10/03/2017 ClovisonParentalResponsibilities

ClovisonParentalResponsibilities
byH.H.Munro(SAKI)(/author/hhmunrosaki/biobooksstories)

MarionEggelbysattalkingtoClovisontheonlysubjectthatsheever
willinglytalkedaboutheroffspringandtheirvariedperfectionsand
accomplishments.Cloviswasnotinwhatcouldbecalledareceptive
moodtheyoungergenerationofEggelby,depictedintheglowing
improbablecoloursofparentimpressionism,arousedinhimno
enthusiasm.Mrs.Eggelby,ontheotherhand,wasfurnishedwith
enthusiasmenoughfortwo.

"YouwouldlikeEric,"shesaid,argumentativelyratherthanhopefully.
Clovishadintimatedveryunmistakablythathewasunlikelytocare
extravagantlyforeitherAmyorWillie."Yes,Ifeelsureyouwouldlike
Eric.Everyonetakestohimatonce.Youknow,healwaysremindsmeofthatfamouspictureoftheyouthfulDavidIforgetwho
it'sby,butit'sverywellknown."

"Thatwouldbesufficienttosetmeagainsthim,ifIsawmuchofhim,"saidClovis."Justimagineatauctionbridge,forinstance,
whenonewastryingtoconcentrateone'smindonwhatone'spartner'soriginaldeclarationhadbeen,andtorememberwhatsuits
one'sopponentshadoriginallydiscarded,whatitwouldbeliketohavesomeonepersistentlyremindingoneofapictureofthe
youthfulDavid.Itwouldbesimplymaddening.IfEricdidthatIshoulddetesthim."

"Ericdoesn'tplaybridge,"saidMrs.Eggelbywithdignity.

"Doesn'the?"askedClovis"whynot?"

"Noneofmychildrenhavebeenbroughtuptoplaycardgames,"saidMrs.Eggelby"draughtsandhalmaandthosesortsof
gamesIencourage.Ericisconsideredquiteawonderfuldraughtsplayer."

"Youarestrewingdreadfulrisksinthepathofyourfamily,"saidClovis"afriendofminewhoisaprisonchaplaintoldmethat
amongtheworstcriminalcasesthathavecomeunderhisnotice,mencondemnedtodeathortolongperiodsofpenalservitude,
therewasnotasinglebridgeplayer.Ontheotherhand,heknewatleasttwoexpertdraughtsplayersamongthem."

"Ireallydon'tseewhatmyboyshavegottodowiththecriminalclasses,"saidMrs.Eggelbyresentfully."Theyhavebeenmost
carefullybroughtup,Icanassureyouthat."

"Thatshowsthatyouwerenervousastohowtheywouldturnout,"saidClovis."Now,mymotherneverbotheredaboutbringingme
up.ShejustsawtoitthatIgotwhackedatdecentintervalsandwastaughtthedifferencebetweenrightandwrongthereissome
difference,youknow,butI'veforgottenwhatitis."

"Forgottenthedifferencebetweenrightandwrong!"exclaimedMrs.Eggelby.

"Well,yousee,Itookupnaturalhistoryandawholelotofothersubjectsatthesametime,andonecan'tremembereverything,can
one?IusedtoknowthedifferencebetweentheSardiniandormouseandtheordinarykind,andwhetherthewryneckarrivesatour
shoresearlierthanthecuckoo,ortheotherwayround,andhowlongthewalrustakesingrowingtomaturityIdaresayyouknew
allthosesortsofthingsonce,butIbetyou'veforgottenthem."

"Thosethingsarenotimportant,"saidMrs.Eggelby,"but"

"Thefactthatwe'vebothforgottenthemprovesthattheyareimportant,"saidClovis"youmusthavenoticedthatit'salwaysthe
importantthingsthatoneforgets,whilethetrivial,unnecessaryfactsoflifestickinone'smemory.There'smycousin,Editha
Clubberley,forinstanceIcanneverforgetthatherbirthdayisonthe12thofOctober.It'samatterofutterindifferencetomeon
whatdateherbirthdayfalls,orwhethershewasbornatalleitherfactseemstomeabsolutelytrivial,orunnecessaryI'veheaps

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10/03/2017 ClovisonParentalResponsibilities

ofothercousinstogoonwith.Ontheotherhand,whenI'mstayingwithHildegardeShrubleyIcanneverremembertheimportant
circumstancewhetherherfirsthusbandgothisunenviablereputationontheTurfortheStockExchange,andthatuncertaintyrules
SportandFinanceoutoftheconversationatonce.Onecannevermentiontravel,either,becausehersecondhusbandhadtolive
permanentlyabroad."

"Mrs.ShrubleyandImoveinverydifferentcircles,"saidMrs.Eggelbystiffly.

"NoonewhoknowsHildegardecouldpossiblyaccuseherofmovinginacircle,"saidClovis"herviewoflifeseemstobeanon
stoprunwithaninexhaustiblesupplyofpetrol.Ifshecangetsomeoneelsetopayforthepetrolsomuchthebetter.Idon'tmind
confessingtoyouthatshehastaughtmemorethananyotherwomanIcanthinkof."

"Whatkindofknowledge?"demandedMrs.Eggelby,withtheairajurymightcollectivelywearwhenfindingaverdictwithout
leavingthebox.

"Well,amongotherthings,she'sintroducedmetoatleastfourdifferentwaysofcookinglobster,"saidClovisgratefully."That,of
course,wouldn'tappealtoyoupeoplewhoabstainfromthepleasuresofthecardtableneverreallyappreciatethefiner
possibilitiesofthediningtable.Isupposetheirpowersofenlightenedenjoymentgetatrophiedfromdisuse."

"Anauntofminewasveryillaftereatingalobster,"saidMrs.Eggelby.

"Idaresay,ifweknewmoreofherhistory,weshouldfindoutthatshe'doftenbeenillbeforeeatingthelobster.Aren'tyou
concealingthefactthatshe'dhadmeaslesandinfluenzaandnervousheadacheandhysteria,andotherthingsthatauntsdohave,
longbeforesheatethelobster?Auntsthathaveneverknownaday'sillnessareveryrareinfact,Idon'tpersonallyknowofany.
Ofcourseifsheateitasachildoftwoweeksolditmighthavebeenherfirstillnessandherlast.ButifthatwasthecaseIthink
youshouldhavesaidso."

"Imustbegoing,"saidMrs.Eggelby,inatonewhichhadbeenthoroughlysterilisedofevenperfunctoryregret.

Clovisrosewithanairofgracefulreluctance.

"IhavesoenjoyedourlittletalkaboutEric,"hesaid"Iquitelookforwardtomeetinghimsomeday."

"Goodbye,"saidMrs.Eggelbyfrostilythesupplementaryremarkwhichshemadeatthebackofherthroatwas

"I'lltakecarethatyounevershall!"

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