Ivy Compton-Burnett: Parents and Children

‘That is a sign of a generous nature,’ said Regan, who was direct in tribute to her family.

‘Father does not say he has had the chance,’ said Daniel.

‘He is a proud man,’ said Graham.

‘Do you wish you were old enough to help your father, Daniel?’ said Sir Jesse.

‘I should like to be considered to be so, if it would mean my going with him.’

‘What is your reason for desiring it?’

‘It would make a change,’ said Daniel, keeping his face grave.

‘That shows you are not old enough,’ said his mother at once.

‘That is not your father’s reason for leaving us.’

‘No, but it will be one of the results.’

Regan gave a laugh and Eleanor looked at her.

‘You are too kind to them, Lady Sullivan. Their life in this house will hardly prepare them for the world outside.’

‘I never feel that that sphere is as bad as it is painted,’ said Daniel.

‘You can talk of it when you are qualified,’ said Sir Jesse.

‘Grandpa does not set us the example,’ murmured Graham.

‘Your experience of it at Cambridge has not taken you far,’ said Eleanor.

‘No, Mother dear, but farther than you titiink,’ said Luce. ‘Cambridge would be a miniature world.’

‘I am to have a good, long glimpse of a far corner of the real one,’ said Fulbert.

‘I shall have to be father as well as mother here,’ said Eleanor.

‘There goes the attention from Father again,’ said Daniel, while Graham gave a glance at Fulbert.

‘Hatton will be both to the little ones,’ said Luce.

‘Don’t you know more about it than that?’ said her mother. ‘But that is how it would be, I suppose. The nurse who does it for a living is the one preferred. Mothers must learn that they come second.’

‘My dear, do not talk without sense,’ said Fulbert. ‘You do not make the affairs of childhood your province. You cannot shine in a sphere where you have not chosen to function.’

‘Do you want a nurse for your children, or a mother?’

‘I want both, and my children have them. And I hope they also have a father. But we must not claim other people’s credit.’

‘I suppose I may have my own. I can expect a little recognition in the family that takes my life.’

Regan looked on without a change of expression, as though having no feeling that would cause one. She had neither pity nor blame for a woman who gave way under the demand of her family. She had never done so herself, but to her the family was the only thing that did not produce such a result.

‘We know what you give us, my dear,’ said Sir Jesse to Eleanor. ‘You do not think we do not?’

‘If feelings are always covered we may not remember them.’

‘They are no less safe like that, Mother,’ said Luce.

‘I know they are there, my dear. I ought not to need to be reminded.’

‘Father,’ said Luce, turning her eyes on Fulbert’s face, ‘what did you mean by saying that Mother did not make the affairs of childhood her province?’

‘I meant what I said, my dear, as I generally do.’

‘It is true that I give less time to these children than I gave to the elder ones,’ said Eleanor.

‘Why do you, Mother?’ said Luce, transferring her eyes.

‘I seem to have less to give. You are in so many different stages. And I may have lost my knack or my zest as the years passed,’ said Eleanor, who spoke of herself with the same honesty as of other people. ‘And when the habit is broken, there is little to be done. My younger children are shy of me.’

‘No, Mother, I don’t think they are.’

‘They behave as if they were.’

‘Mother, I think it is better to be at your best with your elder children,’ said Luce. ‘It is when they are older that they need understanding. There is little that cannot be done by nurses for young children.’

‘That is assumed in our class,’ said Fulbert.

‘You sound as if you do not approve of it, Father.’

‘I don’t know that I know much of the subject,’ said Fulbert, with a suggestion that further knowledge would hardly add to him.

‘Graham has always had his mother’s influence,’ said Daniel. ‘It almost seems a case where nothing can be done.’

‘Boys, you might be monotonous,’ said Luce. ‘I don’t know how you contrive to be amusing.’

‘I do not either,’ said Sir Jesse. ‘You might have the goodness to inform me.’

‘Grandpa, you have had enough of them,’ said Luce, with swift compunction. ‘We forget we are not natural members of your house.’

‘Indeed you are,’ said Regan.

‘Grandma has said one of those little words that will be remembered,’ said Graham.

‘As neither of you seems about to leave the table, I will do so myself,’ said Sir Jesse.

‘No, Grandpa, you will not,’ said Luce, leaning forward and putting a hand on his arm. ‘You will stay here and have your smoke and talk with Father.’

‘A strong man is checked in his course by a woman’s hand,’ said Graham.

‘Will you both be silent?’ said Eleanor.

‘Boys, you are upsetting Mother,’ said Luce.

‘I was always afraid that Graham would grow up to be a grief to her.’

Sir Jesse rose and walked from the room.

‘Boys, look at that,’ said Luce.

‘I saw it myself,’ said Fulbert.

‘Do you hear what I say, or do you not?’ said Eleanor.

‘Graham, answer your mother,’ said Daniel.

‘You can answer me yourself,’ said Eleanor.

‘No, you are mistaken, Mother. I am at a loss.’

‘This is one of your worse moments, my boy,’ said Fulbert, with his air of enjoyment.

‘He can easily put an end to it,’ said Eleanor.

‘Why am I not struck dead,’ said Daniel, ‘if that is a thing that has happened to people?’

Regan’s deep laugh sounded through the room.

‘I wish Grandpa had stayed to hear that laugh,’ said Luce.

‘I wish he had done so for any reason,’ said Daniel.

‘Daniel, I am waiting to be answered,’ said Eleanor.

‘Surely not still,’ said her son.

‘You have staying power, my dear,’ said Fulbert.

‘I forget what you asked now, Mother,’ said Luce.

‘Oh, you are not equal to your mother, child,’ said Fulbert.

‘Your brothers do not forget, and it was to them I spoke,’ said Eleanor.

‘Mother, when you speak in that tone, I defy anyone to face you without flinching,’ said Luce.

‘I do not accept the challenge,’ said Daniel.

‘There is no real cause for annoyance, Eleanor, my dear,’ said Fulbert.

‘I hope your father is of that opinion.’

‘I am sure he is,’ said Regan, in an easy tone.

‘Yes, Grandma, so somehow am I,’ said Luce.

‘In case he is not, it may be as well to avoid risk in future,’ said Fulbert.

‘Yes, Father, I would not put it more strongly than that,’ said Luce.

‘I think I would,’ said Eleanor.

‘Mother, do thaw,’ said Luce. ‘Your sons are not a pair of criminals.’

‘They are penniless boys, who are doing no good to themselves.’

Regan looked at her grandsons almost with compunction, as if it were a natural ground for resentment, that other people should have more than they had.

‘Yes, I suppose that is an accepted handicap,’ said Luce, in a musing tone. ‘To be penniless. And yet I would not have people modify their actions too much because of it. I do not think I would.’

‘There is no harm in young men’s being well-behaved to an old one,’ said Fulbert.

‘No, Father. But is it a fair accusation? What exactly is the boy’s misdeed? I mean essentially. Not at the moment.’

‘The fact of their existence,’ said Fulbert. ‘The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.’