The Present and the Past by Ivy Compton-Burnett Page B

may be honest. Or is that the most un-kindest cut of all.’
    â€˜Well, it is always a cut,’ said Ursula.
    â€˜Is it necessary to indulge in any kind of disaparagement?’
    â€˜Well, it is a temptation,’ said Elton. ‘Look at your word, “indulge”. And we are only told to make an exception of the dead.’
    â€˜And it is no good to say behind people’s backs what can never get round to them,’ said Ursula.
    A servant opened the door and spoke to Catherine.
    â€˜Will you see Mr Clare, ma’am? And if so, would you prefer to see him alone?’
    â€˜I will see him,’ said Catherine, after a moment’s pause. ‘And it need not be alone. He can come in here.’
    â€˜This is more than I hoped for,’ said Elton to Ursula. ‘Is it almost too much? Can we bear it?’
    â€˜How can I tell? It will be a scene from life, and I have never met one.’
    â€˜I think I can face it,’ said her brother, placing himself where he could do so.
    Cassius entered the room with his usual deliberate stride, keeping his eyes from anyone’s face…
    â€˜Well, Catherine, I thought it was best to take the bull by the horns. Preparing for the interview and working ourselves up would do no good. So I braced myself up and acted on the spur of the moment. And standing in front of you as I am, I still think it was the right thing. I often find my impulses lead me in the right direction. This isn’t by any means the first case of it. Well, how are you, Catherine, after all these years? It is best to ask the question in the usual way. The less awkwardness, the better. You are very little changed.’
    â€˜Perhaps to your eyes. To me the change is great.’
    â€˜Well, no one would know it. I don’t know how much I am changed myself. I expect you would have recognized me.’
    â€˜There is little outward difference.’
    â€˜Well, as I say, I took my courage in my hands and came before I had time to think. A deadlock would not have served us. Well, it is a long time since we met.
    â€˜Yes, it is nine years.’
    â€˜Not since Fabian was a child of four.’
    â€˜Not since then.’
    â€˜You would be surprised to see him now.’
    â€˜As a boy of thirteen? No, that is how I think of him.’
    â€˜So we are to let the dead past bury its dead?’
    â€˜The past is dead,’ said Catherine, in a low tone. ‘It has no dead to bury. My sons’ lives are young.’
    â€˜Yes, that is true. But they have had a good mother in my wife.’
    â€˜They have had a good woman with them.’
    â€˜You left them of your own will.’
    â€˜You made it a condition. I had no choice but to leave them.’
    â€˜Well, well, we need not go into that. We are to meet now on other terms. We understand each other.’
    â€˜I wonder if you understand me. I have not helped you. I have returned to my own place. That place is near my children. I will not go further. I will not say it is with them. I have come back to see them, to know them, to break my faith. I have not the power to keep it. For years it has been growing too much for me. It has grown too much. I would rather see them with your sanction. I would not impose on them further burdens. I do not know how much they have borne.’
    â€˜They have had nothing to bear, and will have nothing. But I understand your wish to see them. We can probably arrange a meeting. It is a simple thing.’
    â€˜Is your wife willing for us to have it?’
    â€˜Well, it is a hard thing for her, Catherine. You must see that. But she is a woman who sees what is right and does it. That is the key to her nature. And it seemed to me that this was a right thing. I do not believe in being bound by the past. So I put it to her; perhaps I imposed it on her. I may do that sometimes; I daresay you remember. After all it is for me to take the lead. And she let herself be guided