Edith Wharton

Name: The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII
Author: Edith Wharton

The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

Summary

“The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII”, published in 1913, is a work by Edith Wharton. It explores elements such as Spragg, Undine and Ralph.

Quotes from The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (Edith Wharton)

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ Ralph's weak bones ached under his handshake.
"How's Mrs. Marvell?" he turned back from his landing to call out; and Ralph answered: "Thanks; she's very well."
Mr. Spragg sat alone in his murky inner office, the fly-blown engraving of Daniel Webster above his head and the congested scrap-basket beneath his feet. He looked fagged and sallow, like the day.
Ralph sat down on the other side of the desk. For a moment his throat contracted as it had when he had tried to question his sister; then he asked: "Where's Undine?"
Mr. Spragg glanced at the calendar that hung from a hat-peg on the door. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ Ralph felt the same hardness and lucidity that had come to him when he had heard his sister's answer.
"She's gone, you mean? Left me? With another man?"
Mr. Spragg drew himself up with a kind of slouching majesty. "My daughter is not that style. I understand Undine thinks there have been mistakes on both sides. She considers the tie was formed too hastily. I believe desertion is the usual plea in such cases."
Ralph stared about him, hardly listening. He did not resent his father-in-law's tone. In a dim way he guessed that Mr. Spragg was suffering hardly less than himself. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ No one named Undine to him, and he did not speak of her. But one day, as he lay in bed in the summer twilight, he had a vision of a moment, a long way behind him--at the beginning of his illness, it must have been--when he had called out for her in his anguish, and some one had said: "She's coming: she'll be here next week." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ Ralph stared at him, wondering if the heat had gone to his head. "I don't understand."
"The Twentieth Century's generally considered the best route to Dakota," explained Mr. Spragg, who pronounced the word ROWT.
"Do you mean to say Undine's in the United States?"
Mr. Spragg's lower lip groped for the phantom tooth-pick. "Why, let me see: hasn't Dakota been a state a year or two now?"
"Oh, God--" Ralph cried, pushing his chair back violently and striding across the narrow room.
As he turned, Mr. Spragg stood up and advanced a few steps. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ He lay there for a long time, in a silent blackness far below light and sound; then he gradually floated to the surface with the buoyancy of a dead body. But his body had never been more alive. Jagged strokes of pain tore through it, hands dragged at it with nails that bit like teeth. They wound thongs about him, bound him, tied weights to him, tried to pull him down with them ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ Spragg rose again and came forward with his slow shambling step. He laid his hand on Ralph's arm.
"I'd 'a' given anything--anything short of my girl herself--not to have this happen to you, Ralph Marvell."
"Thank you, sir," said Ralph.
They looked at each other for a moment; then Mr. Spragg added: "But it HAS happened, you know. Bear that in mind. Nothing you can do will change it. Time and again, I've found that a good thing to remember." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country — Chapter XXII (1913)

“ This was what he had worked out in his head, and what he meant to say to his sister; but something seemed to snap shut in his throat, and he closed his eyes without speaking.
Even when Mr. Spragg came to see him he said nothing. They talked about his illness, about the hot weather, about the rumours that Harmon B. Driscoll was again threatened with indictment; and then Mr. Spragg pulled himself out of his chair and said: "I presume you'll call round at the office before you leave the city."
"Oh, yes: as soon as I'm up," Ralph answered. They understood each other. ”

Edith Wharton

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