After a little while he said, “Read this,” and handed her the paper.
Dora glanced at it unseeingly for a moment, and then said, “Yes, I see.”
“No, read it properly,” said Paul. “Read every word.” He kept the paper held up in front of her.
Dora began to read. The article was headed – FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD – and read as follows:
Few days in the history of religious communities, lay or otherwise, can have been quite so eventful as the last twenty-four hours at Imber Court, home of an Anglican lay community tucked away in the wilds of Gloucestershire. Event number one was the discovery, by two visiting members of the community, of an antique carved bell which had lain for many centuries sunk in the ornamental lake which surrounds the house. This bell is alleged to be the property of nearby Imber Abbey, Anglican Benedictine convent, which by an odd coincidence was just about to instal a modern bell. Rumour had it that the antique bell was to be“miraculously” substituted for the modern bell at a quaint baptismal ceremony outside the Abbey. The miracle however did not occur, and those not in the secret were given a different surprise instead by (event number two) the pealing of the bell at dead of night, summoning them to a gathering in the woods more reminiscent of a witches’ sabbath than of the sober goings on of the Anglican church.
More surprises were to follow. Next day, Friday, began ceremoniously, no witches in evidence. Blessed by a mitred Bishop the new bell processed slowly along the picturesque causeway which leads across Imber lake to the gates of the nunnery. Event number three took place, with dramatic suddenness, half-way across the causeway. The bell suddenly overturned into the water and sank without trace. Subsequent investigation suggested that sabotage, and not accident,-was responsible for this disaster; and the finger of suspicion was pointed at one of the brothers.
Scarce, however, had this mystery been allowed to thicken when event, or catastrophe, number four ensued. One of the brothers, a sister this time, since the brotherhood embraces both sexes, who was shortly to proceed herself across Imber causeway to nunhood, became deranged and threw herself into the lake. Happily she was rescued quite unhurt by Miss Dora Greenfield, a visitor to the Abbey, with the help of an aquatic nun, who provided a unique spectacle by doffing her habit and diving in in her underclothes. The unfortunate would-be suicide is receiving medical attention.
The Imber brotherhood, designed to allow laymen to have the benefits of the religious life while remaining in the world, has been in existence for less than a year. When not engaged in religious exercises it cultivates a market-garden. Why this recent outbreak of drama? A spokesman closely connected with the community mentioned schisms and emotional tensions, but members of the brotherhood were not anxious to comment, and assured us that life at Imber is normally peaceful.
The brothers are a self-governing body, subject to no defined ecclesiastical authority. They make no vows of chastity or of poverty. Who supports them? Voluntary contributors. An appeal for contributions is shortly to be issued, to be followed by a swelling of the numbers of brothers and sisters. The community occupies a charming eighteenth-century house in extensive grounds.
“Well,” said Paul, “have you read it all?”
“Yes,” said Dora.
“And are you pleased with your achievement?”
“Not very.”
“Not very? You mean you’re a little pleased?”
“I’m not pleased at all.”
“I suppose you realize you’ve probably done permanent damage to these excellent people?”
“Yes.”
“Whose idea was it? Gashe”s? Or Spens”s?”
“Mine.”
“And you still say you had nothing to do with what happened to the new bell?”
“Nothing.”
“I wonder why I ask you questions when I never believe what you say.”
“Oh, do stop, Paul,” said Dora. Her eyes filled with unshed tears.
“I can’t understand you,” said Paul. “I’m beginning to wonder whether you aren’t mentally ill. Perhaps you’d better see a psychiatrist in London.”
“I won’t see a psychiatrist,” said Dora.
“You will if I decide you will,” said Paul.
The distant sound of the train vibrated on the still air. They both turned and looked down the line. The train was coming into view, a long way off. Paul got up and lifted his suitcase and advanced towards the edge of the platform.
There was a commotion in the station yard. Dora looked round and saw that the Land-Rover had just drawn up outside. Out of it tumbled Mark Strafford, Mrs Mark, Sister Ursula, Catherine, and Toby. The train roared into the station.
Paul was busy finding himself an empty first-class compartment near the front with a corner seat facing the engine. Mrs Mark bustled Catherine straight through on to the platform, followed by Sister Ursula. Mark and Toby went to the booking-office. Mrs Mark saw Dora and piloted Catherine in the opposite direction. Mark followed his wife and gave her some tickets. Toby emerged, saw Dora, looked away, turned back, and waved half-heartedly, then got into the nearest carriage by himself. Mark and Mrs Mark spent some time finding a suitable carriage for Catherine. They found it and Mrs Mark pushed Catherine in and got in herself. They shut the door, and Sister Ursula stood by on the platform, talking smilingly to them through the window. Mark went back to look for Toby, discovered where he was, opened the door a little, and stood with one foot on the footboard, talking.
Paul had stowed his things, opened the window, and leaned there frowning at Dora. He said, “I expect you at Knights-bridge tomorrow about three o’clock. I shall be there waiting for you.”
“All right,” said Dora.
“You understood all my instructions about the packing?”
“Yes.”
“Well, good-bye,” said Paul. “I won’t go through the farce of kissing you.”
“Oh Paul, don’t be so beastly,” said Dora. The tears spilled on to her cheek. Do say something nice to me before you go.”
Paul looked at her with cold eyes. “Yes,” he said,“you want me to comfort you now when you’re in trouble. But last March, when I came home and found that you’d left me, there was no one to comfort me then, was there? Just you think it over. No, don’t paw me. I’m not sexually attracted to you at this moment. I sometimes wonder whether I ever will be again.”
“Close all the doors, please,” shouted the porter, who had once been as far as Paddington.
Mark stepped back, shut the door, and stood laughing loudly at something he had just said to Toby.
“Paul, I’m so sorry,” said Dora.
“How absolutely not enough that is!” said Paul. “I advise you to do some serious thinking, if you’re capable of it.”He fumbled in his wallet. “Here”, he said, “is something you might think about. Bring it back to me in London. I always carry it with me.” He handed her an envelope. The whistle blew. The train began to move.
Paul pulled up his window at once and disappeared. Dora stood watching the carriages go by. She saw Toby sitting well back in his corner, his face twisted and anxious. As the carriage passed Dora waved, but he pretended not to see. Catherine and Mrs Mark were in one of the last carriages, and the train was moving fast by the time they reached Dora. Mrs Mark was looking at Catherine. Catherine looked at Dora, a quick peering unsmiling look with almost closed eyes. Then she was gone.
Dora turned towards the exit. Mark and Sister Ursula were just going back into the booking-hall. Before they disappeared they turned and smiled at her vaguely, evidently unable to decide whether to call her to join them. They went out and Dora heard the engine of the Land-Rover start up. It idled quietly. They were probably waiting for her to emerge.