CHAPTER III

Schlegelhaslostnotimeinpublishingthenews.” “IfIwereaman,Mr.Wilcox,forthatlastremarkI’dboxyourears.You’renotfittocleanmyniece’sboots,tositinthesameroomwithher,andyoudare—youactuallydare—Ideclinetoarguewithsuchaperson.” “AllIknowis,she’sspreadthethingandhehasn’t,andmyfather’sawayandI—” “AndallthatIknowis—” “MightIfinishmysentence,please?” “No.” Charlesclenchedhisteethandsentthemotorswervingalloverthelane. Shescreamed. SotheyplayedthegameofCappingFamilies,aroundofwhichisalwaysplayedwhenlovewouldunitetwomembersofourrace.Buttheyplayeditwithunusualvigour,statinginsomanywordsthatSchlegelswerebetterthanWilcoxes,WilcoxesbetterthanSchlegels.Theyflungdecencyaside.Themanwasyoung,thewomandeeplystirredinbothaveinofcoarsenesswaslatent.Theirquarrelwasnomoresurprisingthanaremostquarrels—inevitableatthetime,incredibleafterwards.Butitwasmorethanusuallyfutile.Afewminutes,andtheywereenlightened.ThemotordrewupatHowardsEnd,andHelen,lookingverypale,ranouttomeetheraunt. “AuntJuley,IhavejusthadatelegramfromMargaretI—Imeanttostopyourcoming.Itisn’t—it’sover.” TheclimaxwastoomuchforMrs.Munt.Sheburstintotears. “AuntJuleydear,don’t.Don’tletthemknowI’vebeensosilly.Itwasn’tanything.Dobearupformysake.” “Paul,”criedCharlesWilcox,pullinghisglovesoff. “Don’tletthemknow.Theyarenevertoknow.” “Oh,mydarlingHelen—” “Paul!Paul!” Averyyoungmancameoutofthehouse. “Paul,isthereanytruthinthis?” “Ididn’t—Idon’t—” “Yesorno,manplainquestion,plainanswer.Didordidn’tMissSchlegel—” “Charles,dear,”saidavoicefromthegarden.“Charles,dearCharles,onedoesn’taskplainquestions.Therearen’tsuchthings.” Theywereallsilent.ItwasMrs.Wilcox. SheapproachedjustasHelen’sletterhaddescribedher,trailingnoiselesslyoverthelawn,andtherewasactuallyawispofhayinherhands.Sheseemedtobelongnottotheyoungpeopleandtheirmotor,buttothehouse,andtothetreethatovershadowedit.Oneknewthatsheworshippedthepast,andthattheinstinctivewisdomthepastcanalonebestowhaddescendeduponher—thatwisdomtowhichwegivetheclumsynameofaristocracy.Highbornshemightnotbe.Butassuredlyshecaredaboutherancestors,andletthemhelpher.WhenshesawCharlesangry,Paulfrightened,andMrs.Muntintears,sheheardherancestorssay,“Separatethosehumanbeingswhowillhurteachothermost.Therestcanwait.”Soshedidnotaskquestions.Stilllessdidshepretendthatnothinghadhappened,asacompetentsocietyhostesswouldhavedone.Shesaid:“MissSchlegel,wouldyoutakeyourauntuptoyourroomortomyroom,whicheveryouthinkbest.Paul,dofindEvie,andtellherlunchforsix,butI’mnotsurewhetherweshallallbedownstairsforit.”Andwhentheyhadobeyedher,sheturnedtoherelderson,whostillstoodinthethrobbing,stinkingcar,andsmiledathimwithtenderness,andwithoutsayingaword,turnedawayfromhimtowardsherflowers. “Mother,”hecalled,“areyouawarethatPaulhasbeenplayingthefoolagain?” “Itisallright,dear.Theyhavebrokenofftheengagement.” “Engagement—!” “Theydonotloveanylonger,ifyoupreferitputthatway,”saidMrs.Wilcox,stoopingdowntosmellarose.