CHAPTER VII

wonder.Orwasitsensible?” “No,Margaret,mostrude.” “Ineithercaseonecanclassitasreassuring.” Mrs.Muntsighed.ShewasgoingbacktoSwanageonthemorrow,justashernieceswerewantinghermost.Otherregretscrowdeduponher:forinstance,howmagnificentlyshewouldhavecutCharlesifshehadmethimfacetoface.Shehadalreadyseenhim,givinganordertotheporter—andverycommonhelookedinatallhat.Butunfortunatelyhisbackwasturnedtoher,andthoughshehadcuthisback,shecouldnotregardthisasatellingsnub. “Butyouwillbecareful,won’tyou?”sheexhorted. “Oh,certainly.Fiendishlycareful.” “AndHelenmustbecareful,too.” “Carefuloverwhat?”criedHelen,atthatmomentcomingintotheroomwithhercousin. “Nothing”saidMargaret,seizedwithamomentaryawkwardness. “Carefuloverwhat,AuntJuley?” Mrs.Muntassumedacrypticair.“Itisonlythatacertainfamily,whomweknowbynamebutdonotmention,asyousaidyourselflastnightaftertheconcert,havetakentheflatoppositefromtheMathesons—wheretheplantsareinthebalcony.” Helenbegansomelaughingreply,andthendisconcertedthemallbyblushing.Mrs.Muntwassodisconcertedthatsheexclaimed,“What,Helen,youdon’tmindthemcoming,doyou?”anddeepenedtheblushtocrimson. “OfcourseIdon’tmind,”saidHelenalittlecrossly.“ItisthatyouandMegarebothsoabsurdlygraveaboutit,whenthere’snothingtobegraveaboutatall.” “I’mnotgrave,”protestedMargaret,alittlecrossinherturn. “Well,youlookgravedoesn’tshe,Frieda?” “Idon’tfeelgrave,that’sallIcansayyou’regoingquiteonthewrongtack.” “No,shedoesnotfeelgrave,”echoedMrs.Munt.“Icanbearwitnesstothat.Shedisagrees—” “Hark!”interruptedFrauleinMosebach.“IhearBrunoenteringthehall.” ForHerrLieseckewasdueatWickhamPlacetocallforthetwoyoungergirls.Hewasnotenteringthehall—infact,hedidnotenteritforquitefiveminutes.ButFriedadetectedadelicatesituation,andsaidthatsheandHelenhadmuchbetterwaitforBrunodownbelow,andleaveMargaretandMrs.Munttofinisharrangingtheflowers.Helenacquiesced.But,asiftoprovethatthesituationwasnotdelicatereally,shestoppedinthedoorwayandsaid: “DidyousaytheMathesons’flat,AuntJuley?Howwonderfulyouare!IneverknewthatthenameofthewomanwholacedtootightlywasMatheson.” “Come,Helen,”saidhercousin. “Go,Helen,”saidherauntandcontinuedtoMargaretalmostinthesamebreath:“Helencannotdeceiveme.Shedoesmind.” “Oh,hush!”breathedMargaret.“Frieda’llhearyou,andshecanbesotiresome.” “Sheminds,”persistedMrs.Munt,movingthoughtfullyabouttheroom,andpullingthedeadchrysanthemumsoutofthevases.“Iknewshe’dmind—andI’msureagirl