|
|
It was two days later at the Carew house; Emma and Isabel were outside on this afternoon in the garden. They sat between a round table that had refreshments on it the maid brought for them. It was a lovely day.
Emma was finishing her embroidery on a loom, and Isabel was drawing the landscape of the yard with houses on either side; and far in the distance, the outline of buildings, the tall tower and the church.
"Isabel, you can sketch so well. I really rather envious." Emma said when Isabel showed her the outline for her approval. Isabel thanked her and returning the book, began to quickly draw a robin she saw gathering its twigs for a nest.
"Well, your singing was as beautiful as a lark, high and sweet," She erased a stray line or two and then corrected them. "My voice is more like a sparrow, soft and feeble."
"Nonsense, you sing fine. Father said we sounded marvelous together yesterday at the piano, but..." Emma gestured to her loom. "I have yet to see you pick up a cloth and work with needle and thread."
"I can sew, if necessary, as long as it is simple pattern." Isabel watched the bird until its mate, came near by and both flew away. "We both have been taught the basics in art and crafts, and we both have done well, I think."
"Did you and Mr. Utterson have a nice time after you went out together?" Isabel had told her about what occur when she and John Utterson went to the police and finding the business card minus the part about the visit to the 'Red Rat.'
Isabel noticed the teasing gleam in her eyes. "Now, Emma, Mr. Utterson just had dinner that day and nothing else happened. I think of him as fine gentleman, and there is not a thing between us. Beside, he told me he is fond of a girl named Jane Plowshare."
"I remember meeting Jane. She is a rather pretty woman, but not much else." Emma said and wanting to keep with the idea of wondering if there was someone special for her friend, "I bet you have had lots of gentlemen come to court you."
Isabel put her sketch down and though about that, "Being a governess has not led me to meet too many gentlemen, but I have had my share of suitors, if that is what you meant."
"Such as...if you do not mind saying." Emma looked curiously at her.
"Mrs. Ames would like me to marry her son, Marcus, but I am having trouble seeing myself just sitting at home waiting for him while he goes off on some military campaign. Can you see me a sea captain's wife?" She made a funny salute. " 'Yes, sir, my love, your dinner is ready.' Somehow I cannot."
Emma laughed, "Neither could I, Isabel."
"There were others, of course, but my own good judgement ruled them out." She picked up a scone off the plate. "So I have decided to remain as I am, at least until I fall in love with someone."
"Then you have never been in love, Isabel?"
"Have I ever been in love? I honestly do not know, Emma." She finished her scone, thinking carefully, "I do like Marcus; he has qualities I want in a husband, but I just do not have overwhelming feelings of emotion for him. Anyway, I like being somewhat independent."
"When Henry returns, I would like to have my own house with my own children, and live happily ever after..." She smiled dreamly to herself and turned to Isabel. "I know that is a fairy tale. More than likely, first we must discuss how much time he spend in his research and how much on me, but I can dream." She asked inquisitively, "Do you ever think about who you will marry?"
"Someday, I would love to be married, have children, the white picket fence, and all the rest; but just not right now.Ê I can live more than adequately enough off my yearly allowance and the property which my parents left me in Africa, and yet, I do like teaching children. I would have to give it up to my future husband, if he did not approve."
"Well, one's husband usually knows about land ownership and such. As I understand, being a wife requires a great deal of responsiblity as it is."
"From watching Mrs. Ames, I know what being a wife will require..." Her voice grew hard with sarcasm. "I will be responsible for govern a household of servants, maintain discipline, good order and fellowship. Entertain our business friends and neighbors, providing them with fine meals in charming surroundings, and to see that no one is offended, embarrassed, excluded, or paired with someone unsuitable, and keep the conversion charming, witty but never offensive, and never, never boring!"
She took a deep, cleansing breath and quietly said, "And yet that does not make me competent to decide what I wish to do with the land I was given from my poor father and mother. "
"That is the way things must be, darling." Emma said softly. She had never heard anyone she knew talk like this, "Are you a one of those, um...suffragettes?"
Isabel shook her head; she had seldom had the time for such things. "My mother was real one, though. She would hold conventions, march in parades, and give public lectures on women's suffrage."
Emma look astonished, "Father always told me that the women who participated in suffrage were, well...like..." She was trying to think of a neutral term.
Isabel gave a whimsical smile. "That suffragettes are either spinsters who were never able to married, or homely women who have an unnatural desire to dominate all public affairs."
"Something like that." Emma said mildly. "What did your father think?"
"Although he supported her efforts, he thought she was too headstrong, and too educated for a woman for she knew all about law, science, and history...He did love her and tried to help in anyway he could...
"Sometimes we would all go to London together. Mother joined the crusades of ... women's sufferage there. Father would go to Parliament and use his law skills to persuded the members to make things better for all poor men and women. ...We would also come to see Mother's relatives. Then, she would have enough of them and return home to Devonshire." Isabel said musing, "I think they were right to fight for property laws and, in certain cases, for the right to custody of children when parents separated.*"
"Why, Isabel, the next thing you may tell me is that you believe women should be able to vote and hold office in Parliament!" Emma expressed.
"Perhaps I sound a little crazy to you, but I fail to see why we should not."
Emma was merely bewildered at her friend's comments. "I think it is just not natural for women to concern themselves in such things. If we start doing so, then men will cease to look after us."
"They would still care for us, but men do not want to change." Isabel looked kindly at her friend. She knew that Emma had a very sheltered life. "My dear, ideas are not wrong because they different or new."
Emma put her fingers to her lips at such a familiar statement and a look of glad surprise shone on her face.
"Emma, what is it?" Isabel leaned forward towards her. "Why do you look at me like that?"
She continued to beam at Isabel. "Oh, it's nothing- just for a minute, you sounded like Henry does when he talks about his research."
"I suppose I did," Isabel admitted shyly, sitting back and restarting on her sketch "There is a difference in our philosophy. Henry wants to change the world by changing man's human nature, separating good from evil. I, on the other hand, merely wish the world to be more equal between men and women. It is not quite the same thing."
Then the maid appeared and gave a respectful curtsy. "Excuse me, miss, there's an Inspector Grey here to see your both."
"Is that the man who is assigned to Henry's case?" Emma asked.
"Yes, Mr. Utterson and I met him yesterday at Scotland Yard."
Emma told the maid to send him outside to them. The Inspector came and formally greeted them both. Emma spoke first, "Inspector Grey, what a surprise to see you. Is there anything we can do for you?"
"Miss Carew, I am here on official business. I do not know exactly how to tell you this, but I must somehow. We have fact that has recently come to light in the case."
"Please inform us of these facts." Emma felt her spirits rise in hope.
"This morning, a fisherman came to the station and informed us of a discovery he made while going about his regular duties." He paused. "There is not a easy way to say this...I am very sorry to have to tell you...We have found a body that has washed up on the shore of the Thames River."
Emma tried to speak, but found tightness constricting her throat. She looked at Isabel who spoke for her measured tones. "Do you believe it, this body, to belong to Dr. Jekyll?"
"It has been found wearing a well-made suit and fur-lined coat. A tailor who swears that he made the clothes found the doctor's name sewed inside them.
Emma started to grow pale and again Isabel took control, "Would you like for us to go identify the body?"
"Yes, if you please; we will try to make this as brief as possible. Is there any one who you wish to inform? Your father, Miss Carew?"
"Father is gone to the hospital for the day." Emma said dully.
"We will call Mr. Utterson to take us to the station, Inspector." Isabel said.
"Very well, I will meet you there. Again, I am truly sorry." Inspector Grey said.
"Thank you for coming, sir," Isabel said and he departed.
She summoned the maid, "Alice, have the butler send for Mr. Utterson, tell him why and what has happened. Then, bring Miss Carew and myself our\ coats and the other things we may need. We will be waiting in the drawing room with further instruction for you. Do you understand?" The maid, Alice, said she did.
"You will see to my lady, Miss Durum?" Alice instantly recognized who was the wise head to lead them in this hour of crisis.
"Yes, Alice. Now, please be off."
The distressed lady finally spoke, "Do you think it could be-," Emma was not able to finish speaking.
"I do not know, Emma," Isabel said briskly and reached out her hand to touch hers. "We will find out soon enough, so let us not assume anything till we know for certain."
"You are right, of course," She agreed but gripped Isabel's arm firmly.