Chapter 32
<32> Mr. Price (1)
An invitation to a formal dinner at the Pendleton residence arrived at Mrs. Naisley's house, where Mr. Price was staying. Soon after, a reply, elegantly scrawled, expressing his willingness to attend, returned to the Pendleton residence.
Miss Pendleton discussed the formal dinner menu with Mr. Germain, set the dining table, and considered another guest who might entertain him. Her grandmother was unlikely to attend, and she felt that she alone would not be able to provide him with enough social enjoyment.
The main guest, Mr. Price, was rumored to be unpretentious, outgoing, and talkative. She sought out friends who would suit him. The Fairfax siblings, masters of listening, and Miss Hyde, who was interested in any new story, came to mind.
And then she thought of several open-minded, newly-emerged gentry couples. She sent invitations to all of them, and they gladly accepted.
On the day of the formal dinner, as expected, her grandmother remained in her room, and Miss Pendleton alone, dressed impeccably, waited for her guests in the drawing room.
The first to arrive that day was Miss Hyde.
She entered the drawing room in a simple white blouse, a black jacket, and a plain chestnut-colored skirt. A neat outfit without any of the flashy jewelry that she inevitably had to wear in social life. She looked like an ordinary female office worker.
She had recently started working at a publishing house. Today was exactly fifteen days since she started.
She put down the briefcase in her hand, skipped the curtsy, and immediately hugged Miss Pendleton tightly. Miss Pendleton gladly accepted the fervent expression of affection. It was proof that she was happy with her life these days.
Miss Hyde began to tell her in detail about her experiences at the office for the past few days. Her roles in the office that she learned through the handover process.
She was a junior typist in the editorial department. Her apparent duties were to draw up written contracts, greet writers who came to make requests, and serve tea. But she realized what her real job was after a week. It was listening to the editor, a cheerful smoker, gossip about the writers and joining in to criticize their writing.
Miss Hyde said it was a funny and strange workplace. But Miss Hyde's face was shining brightly as she said that.
Miss Pendleton had never seen Miss Hyde's face look so joyful before. Clearly, she liked the new life she had started. Miss Pendleton looked at Miss Hyde, who had started a new life much earlier than herself, with admiration.
Mr. Price arrived on time. He entered the drawing room in a neatly pressed tailcoat, whistling, and following the servant's guidance. And he bowed politely to the two women in the drawing room.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tom Price."
The two women stood up demurely and curtsied. Miss Pendleton greeted him kindly.
"Thank you for coming. I'm Laura Pendleton, Gerald's niece. This is Miss Jane Hyde, the second daughter of the Hyde family."
Mr. Price bowed again, then approached the ladies with a genial smile and kissed each of their hands.
"I've heard a lot from Gerald. That is, I've heard a lot through Count Pendleton. You live in a truly wonderful house. And Miss Hyde is dazzlingly beautiful, like a London lady! I don't know if I'll be able to eat my formal dinner today. I have to eat facing such dazzling ladies. But your style of dress is a bit unique. Very practical and neat?"
Miss Pendleton told him that Miss Hyde was a typist working in an office. He laughed heartily at the story and applauded.
"Many women are entering the workforce in America as well. But I've heard that the number is small in England. But I've met a wonderful career woman here! Do you have any plans to get married?"
"Not at all. I entered this path to avoid marriage."
"Great discernment!"
Miss Hyde, feeling favorable towards his openness, asked.
"Where did you see that in me, Mr. Price? I've only heard the opposite story in my life. Especially as I get older."
"Then that's because Miss Hyde knows a secret that people never teach ladies. Everyone is conspiring to deceive ladies of marriageable age, including Miss Hyde."
"What is that secret, Mr. Price?"
"A husband is a burden to a woman!"
Miss Pendleton smiled.
"It may be rude, but I understand that you have been married for a long time, Mr. Price."
"That's right, Miss Pendleton. This is a self-reflection from my long experience. Every man around me was just a burden to his wife. Whether a good husband or a bad husband, all the same."
He sighed exaggeratedly.
"I loved my wife so much that I was very afraid of becoming a worthless man to her. So I spent my whole life trying to be a good husband to her. If she told me to pick a star, I would pick a star, and if she told me to pick the moon, I would pick the moon. Of course, you all saw the stars and the moon every night. Because I quickly put them back in place before nightfall. But the moment my wife passed away, holding her hand and crying, she said this! 'Oh, God! Please take me away so I can get rid of this burden!'"
Miss Hyde couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. Miss Pendleton could only give an awkward smile at his self-deprecating sense of humor.
Soon, the other distinguished guests arrived, including the Fairfax siblings, and the formal dinner began in earnest.
The atmosphere was very good. Mr. Price played the role of a charming raconteur throughout every course from appetizer to dessert. He had lived as a businessman in American society for over 30 years and had a wealth of stories as a result.
In particular, he knew the New York social scene well. It was like his base of operations, where he had been going in and out with his wife for 20 years. This topic was also suitable for the nature of the formal dinner, and his story captivated everyone who participated in the formal dinner.
Throughout the meal, he told in detail how hard the descendants of merchants and industrialists, who pretended to be aristocrats in America, were working to imitate European society.
He was an owner of keen observation, and also a master of satire. Through his mouth, the customs of American society were mercilessly exposed.
Mr. Price ridiculed them for imitating European culture in order to imitate interior design, servants' clothing, dresses, social manners, and even adultery. His stories repeatedly crossed the line, but no one felt uncomfortable because of Mr. Price's calm and cheerful tone.
Even if his story was uncomfortable, no one would have stopped him. Because his story was satisfying their pride as Europeans.
After the meal, they moved to the drawing room. Miss Janet and Miss Pendleton took turns playing the piano, and the rest spent their time listening to the piano or playing cards.
In particular, Miss Hyde was completely fascinated by Mr. Price during the formal dinner and kept trying to hear stories about America from him. Mr. Price, not disliking the lady's attention, told her about Atlanta and New York, where he had stayed, throughout the time in the drawing room.
The formal dinner that day was a success. All the guests were satisfied, and in particular, the guest of honor, Mr. Price, was impressed by the Pendleton family's cuisine, the extreme hospitality, and the faces of the charming guests. Just before leaving, he kissed Miss Pendleton's hand with a very pleased expression, saying that there had never been a formal dinner like this even in America.
Miss Pendleton was greatly relieved that she had satisfied the guest of honor. Although his loud tone and exaggerated sense of humor irritated Miss Pendleton's nerves, causing her to have a headache by the end of the formal dinner.
After that day, Miss Pendleton often invited Mr. Price to formal dinners. The time was always filled with a boisterous and cheerful atmosphere, and he always kissed Miss Pendleton's hand as he left, praising it as the best formal dinner.
She felt that Mr. Price was satisfied with her hospitality, and she thought that was all there was to Mr. Price's heart. But as the exchanges continued, Miss Pendleton began to feel something strange.
The first premonition was the day he attended the fourth formal dinner at the Pendleton residence. That day, her grandmother's condition was better than usual, so she attended the formal dinner for the first time in a long time. Her grandmother liked his cheerful disposition very much, and Mr. Price used all his wit and humor to liven up the atmosphere in order to cheer up the sickly noblewoman.
By the time the main course came out, her grandmother and Mr. Price had become close enough to have an open and honest conversation.
"Miss Pendleton is a great comfort to Lady Abigail. You must be very sad when Miss Pendleton gets married."
"Well, that's inevitable. How can I stop her when she sets out to find her own happiness?"
"That's right. Separation is an inevitable necessity for daughters and their parents. Parents must always prepare for the sadness of separation inside as much as they love their daughters. Otherwise, when separation actually comes, they will hold on to their daughters and beg them to give up their own happiness. I was exactly like that too. When my daughter wore her wedding dress, I wanted to hold on to her and beg her to be my daughter for just one more year."
"As expected of someone who has sent their daughter off to get married, you understand that feeling. If Laura leaves, I will feel like a piece of my heart has been torn out."
"But you must endure that pain. Ah, as painful as it is for the parents, the daughter will be happier as a result."
Miss Pendleton listened to their conversation in silence. She felt good that Mr. Price was being a good conversational partner for her grandmother. But after a while, Lady Abigail felt dizzy again, and eventually, she was helped upstairs again by the servants.
Miss Pendleton had to deal with Mr. Price alone that evening. She listened to his stories diligently and smiled until the end of the meal. Because he was a precious guest of this family.
After the meal, at his request, she went to the drawing room and played a song on the piano. Mr. Price sat there and stared intently at Miss Pendleton playing the piano. Miss Pendleton felt uncomfortable with his gaze, but she didn't show it and continued to move her fingers.
"When I first entered London society, I looked for Miss Pendleton."
"Did you hear about me from my uncle?"
"Yes. That guy, no, excuse me, my dear Count Gerald Pendleton, was constantly bragging. About how beautiful and virtuous his niece is. That she is more of an English lady than anyone else. He said he wouldn't trade her for a dozen American ladies."
Her uncle was bragging about her. How could he know if a niece he hadn't seen since she was ten years old was beautiful or virtuous? More than that, Gerald's praise for her did not feel like it was out of pure intention.
