An Ideal Family

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 1 / 8
# chapter_page: 1
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

That evening, for the first time in his life, as he pushed through the swing door and descended the three broad steps to the pavement, old Mr. Neave felt he was too old for spring. Spring—warm, eager, restless—was there, waiting for him in the golden light, ready to run up, to blow into his white beard, to tug sweetly on his arm in front of everyone. And he could not meet it, no; he could not square up once more and stride off, jaunty as a young man. He was tired and, although the late sun was still shining, curiously cold, with a numb feeling all over. Quite suddenly he had neither the energy nor the heart to endure this gaiety and bright movement any longer; it confused him. He wanted to stand still, to wave it away with his stick, to say, "Be off with you!" Suddenly it was a terrible effort to greet as usual—tipping his wide-awake hat with his stick—all the people he knew, the friends, acquaintances, shopkeepers, postmen, drivers.

But the gay glance that went with the gesture, the kindly twinkle that seemed to say, "I'm a match and more for any of you"—that old Mr. Neave could not manage at all. He stumped along, lifting his knees high as if he were walking through air that had somehow grown heavy and solid like water. And the homeward-looking crowd hurried by, the trams clanked, the light carts clattered, the big swinging cabs bowled along with that reckless, defiant indifference that one knows only in dreams....

It had been a day like any other at the office. Nothing special had happened. Harold hadn’t returned from lunch until close to four. Where had he been? What had he been up to? He wasn't going to let his father know. Old Mr.

Neave happened to be in the vestibule, saying goodbye to a visitor, when Harold strolled in, perfectly turned out as usual, cool, suave, smiling that peculiar little half-smile that women found so fascinating.

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 2 / 8
# chapter_page: 2
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

Ah, Harold was too handsome, far too handsome; that had been the trouble all along. No man had a right to such eyes, such lashes, and such lips; it was uncanny. As for his mother, his sisters, and the servants, it was not too much to say they made a young god of him; they worshipped Harold, they forgave him everything; and he had needed some forgiving ever since the time when he was thirteen and he had stolen his mother's purse, taken the money, and hidden the purse in the cook's bedroom. Old Mr. Neave struck sharply with his stick on the edge of the pavement. But it wasn't only his family who spoiled Harold, he reflected; it was everybody. He had only to look and to smile, and they fell down before him. So perhaps it wasn't to be wondered at that he expected the office to carry on the tradition. H'm, h'm! But it couldn't be done. No business—not even a successful, established, big-paying concern—could be played with.

A man had either to put his whole heart and soul into it, or it fell all to pieces before his eyes....

And then Charlotte and the girls were always on him to hand the whole thing over to Harold, to retire, and to spend his time enjoying himself. Enjoying himself! Old Mr. Neave stopped dead under a group of ancient cabbage palms outside the Government buildings! Enjoying himself! The evening wind shook the dark leaves into a thin, airy cackle. Sitting at home, twiddling his thumbs, conscious all the while that his life's work was slipping away, dissolving, disappearing through Harold's fine fingers, while Harold smiled....

"Why are you being so unreasonable, father? There's absolutely no need for you to go to the office. It only makes things very awkward for us when people keep saying how tired you look. Here's this huge house and garden. Surely you could be happy—just—appreciating it for a change. Or you could take up some hobby."

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 3 / 8
# chapter_page: 3
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

And baby Lola had piped up loftily, "All men ought to have hobbies. Life becomes impossible if they don't." Well, well! He couldn't help a grim smile as painfully he began to climb the hill that led into Harcourt Avenue. Where would Lola and her sisters and Charlotte be if he'd taken up hobbies, he'd like to know? Hobbies couldn't pay for the town house and the seaside bungalow, and their horses, and their golf, and the sixty-guinea gramophone in the music room for them to dance to. Not that he begrudged them these things. No, they were smart, good-looking girls, and Charlotte was a remarkable woman; it was natural for them to be in the swim. As a matter of fact, no other house in the town was as popular as theirs; no other family entertained so much. And how many times old Mr. Neave, pushing the cigar box across the smoking-room table, had listened to praises of his wife, his girls, of himself even.

"You're an ideal family, sir, an ideal family. It's like something one reads about or sees on the stage."

"That's all right, my boy," old Mr. Neave would reply. "Try one of those; I think you'll like them." And if you care to smoke in the garden, you'll find the girls on the lawn, I dare say."

That was why the girls had never married, so people said. They could have married anybody. But they had too good a time at home. They were too happy together, the girls and Charlotte. H'm, h'm! Well, well. Perhaps so....

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 4 / 8
# chapter_page: 4
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

By this time he had walked the length of fashionable Harcourt Avenue; he had reached the corner house, their house. The carriage gates were pushed back; there were fresh marks of wheels on the drive. And then he faced the big white-painted house, with its wide-open windows, its tulle curtains floating outwards, its blue jars of hyacinths on the broad sills. On either side of the carriage porch their hydrangeas—famous in the town—were coming into flower; the pinkish, bluish masses of flowers lay like light among the spreading leaves. And somehow, it seemed to old Mr. Neave that the house and the flowers, and even the fresh marks on the drive, were saying, "There is young life here. There are girls—" The hall, as always, was dusky with wraps, parasols, and gloves piled on the oak chests. From the music room came the sound of the piano, quick, loud, and impatient. Through the drawing-room door that was ajar, voices floated in.

"And were there ices?" came from Charlotte. Then the creak, creak of her rocker.

"Ices!" cried Ethel. "My dear mother, you never saw such ices. Only two kinds. And one a common little strawberry shop ice, in a sopping wet frill."

"The food altogether was too appalling," came from Marion.

"Still, it's rather early for ices," said Charlotte easily.

"But why, if one has them at all...." began Ethel.

"Oh, quite so, darling," crooned Charlotte.

Suddenly the music-room door opened and Lola dashed out. She started, she almost screamed, at the sight of old Mr. Neave.

"Gracious, father! What a fright you gave me! Have you just come home? Why isn't Charles here to help you off with your coat?"

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 5 / 8
# chapter_page: 5
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
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Her cheeks were crimson from playing, her eyes glittered, her hair fell over her forehead. And she breathed as though she had come running through the dark and was frightened. Old Mr. Neave stared at his youngest daughter; he felt he had never seen her before. So that was Lola, was it? But she seemed to have forgotten her father; it was not for him that she was waiting there. Now she put the tip of her crumpled handkerchief between her teeth and tugged at it angrily. The telephone rang. A-ah! Lola gave a cry like a sob and dashed past him. The door of the telephone room slammed, and at the same moment Charlotte called, "Is that you, father?"

"You're tired again," said Charlotte reproachfully, and she stopped the rocker and offered her warm, plum-like cheek. Bright-haired Ethel pecked at his beard, Marion's lips brushed his ear.

"Did you walk back, father?" asked Charlotte.

"Yes, I walked home," said old Mr. Neave, and he sank into one of the immense drawing-room chairs.

"But why didn't you take a cab?" said Ethel. "There are hundreds of cabs about at that time."

"My dear Ethel," cried Marion, "if father prefers to tire himself out, I really don't see what business of ours it is to interfere."

"Children, children?" coaxed Charlotte.

But Marion wouldn't be stopped. "No, mother, you spoil father, and it's not right. You ought to be stricter with him. He's very naughty." She laughed her hard, bright laugh and patted her hair in a mirror. Strange! When she was a little girl she had such a soft, hesitant voice; she had even stuttered, and now, whatever she said—even if it was only "Jam, please, father"—it rang out as though she were on the stage.

"Did Harold leave the office before you, dear?" asked Charlotte, beginning to rock again.

"I'm not sure," said Old Mr. Neave. "I'm not sure. I didn't see him after four o'clock."

"He said—" began Charlotte.

But at that moment Ethel, who was twitching over the leaves of some paper or other, ran to her mother and sank down beside her chair.

"There, you see," she cried. "That's what I mean, mummy. Yellow, with touches of silver. Don't you agree?"

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 6 / 8
# chapter_page: 6
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
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"Give it to me, love," said Charlotte. She fumbled for her tortoise-shell spectacles and put them on, gave the page a little dab with her plump small fingers, and pursed up her lips. "Very sweet!" she crooned vaguely; she looked at Ethel over her spectacles. "But I shouldn't have the train."

"Not the train!" wailed Ethel tragically. "But the train's the whole point."

"Here, mother, let me decide." Marion snatched the paper playfully from Charlotte. "I agree with mother," she cried triumphantly. "The train outweighs it."

Old Mr. Neave, forgotten, sank into the broad lap of his chair, and, dozing, heard them as though he were dreaming. There was no doubt about it; he was exhausted; he had lost his grip. Even Charlotte and the girls were too much for him to-night. They were too... too.... But all his drowsing brain could think of was—too _rich_ for him.

And somewhere in the back of everything he was watching a little withered ancient man climbing up endless flights of stairs. Who was he?

"I shan't dress to-night," he muttered.

"What do you say, father?"

"Eh, what, what?" Old Mr. Neave woke with a start and stared across at them. "I shan't dress to-night," he repeated.

"But, father, we've got Lucile coming, and Henry Davenport, and Mrs. Teddie Walker."

"It will look so _very_ out of the picture."

"Don't you feel well, dear?"

"You needn't make any effort. What is Charles _for_?"

"But if you're really not up to it," Charlotte wavered.

"Very well! Very well!" Old Mr. Neave got up and went to join that little old climbing fellow just as far as his dressing-room....

There young Charles was waiting for him. Carefully, as though everything depended on it, he was tucking a towel round the hot-water can. Young Charles had been a favourite of his ever since, as a little red-faced boy, he had come into the house to look after the fires. Old Mr. Neave lowered himself into the cane lounge by the window, stretched out his legs, and made his little evening joke, "Dress him up, Charles!" And Charles, breathing intensely and frowning, bent forward to take the pin out of his tie.

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 7 / 8
# chapter_page: 7
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

H'm, h'm! Well, well! It was pleasant by the open window, very pleasant—a fine mild evening. They were cutting the grass on the tennis court below; he heard the soft churr of the mower. Soon the girls would begin their tennis parties again. And at the thought he seemed to hear Marion's voice ring out, "Good for you, partner.... Oh, _played_, partner.... Oh, _very_ nice indeed." Then Charlotte calling from the veranda, "Where is Harold?" And Ethel, "He's certainly not here, mother." And Charlotte's vague, "He said—" Old Mr. Neave sighed, got up, and putting one hand under his beard, he took the comb from young Charles, and carefully combed the white beard over. Charles gave him a folded handkerchief, his watch and seals, and a spectacle case.

"That will do, my lad." The door shut, he sank back; he was alone....

And now that little ancient fellow was climbing down endless flights that led to a glittering, gay dining-room. What legs he had! They were like a spider's—thin, withered.

"You're an ideal family, sir, an ideal family."

But if that were true, why didn’t Charlotte or the girls stop him? Why was he all alone, climbing up and down? Where was Harold? Ah, it was no good expecting anything from Harold. Down, down went the little old spider, and then, to his horror, old Mr. Neave saw him slip past the dining room and make for the porch, the dark drive, the carriage gates, the office. Stop him, stop him, somebody!

Old Mr. Neave started up. It was dark in his dressing-room; the window shone pale. How long had he been asleep? He listened, and through the big, airy, darkened house there floated far-away voices, far-away sounds. Perhaps, he thought vaguely, he had been asleep for a long time. He had been forgotten. What did all this have to do with him—this house and Charlotte, the girls and Harold—what did he know about them? They were strangers to him. Life had passed him by. Charlotte was not his wife. His wife!...

A dark porch, half hidden by a passion-vine, that drooped sorrowful, mournful, as though it understood. Small, warm arms were round his neck. A face, little and pale, lifted to his, and a voice breathed, "Good-bye, my treasure."

# book_id: global-gutenberg-story-b8713fa21aa64bd2a6fa3b7f76f6f7e0
# book_title: An Ideal Family
# chapter_id: 1-an-ideal-family
# chapter_title: An Ideal Family
# book_page: 8 / 8
# chapter_page: 8
# language: en
# content_format: markdown
# reading_structure: unknown
# render_mode: prose

My treasure! "Goodbye, my treasure!" Which of them had spoken? Why had they said goodbye? There had been some terrible mistake. _She_ was his wife, that little pale girl, and all the rest of his life had been a dream.

Then the door opened, and young Charles, standing in the light, put his hands by his side and shouted like a young soldier, "Dinner is on the table, sir!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," said old Mr. Neave.