Chapter 5 five

I saw Mrs. Strickland not infrequently during the summer.From time to time I went to lunch at her house, or to tea-parties; the lunch was always good, and the tea very good.I agree very well with Mrs. Strickland.I was very young at the time, and perhaps what she liked was to guide my childish footsteps into the arduous path of the literary world, and on my part, I was happy to find someone to talk to when I encountered some unsatisfactory trivial matters.I knew she would listen attentively and be able to give me some reasonable advice.Mrs. Strickland was very sympathetic.Compassion is a rare skill that is often abused by those who know they have it.It is too dreadful for them to fling themselves upon men, and to use all their faculties, at the sight of their friends' misfortune.Compassion should flow like an oil well; those who love to express it let it run wild, and embarrass those who suffer.Some have had so many tears on their breasts that I can't bear to spill mine.Mrs. Strickland used her strengths so well that she made you feel that you were doing her a favor by accepting her sympathy.When I was young, in a rush of enthusiasm, I used to talk to Ross.Waterford talked about it, saying:

Milk is delicious, especially with a few drops of brandy.But the cow is eager to let it drip out as soon as possible.Swollen nipples are very uncomfortable. Ross.Waterford had a very mean mouth.No one can say such spicy words, but on the other hand, no one is as beautiful as her in doing things. There is one more thing I like about Mrs. Strickland.Her residence is very elegantly furnished.The rooms are always clean and decorated with flowers, which makes people feel very comfortable.The calico curtains in the living room, though rather old-fashioned in pattern, are brightly colored and light and pleasant.It was a pleasure to dine in the elegant little dining room; the tables were well-decorated, the two maids were neat and tidy, and the dishes were cooked to perfection.Everyone could see that Mrs. Strickland was an able housekeeper, and besides, there was no doubt that she was a good wife and mother.There are pictures of her children in the living room.Son His name is Robert Sixteen and he's at Rogby School; you see him in a flannel suit and a cricket cap in one picture, and a tuxedo in another picture with a stand-up stiff collar.Like his mother, he had a broad forehead and beautiful, pensive eyes.His appearance was clean and tidy, and he looked healthy and upright.

I don't think he's very bright, said Mrs. Strickland one day when I was looking at the picture, but I know he's a good boy.The character is very cute. The daughter is fourteen years old.Her hair was thick and black, like her mother's, and hung thickly over her shoulders.His gentle face, dignified and clear eyes are exactly the same as his mother's. Both of them look very much like you.I said. No, they were all more like me than their father. Why have you kept me from meeting him? Would you like to meet him? She smiled, her smile was very sweet, and a slight blush appeared on her face; it was rare for a woman her age to blush so easily.Perhaps the most fascinating thing about her is her innocence.

You know, he's not literate at all, she said, he's a perfect bourgeois. She did not use the word pejoratively, on the contrary, with affection, as if she could protect him from the sarcasms of her friends by mentioning his greatest fault herself. He worked on the stock exchange and was a typical broker.I guess he's going to bore you very much. Are you bored with him? You know, I happen to be his wife.I really like him. She smiled, hiding her shyness.I think she might be worried that I might say something funny, and instead of Ross.Waterford, hearing her confession, must have made some sarcasm.She hesitated for a moment, and her eyes became more gentle.

He didn't want to pretend he had any talent.Even on the stock exchange he didn't make much money.But he has a very good heart. I think I will like him very much. When there are no outsiders, I will invite you to dinner.But as I say before, you risked it voluntarily; and if you're having a very dull evening, don't blame me.