CHAPTER II
關燈
小
中
大
tandit,butmostgoodpeoplewouldthinkyoumad.ImaginehowdisconcertingforHelen!Whatiswantedisapersonwhowillgoslowly,slowlyinthisbusiness,andseehowthingsareandwheretheyarelikelytoleadto.”
Margaretwasdownonthis.
“Butyouimpliedjustnowthattheengagementmustbebrokenoff.”
“Ithinkprobablyitmustbutslowly.”
“Canyoubreakanengagementoffslowly?”Hereyeslitup.“What’sanengagementmadeof,doyousuppose?Ithinkit’smadeofsomehardstuffthatmaysnap,butcan’tbreak.Itisdifferenttotheothertiesoflife.Theystretchorbend.Theyadmitofdegree.They’redifferent.”
“Exactlyso.Butwon’tyouletmejustrundowntoHowardsHouse,andsaveyouallthediscomfort?Iwillreallynotinterfere,butIdosothoroughlyunderstandthekindofthingyouSchlegelswantthatonequietlookroundwillbeenoughforme.”
Margaretagainthankedher,againkissedher,andthenranupstairstoseeherbrother.
Hewasnotsowell.
Thehayfeverhadworriedhimagooddealallnight.Hisheadached,hiseyeswerewet,hismucousmembrane,heinformedher,inamostunsatisfactorycondition.TheonlythingthatmadelifeworthlivingwasthethoughtofWalterSavageLandor,fromwhoseImaginaryConversationsshehadpromisedtoreadatfrequentintervalsduringtheday.
Itwasratherdifficult.SomethingmustbedoneaboutHelen.Shemustbeassuredthatitisnotacriminaloffencetoloveatfirstsight.Atelegramtothiseffectwouldbecoldandcryptic,apersonalvisitseemedeachmomentmoreimpossible.Nowthedoctorarrived,andsaidthatTibbywasquitebad.MightitreallybebesttoacceptAuntJuley’skindoffer,andtosendherdowntoHowardsEndwithanote?
CertainlyMargaretwasimpulsive.Shedidswingrapidlyfromonedecisiontoanother.Runningdownstairsintothelibrary,shecried:“Yes,IhavechangedmymindIdowishthatyouwouldgo.”
TherewasatrainfromKing’sCrossateleven.Athalf-pasttenTibby,withrareself-effacement,fellasleep,andMargaretwasabletodriveheraunttothestation.
“Youwillremember,AuntJuley,nottobedrawnintodiscussingtheengagement.GivemylettertoHelen,andsaywhateveryoufeelyourself,butdokeepclearoftherelatives.Wehavescarcelygottheirnamesstraightyet,and,besides,thatsortofthingissouncivilisedandwrong.”
“Sounciv
