Read The Hollow for Free Online Page B

arisen over that.
    Gerda had said to him one day:
    â€œHenrietta has asked me to sit for her.”
    â€œWhat?” His astonishment had not, if he came to think of it, been flattering. “You?”
    â€œYes, I’m going over to the studio tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat on earth does she want you for?”
    Yes, he hadn’t been very polite about it. But luckily Gerda hadn’t realized that fact. She had looked pleased about it. He suspected Henrietta of one of those insincere kindnesses of hers—Gerda, perhaps, had hinted that she would like to be modelled. Something of that kind.
    Then, about ten days later, Gerda had shown him triumphantly a small plaster statuette.
    It was a pretty thing—technically skillful like all Henrietta’s work. It idealized Gerda—and Gerda herself was clearly pleased about it.
    â€œI really think it’s rather charming, John.”
    â€œIs that Henrietta’s work? It means nothing—nothing at all. I don’t see how she came to do a thing like that.”
    â€œIt’s different, of course, from her abstract work—but I think it’s good, John, I really do.”
    He had said no more—after all, he didn’t want to spoil Gerda’s pleasure. But he tackled Henrietta about it at the first opportunity.
    â€œWhat did you want to make that silly thing of Gerda for? It’s unworthy of you. After all, you usually turn out decent stuff.”
    Henrietta said slowly:
    â€œI didn’t think it was bad. Gerda seemed quite pleased.”
    â€œGerda was delighted. She would be. Gerda doesn’t know art from a coloured photograph.”
    â€œIt wasn’t bad art, John. It was just a portrait statuette—quite harmless and not at all pretentious.”
    â€œYou don’t usually waste your time doing that kind of stuff—”
    He broke off, staring at a wooden figure about five feet high.
    â€œHallo, what’s this?”
    â€œIt’s for the International Group. Pearwood. The Worshipper.”
    She watched him. He stared and then—suddenly, his neck swelled and he turned on her furiously.
    â€œSo that’s what you wanted Gerda for? How dare you?”
    â€œI wondered if you’d see….”
    â€œSee it? Of course I see it. It’s here. ” He placed a finger on the broad heavy neck muscles.
    Henrietta nodded.
    â€œYes, it’s the neck and shoulders I wanted—and that heavy forward slant—the submission—that bowed look. It’s wonderful!”
    â€œWonderful? Look here, Henrietta, I won’t have it. You’re to leave Gerda alone.”
    â€œGerda won’t know. Nobody will know. You know Gerda would never recognize herself here—nobody else would either. And it isn’t Gerda. It isn’t anybody. ”
    â€œ I recognized it, didn’t I?”
    â€œYou’re different, John. You—see things.”
    â€œIt’s the damned cheek of it! I won’t have it, Henrietta! I won’t have it. Can’t you see that it was an indefensible thing to do?”
    â€œWas it?”
    â€œDon’t you know it was? Can’t you feel it was? Where’s your usual sensitiveness?”
    Henrietta said slowly:
    â€œYou don’t understand, John. I don’t think I could ever make you understand…You don’t know what it is to want something—to look at it day after day—that line of the neck—those muscles—the angle where the head goes forward—that heaviness round the jaw. I’ve been looking at them, wanting them—every time I saw Gerda…In the end I just had to have them!”
    â€œUnscrupulous!”
    â€œYes, I suppose just that. But when you want things, in that way, you just have to take them.”
    â€œYou mean you don’t care a damn about anybody else. You don’t care about Gerda—”
    â€œDon’t be stupid, John. That’s why I made that