Free The Philosopher's Pupil by Iris Murdoch Page B

displeasure.
    â€˜What does Brian think of him?’ said the priest, raising his voice.
    â€˜Better ask him,’ said Gabriel, raising hers and opening the door. ‘Brian! Father Bernard wants to know what you think about Professor Rozanov.’
    Brian came in, walked across to the gas stove and peered into one of the saucepans, pulling its lid off and banging it on again. He stared at the priest who did not, however, at once repeat his question, but said instead, ‘Why is Professor Rozanov visiting us?’
    â€˜He isn’t visiting me. I don’t know, arthritis, come to take the waters — ’
    â€˜Do you know where he’ll be staying?’
    â€˜No idea, Ennistone Royal Hotel.’ (Queen Victoria had visited Ennistone when Victoria Park was building, and went to the Institute where the Prince Consort praised the waters and spoke of Baden-Baden.)
    â€˜He hasn’t been here since his mother died,’ said Gabriel, ‘but people say he’s coming back now for good, he’s going to retire here.’
    â€˜What is he like?’ The television noise from the next room was almost drowning their voices.
    â€˜Rozanov? He’s a charlatan. You know what a charlatan is, a fake, a trickster, an impostor, a busybody who pretends to be able — ’
    â€˜Oh don’t shout, ’ cried Gabriel as she ran to turn off the television.
    The priest made his adieux.
    Later in the evening Gabriel and Brian were still talking about George and Stella and Alex.
    â€˜You must drop that Slipper House idea,’ said Brian, ‘Alex would never let us live there. Besides we’d hate it, right on top of her.’
    â€˜We’d use the back gate — ’
    â€˜Forget it.’
    â€˜I want that house.’
    â€˜You’re so acquisitive. And you think Alex is wasting our substance.’
    â€˜She’s so extravagant — ’
    â€˜You mustn’t think like that, it’s mean, it’s petty.’
    â€˜I know!’
    â€˜You shudder if Alex breaks a cup.’
    â€˜She’s careless, and she will use the best stuff all the time.’
    â€˜Why not, it isn’t your cup, it probably never will be. She’ll leave everything to George. You know we wouldn’t lift a finger.’
    â€˜She might have consulted us before selling Maryville.’
    Maryville was the seaside house.
    â€˜It was nothing but trouble, that place; dry rot and then squatters — ’
    â€˜Going to the sea isn’t the same after you’ve lived there; it’s made that lovely piece of coast seem all sad.’
    â€˜There you go again, property, property, property!’
    â€˜Alex doesn’t use the Slipper House. That time last summer I saw her painting stuff, it was just the same as it was years ago.’
    â€˜Maybe she meditates there, it isn’t our business, try to imagine her life, for heaven’s sake. You don’t like this house.’
    â€˜I do because it’s our house, but it’s so small.’
    â€˜The trouble with you is you’ve never got used to being a poor Bowcock.’ Gabriel’s branch of the family had not, for some reason. shared in the ancestral money.
    Gabriel laughed. ‘Maybe! But we need more room. If we have Stella here — ’
    â€˜Do we have to have Stella here?’
    â€˜I think so.’
    â€˜She wouldn’t come.’
    â€˜I talked to her again, very tactfully. I think she’s afraid to go back to George.’
    â€˜Husbands and wives often understand each other better than well-meaning outsiders imagine.’
    â€˜Anyway she wants an interval.’
    â€˜You seem to want her to leave George.’
    â€˜She goes on thinking she can cure him, she goes on looking for little signs that things are getting better — ’
    â€˜That’s love.’
    â€˜It’s an illusion.’
    â€˜In a way,’ said Brian, ‘it can’t be