CHAPTER II
關燈
小
中
大
pressionmoresubtle.Ifsheherselfshouldeverfallinlovewithaman,she,likeHelen,wouldproclaimitfromthehousetops,butasshelovedonlyasistersheusedthevoicelesslanguageofsympathy.
“Iconsideryouoddgirls,”continuedMrs.Munt,“andverywonderfulgirls,andinmanywaysfarolderthanyouryears.But—youwon’tbeoffended?frankly,Ifeelyouarenotuptothisbusiness.Itrequiresanolderperson.Dear,IhavenothingtocallmebacktoSwanage.”Shespreadoutherplumparms.“Iamallatyourdisposal.LetmegodowntothishousewhosenameIforgetinsteadofyou.”
“AuntJuley”—shejumpedupandkissedher—“Imust,mustgotoHowardsEndmyself.Youdon’texactlyunderstand,thoughIcanneverthankyouproperlyforoffering.”
“Idounderstand,”retortedMrs.Munt,withimmenseconfidence.“Igodowninnospiritofinterference,buttomakeinquiries.Inquiriesarenecessary.Now,Iamgoingtoberude.Youwouldsaythewrongthingtoacertaintyyouwould.InyouranxietyforHelen’shappinessyouwouldoffendthewholeoftheseWilcoxesbyaskingoneofyourimpetuousquestions—notthatonemindsoffendingthem.”
“Ishallasknoquestions.IhaveitinHelen’swritingthatsheandamanareinlove.Thereisnoquestiontoaskaslongasshekeepstothat.Alltherestisn’tworthastraw.Alongengagementifyoulike,butinquiries,questions,plans,linesofaction—no,AuntJuley,no.”
Awayshehurried,notbeautiful,notsupremelybrilliant,butfilledwithsomethingthattooktheplaceofbothqualities—somethingbestdescribedasaprofoundvivacity,acontinualandsincereresponsetoallthatsheencounteredinherpaththroughlife.
“IfHelenhadwrittenthesametomeaboutashopassistantorapennilessclerk—”
“DearMargaret,docomeintothelibraryandshutthedoor.Yourgoodmaidsaredustingthebanisters.”
“—orifshehadwantedtomarrythemanwhocallsforCarterPaterson,Ishouldhavesaidthesame.”Then,withoneofthoseturnsthatconvincedherauntthatshewasnotmadreally,andconvincedobserversofanothertypethatshewasnotabarrentheorist,sheadded:“ThoughinthecaseofCarterPatersonIshouldwantittobeaverylongengagementindeed,Imustsay.”
“Ishouldthinkso,”saidMrs.Munt“and,indeed,Icanscarcelyfollowyou.Now,justimagineifyousaidanythingofthatsorttotheWilcoxes.Iunders
