Bernard Garstin
Kitty's overworked father, long treated as the family's provider, who receives a late chance at freedom and a real relationship with his daughter.
To meet his obligations without conflict; only late in life does he allow himself to hope for freedom and companionship.
The book
At a glance
- About sixty at the ending
- Barrister and King's Counsel
- Husband of Mrs. Garstin; father of Kitty and Doris
- Chief Justice of the Bahamas
Who they are in the book
Spoiler-freeBernard is a lawyer who works steadily but never achieves the brilliant career Mrs. Garstin expected. She pushes him to stand for Parliament and become a King's Counsel, decisions that reduce his income rather than advance him. At home, his wife and daughters treat his labor as a natural resource.
He rarely complains and has become almost a stranger to his own family. After Mrs. Garstin dies, he feels a relief that shames him. The offer to become Chief Justice of the Bahamas appears to give him a final chance to leave the household that consumed his adult life.
Kitty's request to join him initially looks like another demand. Their conversation changes when she refuses to make duty the basis of the relationship. Both have been trained into emotional silence; the ending gives them a chance to learn affection deliberately.
How the book draws them
- Small and wizenedHe has tired eyes, a long upper lip, a thin mouth, and a face that looks severe in formal photographs but usually appears mildly depressed.
- Habitually subduedYears of yielding have made him quiet at home. Even after his wife's death he hesitates before lighting a pipe she disliked.
- Dutiful rather than ambitiousHe is capable and hardworking, but lacks the force and appetite for advancement his wife demands.
- Awkward with emotionKitty's direct appeal embarrasses him, yet he finally answers with tears, an embrace, and a smile she has never seen before.
- Downturned mouth and dejected eyesOutside the formal portrait, these features give him the mild depression Kitty associates with his ordinary expression.
- Unimposing in wig and gownHis professional portrait marks his achievement as King's Counsel, yet even its legal costume cannot give him the commanding presence Mrs. Garstin wants.
After Mrs. Garstin's death, Bernard plans to take his Bahamas post alone. Kitty asks to join him but promises not to claim another sacrifice. They finally admit their loneliness and decide to try to become a father and daughter in more than name.
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