CHAPTER V

rrible,ominousnote,andagoblin,withincreasedmalignity,walkedquietlyovertheuniversefromendtoend.Panicandemptiness!Panicandemptiness!Eventheflamingrampartsoftheworldmightfall.Beethovenchosetomakeallrightintheend.Hebuilttherampartsup.Heblewwithhismouthforthesecondtime,andagainthegoblinswerescattered.Hebroughtbackthegustsofsplendour,theheroism,theyouth,themagnificenceoflifeandofdeath,and,amidvastroaringsofasuperhumanjoy,heledhisFifthSymphonytoitsconclusion.Butthegoblinswerethere.Theycouldreturn.Hehadsaidsobravely,andthatiswhyonecantrustBeethovenwhenhesaysotherthings. Helenpushedherwayoutduringtheapplause.Shedesiredtobealone.Themusichadsummeduptoherallthathadhappenedorcouldhappeninhercareer. Shereaditasatangiblestatement,whichcouldneverbesuperseded.Thenotesmeantthisandthattoher,andtheycouldhavenoothermeaning,andlifecouldhavenoothermeaning.Shepushedrightoutofthebuildingandwalkedslowlydowntheoutsidestaircase,breathingtheautumnalair,andthenshestrolledhome. “Margaret,”calledMrs.Munt,“isHelenallright?” “Ohyes.” “Sheisalwaysgoingawayinthemiddleofaprogramme,”saidTibby. “Themusichasevidentlymovedherdeeply,”saidFrauleinMosebach. “Excuseme,”saidMargaret’syoungman,whohadforsometimebeenpreparingasentence,“butthatladyhas,quiteinadvertently,takenmyumbrella.” “Oh,goodgraciousme!—Iamsosorry.Tibby,runafterHelen.” “IshallmisstheFourSeriousSongsifIdo.” “Tibby,love,youmustgo.” “Itisn’tofanyconsequence,”saidtheyoungman,intruthalittleuneasyabouthisumbrella. “Butofcourseitis.Tibby!Tibby!” Tibbyrosetohisfeet,andwilfullycaughthispersononthebacksofthechairs.Bythetimehehadtippeduptheseatandhadfoundhishat,andhaddepositedhisfullscoreinsafety,itwas“toolate”togoafterHelen.TheFourSeriousSongshadbegun,andonecouldnotmoveduringtheirperformance. “Mysisterissocareless,”whisperedMargaret. “Notatall,”repliedtheyoungmanbuthisvoicewasdeadandcold. “Ifyouwouldgivemeyouraddress—” “Oh,notatall,notatall”andhewrappedhisgreatcoatoverhisknees. ThentheFourSeriousSongsrangshallowinMargaret’sears.Brahms,forallhisgrumblingandgrizzling,hadneverguessedwhatitfeltliketobesuspectedofstealinganumbrella.ForthisfoolofayoungmanthoughtthatsheandHelenandTibbyhadbeenplayingtheconfidencetrickonhim,andthatifhegavehisaddresstheywouldbreakintohisroomssomemidnightorotherandstealhiswalking-sticktoo.Mostladieswouldhavelaughed,butMargaretreallyminded,foritgaveheraglimpseintosqualor.Totrustpeopleisaluxuryinwhichonlythewealthycanindulgethepoorcannotaffordit.AssoonasBrahmshadgruntedhimselfout,shegavehimhercardandsaid,“Thatiswhereweliveifyoupreferred,youcouldcallfortheumbrellaaftertheconcert,butIdidn’tliketotroubleyouwhenithasallbeenourfault.” HisfacebrightenedalittlewhenhesawthatWickhamPlacewasW.Itwassadtoseehimcorrodedwithsuspicion,andyetnotdaringtobeimpolite,incasethesewell-dressedpeoplewerehonestafterall.Shetookitasagoodsignthathesaidtoher,“It’safineprogrammethisafternoon,isitnot?”forthiswastheremarkwithwhichhehadoriginallyopened,beforetheumbrellaintervened. “TheBeethoven’sfine,”saidMargaret,whowasnotafemaleoftheencouragingtype.“Idon’tliketheBrahms,though,northeMendelssohnthatcamefirstandugh!Idon’tlikethisElgarthat’scoming.” “What,what?”calledHerrLiesecke,overhearing.“The‘PompandCircumstance’willnotbefine?” “Oh,Margaret,youtiresomegirl!”criedheraunt. “HerehaveIbeenpersuadingHerrLiesecketostopfor‘PompandCircumstance,’andyouareundoingallmywork.IamsoanxiousforhimtohearwhatWEaredoinginmusic.Oh,—youmusn’trundownourEnglishcomposers,Margaret.” “Formypart,IhaveheardthecompositionatStettin,”saidFrauleinMosebach,“ontwooccasions.Itisdramatic,alittle.” “Frieda,youdespiseEnglishmusic.Youknowyoudo.AndEnglishart.AndEnglishliterature,exceptShakespeare,andhe’saGerman.Verywell,Frieda,youmaygo.” Theloverslaughedandglancedateachother.Movedbyacommonimpulse,theyrosetotheirfeetandfledfrom“PompandCircumstance.” “WehavethiscalltopayinFinsburyCircus,itistrue,”saidHerrLiesecke,asheedgedpastherandreachedthegangwayjustasthemusicstarted. “Margaret—”loudlywhisperedbyAuntJuley. “Margaret,Margaret!FrauleinMosebachhasleftherbeautifullittlebagbehindherontheseat.” Sureenough,therewasFrieda’sreticule,containingheraddressbook,herpocketdictionary,hermapofLondon,andhermoney. “Oh,whatabother—whatafamilyweare!Fr—frieda!” “Hush!”saidallthosewhothoughtthemusicfine. “Butit’sthenumbertheywantinFinsburyCircus.” “MightI—couldn’tI—