Chapter 140
#<Episode 140>
Laura remembered how she managed to return home on the day of the first snow. Mr. Dalton, whom she had encountered in front of the umbrella shop, was vivid in her mind. She didn't remember the content of their conversation, but she did remember him handing her an umbrella. However, everything after she collapsed into his arms was a dark void.
After that, the testimonies of people around her filled in the gaps. Mr. Dalton had wrapped her tightly in his jacket, held her in his arms, and rushed into the hotel room. He stayed by her side until dawn, then left, saying he had to return to Whitefield.
He had saved her. He had safely brought her, sick as she was, back to her nest. If it hadn't been for him, she might have collapsed on the street and something terrible might have happened to her.
'What if he's suffering from Fever like I was…'
Laura felt her vision darken. She had been so severely ill that she felt like she had come back from the dead. The thought that he might be feeling her pain made her chest tighten and her hands tremble with worry.
Miss Hyde, returning with a glass of water, was very surprised to see Laura's pale face. She snatched the letter from Laura's hand and made her lie down on the bed. Laura lay down, her heart in turmoil.
Miss Hyde then began to read the remaining letters. But Laura didn't hear a word. Her mind was completely filled with worry about Mr. Dalton.
After reading the last letter, Miss Hyde arranged them and placed them in the letterbox at the bottom of the side table next to the bed.
"They are all good people. There are many snobs in society, but only kind and loyal people gather around Miss Pendleton. Perhaps it's because Miss Pendleton is one of those people."
Laura gave a faint smile.
"...I don't know what kind of person I am, but it's true that there are many good people around me. One of them is Miss Hyde."
Miss Hyde laughed heartily. Then, she touched Laura's forehead and tucked her into bed.
"You seem to be getting paler and paler."
"...I think I got too excited because it's Christmas."
"You're like a child, Miss Pendleton."
The two women made eye contact and smiled.
Outside the window, white snow was still falling heavily. The two women watched the Christmas scenery slowly darkening through the window.
"Miss Pendleton."
Laura, who was imagining Mr. Dalton lying in his sickbed, looking up at the dusty, cloudy sky with tear-blurred vision, turned her head to look at Miss Hyde.
"Miss Rotis went out today to have tea with the president of Delson Publishing. Delson Publishing is the most likely publisher to sign Miss Rotis's next book."
"...I know that publisher. Everyone who loves books knows it."
"Yes. They must have offered Miss Rotis a considerable contract fee to get her. They even included a condition in the contract that they would assign her the most experienced editor. Unless there are any unexpected changes, Miss Rotis will sign the contract and return today."
This was the first time Laura had heard of this. She was so surprised that she forgot about Mr. Dalton for a moment.
"That's great! Ah, but it's a bit of a shame to part ways with the previous publisher. They paid for this wonderful suite and even provided Miss Hyde."
Miss Hyde shook her head.
"It's natural since it's a trip to promote the book. Moreover, thanks to Miss Rotis, that publisher went from being a small shop barely surviving with three employees to a large publishing house with a five-story building in the center of London. Compared to the profits they've made, a suite and a new typist are just small benefits. If they had printed the book properly without any sentence errors in the first place, Miss Rotis wouldn't have had to go to the trouble of looking for a new publisher."
Laura, understanding Miss Rotis's position, nodded.
Miss Hyde suddenly let out a deep sigh. Laura was puzzled.
"What's wrong, Miss Hyde? Miss Rotis is about to sign a great contract, but you seem upset."
"Once the contract is signed, we'll leave right away. By early March at the latest. Miss Rotis is itching to travel again. She's sick of England."
"Does Miss Hyde not want to leave England?"
"Of course not. I hate England too."
"Then that's good. Are we going straight to Japan?"
"Probably. We'll have to pass through a few countries, but they'll just be stepping stones to get from port to port, and the destination is Japan. But Miss Rotis seems to be more interested in the country next to Japan. It's a country bordering Qing China, and they say there's an ethnic group there that eats a lot of rice. According to the writings of missionaries, they mainly wear white clothes and wear fancy hats. I want to hear what they think of the West. They must think we're thieves. Considering what we've done."
Miss Hyde's tone was listless. Laura found it strange. She had always wanted to see the wide world, but now that the opportunity was approaching, she didn't seem very happy.
When Laura asked her the reason again, she smiled sadly.
"I have to say goodbye to Miss Pendleton."
"Ah… I guess so."
Sadness spread to Laura. Miss Hyde looked down at Laura with affectionate eyes.
"We had a lot of fun in Bath, didn't we?"
Laura nodded.
"It's a memory I'll never forget."
Miss Hyde crossed her arms and thought for a moment, then opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.
"Miss Pendleton, why don't you come with us?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't you want to see the world? Don't you want to see new faces, new cultures, new landscapes? You can experience all of that if you come with us."
"But, what would I do there?"
Miss Hyde began to actively persuade her.
"Translation work isn't tied to a place. Imagine it. The three of us sitting around a large, round table, working together. Miss Rotis and I writing, and Miss Pendleton doing translation work."
"……."
"If we find a place we like while traveling through various countries, we can settle down there. Whether it's Marseille, Milan, or Osaka. No one will point fingers at Miss Pendleton there. You'll just be called a beautiful young lady from England."
Laura smiled bitterly.
Miss Hyde knew everything about how she had been treated during her time in society. Hidden in the offer to leave England together was Miss Hyde's affection for wanting to take her friend out of a stifling, cruel world.
Laura was grateful for Miss Hyde's heart. A loyal and kind friend. Miss Hyde was always grateful for Laura's kindness, but the help Laura had received from her was greater than what she had given, if not equal.
Therefore, Laura's heart ached at the truth she had to say.
"Miss Hyde, I don't really like throwing myself into a new world."
"……."
Laura sat up in bed.
"Miss Rotis is a flame. You are a bird. The two of you meet and become a phoenix. In any civilization, the phoenix creates miracles and becomes a myth. The two of you are people who will make history. On the other hand, I am a spring. Quietly trickling in a corner of the forest. I need land to flow. I don't want to leave this country."
"This country has been harsh to Miss Pendleton. Haven't unfair traditions hurt Miss Pendleton?"
"It's not just wounds. My mother is English. My father's grave is also in England. Abigail Grandmother is buried in England, and all my friends live in England. Nothing is more precious to me than the people I love."
Miss Hyde opened her mouth to try to persuade her further, but then chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"I must like Miss Pendleton a lot. To hate parting like this. To be honest, I've thought before that I wish I had been born as Miss Pendleton's daughter, not Mrs. Hyde of London. Miss Pendleton might not welcome a daughter like me, though."
"Why wouldn't I? You're a talented and stylish Albatross."
Miss Hyde's shoulders drooped.
"I hate parting with Miss Pendleton like this. Because the day we reunite is so far away. Miss Rotis is a person who travels overseas, and I will never leave Miss Rotis's side. I don't want her to experience breaking up with a lover anymore. We'll be together until we go to the grave."
Laura felt the same sense of pride that she felt whenever she married off a friend to a good partner.
But Miss Hyde was on the verge of tears. Originally, Miss Hyde was intelligent and dignified, but she became a soft, childlike figure in front of Miss Pendleton.
"……That means, I won't have many opportunities to come to England, and then with Miss Pendleton too…… I, I have no attachment to England, but only Miss Pendleton……."
"Miss Hyde. You mustn't be afraid of parting. You have to do that to become a real adult."
Laura reached out and took Miss Hyde's hand.
"I lost my father when I was young, and I recently lost my grandmother too. I try to overcome my sadness by praying for them. Miss Hyde also has the strength to overcome her sadness."
Laura made eye contact with Miss Hyde.
"A certain gentleman I know told me that he painted when he experienced the sadness of parting. He resolved his sadness by expressing it as something productive. Miss Hyde, write when you're sad. Express your emotions to your heart's content. That will be a release of pain, and it will also be a great fertilizer for wonderful art."
Tears rolled down Miss Hyde's eyes. She understood, but it seemed she couldn't accept it with her heart.
Laura gently stroked Miss Hyde's earlobe.
"I'm also upset about parting with Miss Hyde. We've known each other since we were children, and we've grown up helping each other through life's crises. We can't forget each other. And Miss Hyde, as long as we don't forget each other, we're together. You'll write about me, and I'll pray for you. When we remember each other, it's like we're together."
"……Will you pray for me?"
Laura nodded.
