サー・リチャード・カルマディの歴史：ロマンス

Chapter III, “In Which Katherine Tries To Nail Up The Weatherglass To Set Fair,” follows the Calmadys through the busy London season. Katherine adjusts to society easily, her old habits of navigating elite circles returning quickly, and she finds unexpected joy in Richard’s reliance on her as he navigates the unfamiliar social world. Her fear that Richard’s heart is still damaged by Helen de Vallorbes fades, and she begins planning for his future, including marriage. The pair retain their custom of late-night talks in Richard’s bedroom. After a lavish dinner party at the Barkings’ in mid-June—hosted by Lady Louisa, with cabinet ministers, diplomats, and high-society guests, plus a performance by star soprano Morabita—Richard is unable to sleep and visits his mother. He rhapsodizes about Morabita’s singing, then grows agitated, lamenting that his deformity bars him from the active, adventurous life he craves, confessing he sometimes feels like a caged beast tempted to ruin his life out of frustration. He reveals he wants to marry not for passionate love, but to have a son: he wants to give a child the healthy, full life he has been denied, to “restore the balance” for himself and Katherine. He says he would be faithful to any kind woman who would accept him, even without deep romantic love, and begs his mother to find him a suitable bride. Katherine, realizing he is referring to Constance Quayle, tells him she believes the match would be accepted. Richard is overwhelmed, his anguish lifting as he imagines a future with Constance: he plans to give her every luxury, to raise a son who can run, ride, fence, and live the life he cannot. He falls asleep after dawn, and dreams Helen de Vallorbes is choking him with sea waves, but young soldier Mr. Decies—who is romantically interested in Constance—rescues him, carrying Constance away instead of Helen. On waking, Richard’s resolve to marry Constance is even stronger, and he feels an unreasoning dislike of Decies.