CHAPTER III

MostcomplacentlydidMrs.Muntrehearsehermission.Hernieceswereindependentyoungwomen,anditwasnotoftenthatshewasabletohelpthem.Emily’sdaughtershadneverbeenquitelikeothergirls.TheyhadbeenleftmotherlesswhenTibbywasborn,whenHelenwasfiveandMargaretherselfbutthirteen.ItwasbeforethepassingoftheDeceasedWife’sSisterBill,soMrs.MuntcouldwithoutimproprietyoffertogoandkeephouseatWickhamPlace.Butherbrother-in-law,whowaspeculiarandaGerman,hadreferredthequestiontoMargaret,whowiththecrudityofyouthhadanswered,“No,theycouldmanagemuchbetteralone.”FiveyearslaterMr.Schlegelhaddiedtoo,andMrs.Munthadrepeatedheroffer.Margaret,crudenolonger,hadbeengratefulandextremelynice,butthesubstanceofheranswerhadbeenthesame.“Imustnotinterfereathirdtime,”thoughtMrs.Munt.However,ofcourseshedid.Shelearnt,toherhorror,thatMargaret,nowofage,wastakinghermoneyoutoftheoldsafeinvestmentsandputtingitintoForeignThings,whichalwayssmash.Silencewouldhavebeencriminal.HerownfortunewasinvestedinHomeRails,andmostardentlydidshebegherniecetoimitateher.“Thenweshouldbetogether,dear.”Margaret,outofpoliteness,investedafewhundredsintheNottinghamandDerbyRailway,andthoughtheForeignThingsdidadmirablyandtheNottinghamandDerbydeclinedwiththesteadydignityofwhichonlyHomeRailsarecapable,Mrs.Muntneverceasedtorejoice,andtosay,“Ididmanagethat,atallevents.WhenthesmashcomespoorMargaretwillhaveanest-eggtofallbackupon.”ThisyearHelencameofage,andexactlythesamethinghappenedinHelen’scaseshealsowouldshifthermoneyoutofConsols,butshe,too,almostwithoutbeingpressed,consecratedafractionofittotheNottinghamandDerbyRailway.Sofarsogood,butinsocialmatterstheiraunthadaccomplishednothing.Soonerorlaterthegirlswouldenterontheprocessknownasthrowingthemselvesaway,andiftheyhaddelayedhitherto,itwasonlythattheymightthrowthemselvesmorevehementlyinthefuture.TheysawtoomanypeopleatWickhamPlace—unshavenmusicians,anactresseven,Germancousins(oneknowswhatforeignersare),acquaintancespickedupatContinentalhotels(oneknowswhattheyaretoo).Itwasinteresting,anddownatSwanagenooneappreciatedculturemorethanMrs.Muntbutitwasdangerous,anddisasterwasboundtocome.Howrightshewas,andhowluckytobeonthespotwhenthedisastercame! Thetrainspednorthward,underinnumerabletunnels.Itwasonlyanhour’sjourney,butMrs.Munthadtoraiseandlowerthewindowagainandagain.ShepassedthroughtheSouthWelwynTunnel,sawlightforamoment,andenteredtheNorthWelwynTunnel,oftragicfame.Shetraversedtheimmenseviaduct,whosearchesspanuntroubledmeadowsandthedreamyflowofTewinWater.Sheskirtedtheparksofpoliticians.AttimestheGreatNorthRoadaccompaniedher,moresuggestiveofinfinitythananyrailway,awakening,afteranapofahundredyears,tosuchlifeasisconferredbythestenchofmotor-cars,andtosuchcultureasisimpliedbytheadvertisementsofantibiliouspills.Tohistory,totragedy,tothepast,tothefuture,Mrs.Muntremainedequallyindifferenthersbuttoconcentrateontheendofherjourney,andtorescuepoorHelenfromthisdreadfulmess. ThestationforHowardsEndwasatHilton,oneofthelargevillagesthatarestrungsofrequentlyalongth