of the fourth day I
was confronted with the old familiar inexorableness, taking its stand
this time on the impossibility of refusing the company of a cousin whom
you have not seen for ten years.
'Oh Charlotte,' I cried, seized her arm convulsively, struggling in the
very clutches of Fate, 'what--what a good idea! And what a thousand
pities that it can't be managed! You see it is a victoria, and there are
only two places because of all the luggage, so that we can't use the
little seat, or Gertrud might have sat on that----'
'Gertrud? Send her home. What do you want with Gertrud if I am with
you?'
I stared dismayed through the dusk at Charlotte's determined face. 'But
she--packs,' I said.
'Don't be so helpless. As though two healthy women couldn't wrap up
their own hair-brushes.'
'Oh it isn't only hair-brushes,' I went on, still struggling, 'it's
everything. You can't think how much I loathe buttoning boots--I know I
never would button them, but go about with them undone, and then I'd
disgrace you, and I don't want to do that. But that isn't it really
either,' I went on hurriedly, for Charlotte had opened her mouth to tell
me, I felt certain, that she would button them for me, 'my husband never
will let me go anywhere without Gertrud. You see she looked after his
mother too, and he thinks awful things would happen if I hadn't got her.
I'm very sorry, Charlotte. It is most unfortunate. I wish--I wish I had
thought of bringing the omnibus.'
'But is your husband such an absurd tyrant?' asked Charlotte, a robust
scorn for my flabby obedience in her voice.
'Oh--tyrant!' I ejaculated, casting up my eyes to the stars, and
mentally begging the unconscious innocent's pardon.
'Well, then, we must get a luggage cart and put the things into that.'
'Oh,' I cried, seizing her arm again, my thoughts whirling round in
search of a loophole of escape, 'what--what another good idea!'
'And Gertrud can go in the cart too.'
'So she can. What--what a trilogy of good ideas! Have you got any more,
Charlotte? What a resourceful woman you are. I believe you like fighting
and getting over difficulties.'
'I believe I do,' said Charlotte complacently.
I dropped her arm, ceased to struggle, walked on vanquished. Henceforth,
if no more interesting difficulties presented themselves, Charlotte was
going to spend her time overcoming me. And besides an eloquent Charlotte
sitting next to me, there would be a cart rattling along
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