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typewriting。 Her education made it likely that she would be a typist more
efficient than the average； and her story made her claims appealing。 Her
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The Moon and Sixpence
friends promised to send her work； and took care to recommend her to all
theirs。
The MacAndrews； who were childless and in easy circumstances；
arranged to undertake the care of the children； and Mrs。 Strickland had
only herself to provide for。 She let her flat and sold her furniture。 She
settled in two tiny rooms in Westminster； and faced the world anew。 She
was so efficient that it was certain she would make a success of the
adventure。
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Chapter XVII
It was about five years after this that I decided to live in Paris for a
while。 I was growing stale in London。 I was tired of doing much the
same thing every day。 My friends pursued their course with
uneventfulness； they had no longer any surprises for me； and when I met
them I knew pretty well what they would say； even their love…affairs had
a tedious banality。 We were like tram…cars running on their lines from
terminus to terminus； and it was possible to calculate within small limits
the number of passengers they would carry。 Life was ordered too
pleasantly。 I was seized with panic。 I gave up my small apartment； sold
my few belongings； and resolved to start afresh。
I called on Mrs。 Strickland before I left。 I had not seen her for some
time； and I noticed changes in her； it was not only that she was older；
thinner； and more lined； I think her character had altered。 She had made
a success of her business； and now had an office in Chancery Lane； she
did little typing herself； but spent her time correcting the work of the four
girls she employed。 She had had the idea of giving it a certain daintiness；
and she made much use of blue and red inks； she bound the copy in coarse
paper； that looked vaguely like watered silk； in various pale colours； and
she had acquired a reputation for neatness and accuracy。 She was
making money。 But she could not get over the idea that to earn her living
was somewhat undignified； and she was inclined to remind you that she
was a lady by birth。 She could not help bringing into her conversation
the names of people she knew which would satisfy you that she had not
sunk in the social scale。 She was a little ashamed of her courage and
business capacity； but delighted that she was going to dine the next night
with a K。C。 who lived in South Kensington。 She was pleased to be able to
tell you that her son was at Cambridge； and it was with a little laugh that
she spoke of the rush of dances to which her daughter； just out； was
invited。 I suppose I said a very stupid thing。
〃Is she going into your business？〃 I asked。
〃Oh no； I wouldn't let her do that；〃 Mrs。 Strickland answered。 〃She's so
pretty。 I'm sure she'll marry well。〃
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〃I should have thought it would be a help to you。〃
〃Several people have suggested that she should go on the stage； but of
course I couldn't consent to that； I know all the chief dramatists； and I
could get her a part to…morrow； but I shouldn't like her to mix with all sorts
of people。〃
I was a little chilled by Mrs。 Strickland's exclusiveness。
〃Do you ever hear of your husband？〃
〃No； I haven't heard a word。 He may be dead for all I know。〃
〃I may run across him in Paris。 Would you like me to let you know
about him？〃
She hesitated a minute。
〃If he's in any real want I'm prepared to help him a little。 I'd send you a
certain sum of money； and you could give it him gradually； as he needed
it。〃
〃That's very good of you；〃 I said。
But I knew it was not kindness that prompted the offer。 It is not true
that suffering ennobles the character； happiness does that sometimes； but
suffering； for the most part； makes men petty and vindictive。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XVIII
In point of fact； I met Strickland before I had been a fortnight in
Paris。
I quickly found myself a tiny apartment on the fifth floor of a house in
the Rue des Dames； and for a couple of hundred francs bought at a
second…hand dealer's enough furniture to make it habitable。 I arranged
with the concierge to make my coffee in the morning and to keep the place
clean。 Then I went to see my friend Dirk Stroeve。
Dirk Stroeve was one of those persons whom； according to your
character； you cannot think of without derisive laughter or an embarrassed
shrug of the shoulders。 Nature had made him a buffoon。 He was a
painter； but a very bad one； whom I had met in Rome； and I still
remembered his pictures。 He had a genuine enthusiasm for the
commonplace。 His soul palpitating with love of art； he painted the
models who hung about the stairway of Bernini in the Piazza de Spagna；
undaunted by their obvious picturesqueness； and his studio was full of
canvases on which were portrayed moustachioed； large…eyed peasants in
peaked hats； urchins in becoming rags； and women in bright petticoats。
Sometimes they lounged at the steps of a church； and sometimes dallied
among cypresses against a cloudless sky； sometimes they made love by a
Renaissance well…head； and sometimes they wandered through the
Campagna by the side of an ox…waggon。 They were carefully drawn and
carefully painted。 A photograph could not have been more exact。 One of
the painters at the Villa Medici had called him To look at his pictures you would have thought that Monet；
Manet； and the rest of the Impressionists had never been。
〃I