The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Duet, by A. Conan Doyle
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Title: A Duet
Author: A. Conan Doyle
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5260]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on June 18, 2002]
[Most recently updated: June 18, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A DUET ***
Transcribed from the 1899 Grant Richards edition by David Price,
email
[email protected]
A DUET
WITH AN OCCASIONAL CHORUS
TO MRS. MAUDE CROSSE
Dear Maude,--All the little two-oared boats which put out into the
great ocean have need of some chart which will show them how to lay
their course. Each starts full of happiness and confidence, and yet
we know how many founder, for it is no easy voyage, and there are
rocks and sandbanks upon the way. So I give a few pages of your own
private log, which tell of days of peace, and days of storm--such
storms as seem very petty from the deck of a high ship, but are
serious for the two-oared boats. If your peace should help another
to peace, or your storm console another who is storm-tossed, then I
know that you will feel repaid for this intrusion upon your privacy.
May all your voyage be like the outset, and when at last the oars
fall from your hands, and those of Frank, may other loving ones be
ready to take their turn of toil--and so, bon voyage!
Ever your friend,
THE AUTHOR.
Jan. 20, 1899.
CHAPTER I--THE OVERTURE--ABOUT THAT DATE
These are the beginnings of some of the letters which they wrote
about that time.
Woking, May 20th.
My Dearest Maude,--You know that your mother suggested, and we
agreed, that we should be married about the beginning of September.
Don't you think that we might say the 3rd of August? It is a
Wednesday, and in every sense suitable. Do try to change the date,
for it would in many ways be preferable to the other. I shall be
eager to hear from you about it. And now, dearest Maude . . . (The
rest is irrelevant.)
St. Albans, May 22nd.
My Dearest Frank,--Mother sees no objection to the 3rd of August, and
I am ready to do anything which will please you and her. Of course
there are the guests to be considered, and the dressmakers and other
arrangements, but I have no doubt that we shall be able to change the
date all right. O Frank . . . (What follows is beside the point.)
Woking, May 25th.
My Dearest Maude,--I have been thinking over that change of date, and
I see one objection which had not occurred to me when I suggested it.
August the 1st is Bank holiday, and travelling is not very pleasant
about that time. My idea now is that we should bring it off before
that date. Fancy, for example, how unpleasant it would be for your
Uncle Joseph if he had to travel all the way from Edinburgh with a
Bank-holiday crowd. It would be selfish of us if we did not fit in
our plans so as to save our relatives from inconvenience. I think
therefore, taking everything into consideration, that the 20th of
July, a Wednesday, would be the very best day that we could select.
I do hope that you will strain every nerve, my darling, to get your
mother to consent to this change. When I think . . . (A digression
follows.)
St. Albans, May 27th.
My Dearest Frank,--I think that what you say about the date is very
reasonable, and it is so sweet and unselfish of you to think about
Uncle Joseph. Of course it would be very unpleasant for him to have
to travel at such a time, and we must strain every nerve to prevent
it. There is only one serious objection which my mother can see.
Uncle Percival (that is my mother's second brother) comes back from
Rangoon about the end of July, and will miss the wedding (O Frank,
think of its being OUR wedding!) unless we delay it. He has always
been very fond of me, and he might be hurt if we were married so
immediately before his arrival. Don't you think it would be as well
to wait? Mother leaves it all in your hands, and we shall do exactly
as you advise. O Frank . . . (The rest is confidential.)
Woking, May 29th.
My Own Dearest,--I think that it would be unreasonable upon the part
of your Uncle Percival to think that we ought to have changed the
date of a matter so important to ourselves, simply in order that he
should be present. I am sure that on second thoughts your mother and
yourself will see the thing in this light. I must say, however, that
in one point I think you both show great judgment. It would
certainly be invidious to be married IMMEDIATELY before his arrival.
I really think that he would have some cause for complaint if we did
that. To prevent any chance of hurting his feelings, I think that it
would be far best, if your mother and you agree with me, that we
should be married upon July 7th. I see that it is a Thursday, and in
every way suitable. When I read your last letter . . . (The
remainder is unimportant.)
St. Albans, June 1st.
Dearest Frank,--I am sure that you are right in thinking that it
would be as well not to have the ceremony too near the date of Uncle
Percival's arrival in England. We should be so sorry to hurt his
feelings in any way. Mother has been down to Madame Mortimer's about
the dresses, and she thinks that everything could be hurried up so as
to be ready by July 7th. She is so obliging, and her skirts DO hang
so beautifully. O Frank, it is only a few weeks' time, and then . .
