingoriginal Mr. Sampson turned it down: their customers did not want anythingoutre, it was a very respectable class of business, and when you had aconnection of that sort it wasn't worth while taking liberties with it.Once or twice he spoke sharply to Philip; he thought the young man wasgetting a bit above himself, because Philip's ideas did not alwayscoincide with his own."You jolly well take care, my fine young fellow, or one of these daysyou'll find yourself in the street."Philip longed to give him a punch on the nose, but he restrained himself.After all it could not possibly last much longer, and then he would hedone with all these people for ever. Sometimes in comic desperation hecried out that his uncle must be made of iron. What a constitution! Theills he suffered from would have killed any decent person twelve monthsbefore. When at last the news came that the Vicar was dying Philip, whohad been thinking of other things, was taken by surprise. It was in July,and in another fortnight he was to have gone for his holiday. He receiveda letter from Mrs. Foster to say the doctor did not give Mr. Carey manydays to live, and if Philip wished to see him again he must come at once.Philip went to the buyer and told him he wanted to leave. Mr. Sampson wasa decent fellow, and when he knew the circumstances made no difficulties.Philip said good-bye to the people in his department; the reason of hisleaving had spread among them in an exaggerated form, and they thought hehad come into a fortune. Mrs. Hodges had tears in her eyes when she shookhands with him."I suppose we shan't often see you again," she said."I'm glad to get away from Lynn's," he answered.It was strange, but he was actually sorry to leave these people whom hethought he had loathed, and when he drove away from the house inHarrington Street it was with no exultation. He had so anticipated theemotions he would experience on this occasion that now he felt nothing: hewas as unconcerned as though he were going for a few days' holiday."I've got a rotten nature," he said to himself. "I look forward to thingsawfully, and then when they come I'm always disappointed."He reached Blackstable early in the afternoon. Mrs. Foster met him at thedoor, and her face told him that his uncle was not yet dead."He's a little better today," she said. "He's got a wonderfulconstitution."She led him into the bed-room where Mr. Carey lay on his back. He gavePhilip a slight smile, in which was a trace of satisfied cunning at havingcircumvented his enemy once more."I thought it was all up with me yesterday," he said, in an exhaustedvoice. "They'd all given me up, hadn't you, Mrs. Foster?""You've got a wonderful constitution, there's no denying that.""There's life in the old dog yet."Mrs. Foster said that the Vicar must not talk, it would tire him; shetreated him like a child, with kindly despotism; and there was somethingchildish in the old man's satisfaction at having cheated all theirexpectations. It struck him at once that Philip had been sent for, and hewas amused that he had been brought on a fool's errand. If he could onlyavoid another of his heart attacks he would get well enough in a week ortwo; and he had had the attacks several times before; he always felt as ifhe were going to die, but he never did. They all talked of hisconstitution, but they none of them knew how strong it was."Are you going to stay a day or two?" He asked Philip, pretending tobelieve he had come down for a holiday."I was thinking of it," Philip answered cheerfully."A breath of sea-air will do you good."Presently Dr. Wigram came, and after he had seen the Vicar talked withPhilip. He adopted an appropriate manner."I'm afraid it is the end this time, Philip," he said. "It'll be a greatloss to all of us. I've known him for five-and-thirty years.""He seems well enough now," said Philip."I'm keeping him alive on drugs, but it can't last. It was dreadful theselast two days, I thought he was dead half a dozen times."The doctor was silent for a minute or two, but at the gate he saidsuddenly to Philip:"Has Mrs. Foster said anything to you?""What d'you mean?""They're very superstitious, these people: she's got hold of an idea thathe's got something on his mind, and he can't die till he gets rid of it;and he can't bring himself to confess it."Philip did not answer, and the doctor went on."Of course it's nonsense. He's led a very good life, he's done his duty,he's been a good parish priest, and I'm sure we shall all miss him; hecan't have anything to reproach himself with. I very much doubt whetherthe next vicar will suit us half so well."For several days Mr. Carey continued without change. His appetite whichhad been excellent left him, and he could eat little. Dr. Wigram did nothesitate now to still the pain of the neuritis which tormented him; andthat, with the constant shaking of his palsied limbs, was graduallyexhausting him. His mind remained clear. Philip and Mrs. Foster nursed himbetween them. She was so tired by the many months during which she hadbeen attentive to all his wants that Philip insisted on sitting up withthe patient so that she might have her night's rest. He passed the longhours in an arm-chair so that he should not sleep soundly, and read by thelight of shaded candles The Thousand and One Nights. He had not readthem since he was a little boy, and they brought back his childhood tohim. Sometimes he sat and listened to the silence of the night. When theeffects of the opiate wore off Mr. Carey grew restless and kept himconstantly busy.At last, early one morning, when the birds were chattering noisily in thetrees, he heard his name called. He went up to the bed. Mr. Carey waslying on his back, with his eyes looking at the ceiling; he did not turnthem on Philip. Philip saw that sweat was on his forehead, and he took atowel and wiped it."Is that you, Philip?" the old man asked.Philip was startled because the voice was suddenly changed. It was hoarseand low. So would a man speak if he was cold with fear."Yes, d'you want anything?"There was a pause, and still the unseeing eyes stared at the ceiling. Thena twitch passed over the face."I think I'm going to die," he said."Oh, what nonsense!" cried Philip. "You're not going to die for years."Two tears were wrung from the old man's eyes. They moved Philip horribly.His uncle had never betrayed any particular emotion in the affairs oflife; and it was dreadful to see them now, for they signified a terrorthat was unspeakable."Send for Mr. Simmonds," he said. "I want to take the Communion."Mr. Simmonds was the curate."Now?" asked Philip."Soon, or else it'll be too late."Philip went to awake Mrs. Foster, but it was later than he thought and shewas up already. He told her to send the gardener with a message, and hewent back to his uncle's room."Have you sent for Mr. Simmonds?""Yes."There was a silence. Philip sat by the bed-side, and occasionally wipedthe sweating forehead."Let me hold your hand, Philip," the old man said at last.Philip gave him his hand and he clung to it as to life, for comfort in hisextremity. Perhaps he had never really loved anyone in all his days, butnow he turned instinctively to a human being. His hand was wet and cold.It grasped Philip's with feeble, despairing energy. The old man wasfighting with the fear of death. And Philip thought that all must gothrough that. Oh, how monstrous it was, and they could believe in a Godthat allowed his creatures to suffer such a cruel torture! He had nevercared for his uncle, and for two years he had longed every day for hisdeath; but now he could not overcome the compassion that filled his heart.What a price it was to pay for being other than the beasts!They remained in silence broken only once by a low inquiry from Mr. Carey."Hasn't he come yet?"At last the housekeeper came in softly to say that Mr. Simmonds was there.He carried a bag in which were his surplice and his hood. Mrs. Fosterbrought the communion plate. Mr. Simmonds shook hands silently withPhilip, and then with professional gravity went to the sick man's side.Philip and the maid went out of the room.Philip walked round the garden all fresh and dewy in the morning. Thebirds were singing gaily. The sky was blue, but the air, salt-laden, wassweet and cool. The roses were in full bloom. The green of the trees, thegreen of the lawns, was eager and brilliant. Philip walked, and as hewalked he thought of the mystery which was proceeding in that bedroom. Itgave him a peculiar emotion. Presently Mrs. Foster came out to him andsaid that his uncle wished to see him. The curate was putting his thingsback into the black bag. The sick man turned his head a little and greetedhim with a smile. Philip was astonished, for there was a change in him, anextraordinary change; his eyes had no longer the terror-stricken look, andthe pinching of his face had gone: he looked happy and serene."I'm quite prepared now," he said, and his voice had a different tone init. "When the Lord sees fit to call me I am ready to give my soul into hishands."Philip did not speak. He could see that his uncle was sincere. It wasalmost a miracle. He had taken the body and blood of his Savior, and theyhad given him strength so that he no longer feared the inevitable passageinto the night. He knew he was going to die: he was resigned. He only saidone thing more:"I shall rejoin my dear wife."It startled Philip. He remembered with what a callous selfishness hisuncle had treated her, how obtuse he had been to her humble, devoted love.The curate, deeply moved, went away and Mrs. Foster, weeping, accompaniedhim to the door. Mr. Carey, exhausted by his effort, fell into a lightdoze, and Philip sat down by the bed and waited for the end. The morningwore on, and the old man's breathing grew stertorous. The doctor came andsaid he was dying. He was unconscious and he pecked feebly at the sheets;he was restless and he cried out. Dr. Wigram gave him a hypodermicinjection."It can't do any good now, he may die at any moment."The doctor looked at his watch and then at the patient. Philip saw that itwas one o'clock. Dr. Wigram was thinking of his dinner."It's no use your waiting," he said."There's nothing I can do," said the doctor.When he was gone Mrs. Foster asked Philip if he would go to the carpenter,who was also the undertaker, and tell him to send up a woman to lay outthe body."You want a little fresh air," she said, "it'll do you good."The undertaker lived half a mile away. When Philip gave him his message,he said:"When did the poor old gentleman die?"Philip hesitated. It occurred to him that it would seem brutal to fetch awoman to wash the body while his uncle still lived, and he wondered whyMrs. Foster had asked him to come. They would think he was in a greathurry to kill the old man off. He thought the undertaker looked at himoddly. He repeated the question. It irritated Philip. It was no businessof his."When did the Vicar pass away?"Philip's first impulse was to say that it had just happened, but then itwould seem inexplicable if the sick man lingered for several hours. Hereddened and answered awkwardly."Oh, he isn't exactly dead yet."The undertaker looked at him in perplexity, and he hurried to explain."Mrs. Foster is all alone and she wants a woman there. You understood,don't you? He may be dead by now."The undertaker nodded."Oh, yes, I see. I'll send someone up at once."When Philip got back to the vicarage he went up to the bed-room. Mrs.Foster rose from her chair by the bed-side."He's just as he was when you left," she said.She went down to get herself something to eat, and Philip watchedcuriously the process of death. There was nothing human now in theunconscious being that struggled feebly. Sometimes a muttered ejaculationissued from the loose mouth. The sun beat down hotly from a cloudless sky,but the trees in the garden were pleasant and cool. It was a lovely day.A bluebottle buzzed against the windowpane. Suddenly there was a loudrattle, it made Philip start, it was horribly frightening; a movementpassed through the limbs and the old man was dead. The machine had rundown. The bluebottle buzzed, buzzed noisily against the windowpane.