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PREFACE
Public law is amongst the most fast-moving, contentious, and exciting areas of law to study.
This edition of the book has been written during a period of unprecedented change and de-
bate around constitutional issues, most particularly involving Brexit. As we write this Preface
we remain unsure about the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union
following the referendum in June 2016, when 52 per cent of voters chose to ‘leave’ the EU. This
book, however, assumes that the UK will cease to be a member state of the EU in 2019.
There is much written on public law and an ever-growing range of key texts for university
courses on the subject, including on constitutional and administrative law, as it is often re-
ferred to: the big textbooks, shorter works, and a number of ‘text, cases, and materials’ books.
For us, it is this latter type which provides an ideal medium for an account of the legal aspects
of the United Kingdom constitution. There are three main reasons. First, it gives students a
chance to read at first hand the analysis and arguments of academics and participants in the
constitution, most aspects of which are contested: the extracts convey the debates and dis-
agreements most effectively. In selecting the materials for use in this book and adding our
commentaries we have attempted to focus on subjects that are in the mainstream of the ma-
jority of public law or constitutional and administrative law courses in the United Kingdom.
We have focused on legal aspects of the constitution, not least because most users of the book
will be studying public law as a core area of their undergraduate law studies, but we hope that
non-lawyers will also find the book of value.
A second reason for a text, cases, and materials approach is that it is good for presenting
case studies that breathe life into the law. In this book, we look at a variety of constitutional
issues and episodes, including troop deployment powers (Chapter 11); relations between the
House of Commons and House of Lords (Chapter 15); and in relation to the Human Rights
Act 1998, the interaction of school uniform policies and rights to manifest religion, and recent
anti-terrorism legislation in the United Kingdom (both in Chapter 20). The case studies are
designed to encourage readers to ‘drill down’ into specific constitutional goings-on to see how
general principles and processes operate in a particular context and to gain an understanding
of the law that is difficult to achieve when using other types of book.
A third reason is that the text, cases, and materials approach provides students with access
to key sources of law and other materials. This book, for example, provides readers with a care-
fully selected range of extracts from important statutes and leading judgments, as well as from
materials drawn from a wide range of official reports. In our commentary we explain these
extracts and seek to place them in their context.
The best way to learn about constitutional law is to become engaged in the issues.
Recognizing that this cannot be done passively, throughout the book we pose questions that
are intended to prompt readers to check their understanding and to critically reflect on what
they are reading. In this way we hope that the book will be a valuable resource that will com-
plement the work of lecturers and teachers.
Any book of this length requires an organized structure, although we do not assume that all
readers will use the chapters in the order in which they are presented. Because this edition has
been written assuming that the UK will be leaving the EU, the structure of this edition differs
somewhat to that of previous editions.
viii | Preface
Chapters have been renumbered so that the previous ‘Introductions’ to each Part of the
book are now, for ease of reference, treated as a chapter.
In Part II (Executive Functions) Chapter 10 on Prerogative Powers includes a case study on
the Miller case in which the courts held that the Government could not rely on its prerogative
powers to serve notice of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU. Chapter 11 is now a
stand-alone case study on the deployment of armed forces abroad.
Chapters on the EU that were previously integrated throughout the book have been moved
and updated to form a new Part V; this contains chapters on the institutions of the European
Union (Chapter 21); joining and leaving the European Union (Chapter 22); and European
Law in the United Kingdom courts (Chapter 23).
The book was finalized in May 2019. The online resources that accompany this book will
enable us to provide regular updates for students studying our changing constitution.
Andrew Le Sueur
Maurice Sunkin
Jo Eric Khushal Murkens
May 2019
NEW TO THIS EDITION
The whole text has been updated to include the principal developments since the 3rd edition,
and in particular to take account of Brexit. As indicated in the Preface, this edition has been
written on the assumption that the UK is leaving the European Union. In addition the fol-
lowing changes have been introduced.
• The chapters have been renumbered so that the previous ‘Introductions’ to each Part of the
book are now, for ease of reference, treated as a chapter.
• Chapter 1 (Introduction to Constitutional Fundamentals) has a new section which pro-
vides an overview of the legal and political developments related to Brexit up to May 2019.
• Chapter 7 (Protecting Rights) considers the Charter of Fundamental Rights in light of the
UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
• Chapter 10 (Prerogative Powers) includes a case study on R (Miller) v Secretary of State for
Exiting the European Union [2017] UKSC 5.
• Chapter 11 is now a stand-alone case study on the deployment of armed forces abroad.
• Chapter 14 (Delegated Legislation) includes discussion of the Public Law Project’s chal-
lenge to the government over access to legal aid (R (on the application of the Public Law
Project) v Lord Chancellor [2016] UKSC 39), as well as a case study on the European Union
(Withdrawal) Bill 2017–18.
• Chapter 17 (The Judiciary) incorporates discussion of the Miller case and the independence
of the judiciary, the duties of the Lord Chancellor, and the freedom of the media.
• Chapter 18 (Administrative Justice: Tribunals and Ombuds) contains discussion of admin-
istrative justice and decision-making, as well as the digitalization of tribunals.
• Chapter 19 (Judicial Review) includes updated figures on the scale of judicial review
and discussion of the recent Privacy International case (R (on the application of Privacy
International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal and others) [2019] UKSC 22).
• The chapters on the EU (previously Chapters 8, 12, and 18) have been rewritten to take
account of recent developments and have been brought together in a new Part V The
European Union.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As with the previous three editions, this book is a team effort. We thank those whose words
we have extracted and curated in our efforts to paint a picture of the UK Constitution as
a dynamic and contested system. The whole OUP team have been superbly supportive; in
particular, we thank Emily Cunningham for her enthusiasm and encouragement and all the
production team for their patience while we have navigated the uncertain constitutional ter-
rain in producing this edition. We are grateful to Marie Gill for her work as copy editor, and
to those, including our students, who have provided us with feedback and suggestions for
improving the book. We owe special thanks to Carolin Ott and Lee Marsons for research help
and to Mario Mendez who read and commented in detail on the chapters in Part V. We thank
our partners, families, and friends who were generous with their patience. We are, of course,
responsible for any errors and omissions in the book.
SOURCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Grateful acknowledgement is made to all the authors and publishers of copyright material
which appears in this book, and in particular to the following for permission to reprint ma-
terial from the sources indicated:
Crown copyright material is reproduced under Class Licence Number C2006010631 with
the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland. Parliamentary
copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s
Stationary Office on behalf of Parliament.
Cambridge University Press: extracts from N.W. Barber, ‘Prelude to the Separation
of Powers’ [2001] Cambridge Law Journal 59, 71–2; Christopher Forsyth, ‘Of fig leaves
and fairy tales: The ultra vires doctrine, the sovereignty of Parliament and judicial review’
[1996] Cambridge Law Journal 122, 134–40; Paul Craig, ‘Ultra Vires and the Foundations of
Judicial Review’ [1999] Cambridge Law Journal 63, 86–9; H.W.R. Wade, ‘The Basis of Legal
Sovereignty’ [1955] Cambridge Law Journal 172, 174, 187–8; C.J.S. Knight, ‘Bi-polar sover-
eignty restated’ [2009] Cambridge Law Journal 361, 362, 365–6.
European Parliament: Figure 21.2 Turnout in European Parliamentary elections; Box 21.5
Turnout for European Parliament elections by country 1979–2014; Figure 21.6 Presentation
of the OLP.
Financial Times: Figure 22.3 The backstop, Alex Barker [2018] A visual guide to the Brexit
border conundrum from: Why the Irish border backstop could sink a Brexit deal, FT.COM, 15
October 2018. Used under licence from the Financial Times. All Rights Reserved.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Figure 21.1 EU Chart, redrawn from an original first pub-
lished in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 1 December 2009.
Graham Gee: extracts from G. Gee, ‘A Tale of Two Constitutional Duties: Liz Truss, Lady
Hale, and Miller’ [2016] Policy Exchange.
The Hansard Society: extract from Hansard Society Commission on the Legislative Process,
Making the Law (1992), pp. 64–5.
House of Lords Reports: extracts are Parliamentary copyright and are reproduced by per-
mission of the Controller of HMSO on behalf of Parliament.
ICLR: extracts from R v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Pierson [1998]
AC 539, 587–8, Ungoed-Thomas J; Thoburn v Sunderland City Council [2002] EWHC 195
(Admin), Laws LJ, Laws J; Burmah Oil Company v Lord Advocate [1965] AC 75, 99–100; R
v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte the Fire Brigades Union [1995] 2 AC
513, 551–2; R v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Fire Brigades Union and
others [1995] 2 AC 513, 546, 550, Lord Reid; Padfield v Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food [1968] AC 997, 1030–3; Blackburn v Attorney General [1971] 1 WLR 1037, 1039–40,
Lord Denning; Anisminic v Foreign Compensation Commission [1969] 2 AC 147; Pickstone v
Freemans Plc [1989] AC 66, 111–12, 123, 125–8; R v North and East Devon Health Authority,
ex parte Coughlan (Secretary of State for Health and anor) [2001] QB 213.
JUSTICE: extracts from A British Bill of Rights: Informing the Debate—The Report of the
JUSTICE Constitution Committee (2008, London: JUSTICE), pp. 55–6; Ann Abraham, The
Parliamentary Ombudsman and Administrative Justice: Shaping the Next 50 Years, JUSTICE,
Tom Sargant Memorial Annual Lecture, October 2011.
xiv | Source Acknowledgements
MIT Press Journals: extract from Andrew Moravcsik, ‘The Origins of Human Rights
Regimes: Democratic Delegation in Postwar Europe’ (2000) 54 International Organisation
217 at 238.
Oxford University Press: extracts from Andrew Le Sueur, ‘Accountability’ in P. Cane
and J. Conaghan (eds) The New Oxford Companion to Law (2008, Oxford: OUP), pp. 7–
8; Ronald Dworkin, ‘Political Judges and the Rule of Law’ in A Matter of Principle (1985,
Oxford: OUP), ch. 1, pp. 11–12; Gary Marks and Liesbet Hooghe, ‘Contrasting Visions of
Multi-level Governance’ in Ian Bache and Matthew Flinders (eds) Multilevel Governance
(2004, Oxford: OUP), ch. 2, pp. 15–16; Anthony King, The British Constitution (2007,
Oxford: OUP), pp. 129–30; Mark Janis, Richard Kay and Anthony Bradley, European Human
Rights Law (2008, Oxford: OUP), pp. 5–8; Anthony Lester QC, ‘Human Rights and the British
Constitution’ in J. Jowell and D. Oliver (eds) The Changing Constitution, 7th edn (2011,
Oxford: OUP), ch. 3, pp. 75–6; Richard Clayton and Hugh Tomlinson, The Law of Human
Rights (2000, Oxford: OUP), pp. 59–61; Maurice Sunkin, ‘Crown’ in P. Cane and J. Conaghan
(eds), The New Oxford Companion to Law (2008, Oxford: OUP), pp. 286–7; I. Bache, S. George,
S. Bulmer, and O. Parker, The Politics in the European Union, 4th edn (2015, Oxford: OUP),
pp. 238–9; M. Shackleton, ‘The European Parliament’, in D. Hodson and J. Peterson (eds)
The Institutions of the European Union, 4th edn (2017, Oxford: OUP), pp. 145-146, 155-156 .
Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.
Oxford University Press Journals: extracts from Jo Murkens, ‘The Quest for Constitutionalism
in UK Public Law Discourse’ (2009) 29 OJLS 3, 430–2, 454–5; Aileen Kavanagh, ‘The Role of
Parliamentary Intention in Adjudication under the Human Rights Act 1998’ [2006] Oxford
Journal of Legal Studies 26(1): 179; P. P. Craig, ‘Sovereignty of the United Kingdom Parliament
after Factortame’ (1991) 11 Yearbook of European Law 221, 250–1; G. Phillipson, ‘EU Law
as an Agent of National Constitutional Change: Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the
European Union’ (2017) 36(1) Yearbook of European Law pp.46–93, 81-83.
Palgrave Macmillan: extracts from A.V. Dicey, Introduction to the Study of the Law of
the Constitution (1885; 10th edn 1959, London: Macmillan & Co), pp. 406–10 (Chapter
XIII ‘Relation between Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Rule of Law’). Parliamentary &
Health Service Ombudsman: extracts from some of the main investigations undertaken
by the Parliamentary ombudsman and reproduced from a timeline published to mark the
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s 40th anniversary in 2007.
Public Law Project: extracts from R. Thomas and J. Tomlinson, ‘The Digitalisation of
Tribunals: What we know and what we need to know’ [2018] Public Law Project.
RELX (UK) Limited, trading as LexisNexis: extracts from Macarthy’s v Smith [1979] 3 All
ER 325, 328–31.
Scotland Office: extract from Commission on Scottish Devolution, Serving Scotland
Better: Scotland and the United Kingdom in the 21st Century (2009).
Scottish Council of Law Reporting: extracts from Whaley v Lord Watson Of Invergowrie
[2000] SC 340, Lord President.
Springer Nature BV: extracts from S.L. Greer, ‘Whitehall’, in R. Hazell (ed.) Constitutional
Futures Revisited: Britain’s Constitution to 2020 (2008, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), ch.
8, p. 125. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.
Thomson Reuters (Professional) UK Limited: extracts from N.W. Barber, ‘Laws and
constitutional conventions’ (2009) 125 Law Quarterly Review 294, 294; Richard Rawlings,
‘Concordats of the Constitution’ (2000) 116 Law Quarterly Review 257, 258, 279; Jeffrey Jowell,
‘Parliamentary sovereignty under the new constitutional hypothesis’ [2006] Public Law 562,
578; Eric Barendt, ‘Separation of powers and constitutional government’ [1995] Public Law
Source Acknowledgements | xv
599, 603–4; Elizabeth Wicks, ‘A new constitution for a new state? The 1707 Union of England
and Scotland’ (2001) 117 Law Quarterly Review 109, 117–20; Harry Woolf, Jeffrey Jowell and
Andrew Le Sueur, de Smith’s Judicial Review (2007, London: Sweet & Maxwell), paras 5-044–
5-045; Rodney Brazier, ‘ “Monarchy and the Personal Prerogatives”: a personal response to
Professor Blackburn’ [2005] Public Law 45, 45–6; Mark Elliott and Amanda Perreau-Saussine,
‘Pyrrhic Public Law: Bancoult and the Sources, status and content of common law limitations
on Prerogative Power’ [2009] Public Law 697–722, 705–6; Robert Hazell, ‘Time for a new
convention: parliamentary scrutiny of constitutional bills 1997–2005’ [2006] Public Law 247,
246; D. Oliver, ‘Improving the Scrutiny of Bills: The Case for Standards and Checklists’ [2006]
Public Law 219, 219–20, 226–7; David Feldman, ‘Parliamentary Scrutiny of Legislation and
Human Rights’ [2002] Public Law 323, 324–7; Alison L. Young, ‘Hunting sovereignty: Jackson
v Her Majesty’s Attorney-General’ [2006] Public Law 187, 194–5; Jeffrey Jowell, ‘Parliamentary
sovereignty under the new constitutional hypothesis’ [2006] Public Law 562, 578; Genevra
Richardson and Hazel Genn, ‘Tribunals in Transition: resolution or adjudication?’ [2007]
Public Law 116, 128–32 (footnote numbering has been changed and some footnotes in the
original are omitted); Ann Abraham, ‘The ombudsman and “paths to justice”: a just alterna-
tive or just an alternative?’[2008] Public Law 1, 2–3; Nick O’Brien, ‘Ombudsmen and social
rights adjudication’ [2009] Public Law 466, 468–9; Richard Kirkham, Brian Thompson and
Trevor Buck, ‘When Putting Things Right Goes Wrong: Enforcing the Recommendations of
the Ombudsman’ [2008] Public Law 510, 521–30; Lord Steyn, ‘Deference; a tangled story’
[2005] Public Law 346–59; Robert Thomas, ‘Administrative Justice, Better Decisions, and
Organisational Learning’ [2015] Public Law, 111, at 112-114 and 131-133. Reproduced with
permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.
University of London Press: extracts from Sir Ivor Jennings, The Law and the Constitution,
5th edn (1959, London: University of London Press), pp. 134– 5, 137– 8, 148, 152–4,
310–11, 314.
John Wiley & Sons: extracts from Gavin Little, ‘Scotland and parliamentary sovereignty’
(2004) 24 Legal Studies 540, 543–4.
Every effort has been made to trace and contact copyright holders prior to publication. If noti-
fied, the publisher will undertake to rectify any errors or omissions at the earliest opportunity.
GUIDE TO THE ONLINE RESOURCES
www.oup.com/uk/lesueur4e/
Oxford University Press’s online resources are developed to provide lecturers and students with
ready-to-use teaching and learning resources. They are free of charge, designed specifically to
complement the textbook, and offer additional materials which are suited to electronic delivery.
Updates
The online resources provide you with up-to-date information and details of the latest legisla-
tion following publication to ensure that you remain informed of the newest developments in
a constantly changing and dynamic area of law.
Multiple-choice questions
This selection of questions enables you to test your understanding as you work through each
chapter of the book. Offering versatile testing tailored specifically to this book, each answer is
accompanied by feedback to explain why your answer is correct or incorrect and where in this
book you can find further information.
OUTLINE TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION TO CONSTITUTIONAL
FUNDAMENTALS 3
1 What This Book is About 3
2 What is a Constitution? 4
3 British Exceptionalism 12
8 INTRODUCTION TO EXECUTIVE
FUNCTIONS 241
1 Facts and Themes 241
2 Governments at a Glance 244
12 INTRODUCTION TO LEGISLATIVE
FUNCTIONS 357
1 Introduction 357
2 Definitions 358
3 The Importance of Legislation 361
4 Skills 365
5 Legislatures 367
6 The Executive and Legislation 375
7 The Judiciary and Legislation 376
8 Where to Go From Here 377
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beautiful love? The love of Matthew which spends itself in pleasure in
Cecily’s existence rather than in personal desire, the tornado which must
storm the frail soul of Fliss, the rare devotion of Ellen, the servant, for her
mistress, the fine normality of Dick’s feeling for his wife, or the love of
Cecily herself, tormented and abused as such free-given love so often is
tormented and abused by life? The spotlight of circumstance is turned now
on one, now on another, as if seeking to find out.
Its light is focused on Cecily now. Dick knows about his expected child
and every quality in his manhood has leapt into eager response to this proof
of his own continuity. He cannot be too tender; he is fearful lest somehow
things go wrong, and yet immensely sure that everything will be successful.
He assures himself that this is a common happening and carries within
himself the proud knowledge of an event that is absolutely unique. He is
very curious about the physiological marvel, as all men are who for the first
time watch themselves so mysteriously reproduced. And with it all—all the
pride that he feels in his coming child—Cecily remains his young wife as
well as his child’s mother and he feels apologetic that this must hurt her—
even endanger her—and he loves her beyond his pride and hope. Cecily’s
mother knows and surrounds Cecily with every precaution and comfort,
seeming to guard her a little jealously now, even from Dick. Cecily has
given up dancing and most society, and society, noticing—ever on the qui
vive for these domestic interludes and their reactions on the people
concerned in them—accepts the situation with a sigh and a smile and a
touch of sentiment. Young Mrs. Harrison is going to have a baby—“so
soon.” Well, opinion divides here.
Matthew hears of it among the casual gossip, through some chance
remark about Dick, and goes to call on Cecily again, as if her interest were
enhanced for him. Cecily receives him gladly, feeling that she is making a
permanent friend and he is one of the few constant visitors at the gray-
shingled house. Another is Madeline Von Vlectenburg, now Madeline
Ensign, who has married a Carrington man and come to Carrington to live
and whose acquaintance is still so small that she clings to Cecily’s
companionship; and another is Fliss Horton, who has become very
assiduous and helpful in bringing Cecily gayety and Madeline useful
gossip. Fliss has the freedom of Cecily’s house now and treats Ellen with a
charming, friendly informality and Ellen is always glad apparently to set an
extra place for Miss Horton at her employer’s request.
Ellen knows about the baby too and will let Cecily do nothing for herself
if she can help it. She has a tremendous maiden excitement about all the
preparations and in secret is knitting a pink afghan. In secret—for she never
refers to the coming event except by the most modestly veiled of allusions.
Yet, with all this light focused upon her, with all this care and tenderness
surrounding her, Cecily withdrew into herself, more like her mother than
she had ever been before. Her fears had lessened with the sense of
enveloping support and knowledge and the many preparations normalized
the months, but there grew in her a consciousness of isolation like nothing
she had ever known before. It would come upon her sometimes in the midst
of her friends, listening to the idle talk of Madeline and Fliss—sometimes
when she was with Dick. It was not at all lonely or unpleasant—only a
feeling of being set apart. She tried to explain it to Dick.
“It’s like recognizing suddenly that you are part of a design—it’s
strangely impersonal.”
And again——
“But I’m not worried, Dick, dear. I’m interested and happy. Just because
I’m silent now and then you mustn’t think I’m sad. I can’t help feeling
responsible.”
“It’s the first time I’ve ever felt really responsible, you see. I’ve always
been guided; people have always taken me all the way. Once in the convent
when the priest told us about marriage I got awfully afraid. I suppose I
sensed then that you had to go part of the way alone.”
“Yes, I know. You’re all with me and will be, but you can’t go all the
way, darling. I don’t mind and I’m not afraid. I’ve something to go after,
something to get.”
“Being born,” she told him, more whimsically, “must be a terrific
process. Perhaps that’s why it’s fixed so that we can’t remember it at all.”
Those were the more sober moments, but there was on the whole more
gayety than sobriety about the impending birth. Even Fliss, who held strong
views on motherhood and had more than once remarked that she did not
mean to be ever “tied down,” enjoyed looking at the beautiful baby clothes
and the elaborate equipment which were showered upon Cecily, and they all
talked about it a great deal with a gay frankness and humor utterly
unrestrained by the presence of the men of the intimate circle.
At dinners, at which Cecily, dressed in some lovely loose robe, presided,
Fliss naturally fell to Matthew and every one but Matthew himself fostered
the pairing. Fliss, playing her game and hating her home background more
every day, waited for something to come of all this. While she waited she
played with Dick and it often happened that Matthew drifted to Cecily’s
side while the others amused themselves. And Fliss made a confidant of
Dick and asked his advice, thereby establishing a bond, for not only did
Dick enjoy giving the advice, but he was naturally curious to see whether
Fliss would take it and if she did take it, whether it would work out well and
prove him wise.
Fliss asked him if he didn’t think she ought to go to work. That was her
temporary line of conversation, but Dick didn’t know that. He pondered it
seriously.
“At what?”
“I’ve had no training and of course I’m not clever. I suppose I’d have to
take up stenography and go into some one’s office.”
“Surely you can find something better than that.”
“What? I can’t teach and I wouldn’t want to, anyway. And what else is
there for a girl who doesn’t know anything about anything and whose only
cleverness is in trimming hats?”
“Start a hat shop.”
“You need money for that, Dick.”
“You need money for everything. You’ll have to face that, unless you
marry it.”
“That, too, has been suggested. But it’s not so easy to find some one with
money whom you can marry.”
Dick’s eyes strayed to the other end of the room.
“How about Matthew?”
“Matthew hasn’t asked me.”
“Shall I tell him to ask you?” teased Dick.
“If you like. But he won’t—even though I wouldn’t marry him if he did.
I want something a little different from Matthew.”
“A shade more jazz.”
“A shade more jazz is right!”
“Matthew is ruled out.”
Matthew turned to call to them. “Who is taking my name in vain?”
Fliss crossed the room negligently. “We were discussing,” she told him
with her engaging impudence, “the possibility of your marrying me.”
“Am I going to do it?”
“No. Rest easy. I’ve refused you in advance.”
“Because you haven’t enough jazz,” contributed Dick.
“Reason enough. But I wonder why I haven’t more of that peculiar
quality. Of course it’s always existed under a variety of names so I can’t say
I didn’t happen along in the right generation. I never did have it. Perhaps
because I had to go to work too young.”
“Well, I should have gone to work young, and I always had it,” said
Fliss.
Cecily was following them amusedly. “And I never had to work at all
and I haven’t it.”
“Convent training.”
“No, look at Madeline. She’s full of the same spirit Fliss is full of.”
“And Dick?”
“Dick’s a jazzer thrown into high company,” mocked Fliss.
“Dick’s a jazzer—reformed.” Dick put his arm about his wife’s
shoulders and drew her close to him. “You’re all wrong. Jazzing or
whatever you call it is purely a matter of age. When you draw near thirty
you get over it, just as the average man gets over tennis.”
“But I’m not thirty.”
“No,” said Dick, looking down at her tenderly, “but you’ve other fish to
fry. Besides you can’t be classified.”
“French model, one only.” Fliss could always be counted on to remain
flippant. The others caught her note with amusement.
It was one of their many idle, undeveloped, cross-purposed
conversations, which in spite of its lightness had a kind of function in
bringing them nearer together, teaching them what to expect from each
other, revealing their quality to each other. The weeks slipped along, each
one important and interesting in its relation to the coming of Cecily’s child,
bringing that great anticipation closer to them. And the lives of all of them
clung to their own little orbits in the midst of a storm already world
devastating, though there were many moments when they all shivered as
some great tragedy, dulled by distance, came over the wires and through the
papers to them. Cecily, of course, dated all things by the fifteenth of May,
and as the winter changed into spring and the whole world opened happily
under the warming sun, she was more and more eager to bring her waiting
to a close. Dick was impatient, she knew, and that made her more so. She
was catching some of Dick’s quality as she lived with him. She was trying
to learn how to frost the depths of the spiritual isolation which was
absorbing her with a surface companionship during hours which demanded
lightness. There was some sacrifice in learning this new lightness, but she
had a vague feeling that it would make Dick happy if she were not only
happy, but gay.
The wonder of Cecily was that she was twenty, as yet unbigoted, and
that her personality was still vague in its outlines. The convent was of
course mainly responsible for this—in leaving so much to God. The implied
educational method of most schools and colleges is that you have to work
things out “on your own” as definitely as possible—work out God, too,
when you get to it—but the convent method was not so. When things
became tangled or overerudite, or too introspective, or embarrassing and
indelicate, the gentle nuns turned the solutions over to God and left them
there without asking for an accounting. Working with material like Cecily
they took care to perfect her English and her French, even if they totally
neglected economics, gave her a cultural knowledge of science and a
knowledge of history, which was colored by faith in the church, and sent
her out with a clean mind. There were plenty of fine fresh minds coming
out of women’s colleges every day, but their freshness was like the
antiseptic freshness of a laboratory after corruption has been studied and its
traces scoured away; Cecily’s was the freshness of the out-of-doors, which
is different. Mental and emotional qualities were still to develop and,
stepping as she did into marriage so quickly, she had all of psychology, all
of philosophy, to learn. The bag of women’s tricks, already so thoroughly
ransacked by Fliss, was quite unknown to Cecily.
While Dick was teaching her love and some gayeties as well, she was
learning other things. It was absurd to say that Matthew had set himself to
the forming of her mind—what he did was too intangible for him to have
had a definite purpose—but still, he did try to help Cecily to think.
Undoubtedly it was at first for the pure pleasure of seeing the effect that
much discussed themes would have upon a mind as inexperienced as hers
that Matthew introduced many of his conversations. Her ready response led
him further. He lent her books, catching up the broken thread of a
conversation about some problem by sending her relevant printed thought;
he stimulated her mind constantly. And the mind, which must have been a
reproduction in part at least of Allgate Moore’s mind, the part which was
responsible for the fact that people called him “genius,” began to grow.
Such a year for Cecily! There were many nights when she sat listening to
the men talking about the affairs which were absorbing almost all thinking
people’s minds—the sinking of ships at sea, the slaughters of war, the
advances and retreats of the hostile armies, the surmises as to new alliances
—all of it deepening in Cecily her natural sense of the gravity of the
world’s affairs and of the world’s dangers. Then when they stopped—and
they would stop when her comments or queries became too intense, too
worried—she always marveled at the way they, and Dick especially, could
spring back to lightness of thought and word.
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI