CHAPTER VIII
關燈
小
中
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quiveringhaloroundherhandscombinedtocreateastrangeatmosphereofdissolution.
“IknewhewasgoingtoIndiainNovember,butIforgot.”
“Hesailedonthe17thforNigeria,inAfrica.”
“Iknew—Iknow.Ihavebeentooabsurdallthrough.Iamverymuchashamed.”
Mrs.Wilcoxdidnotanswer.
“IammoresorrythanIcansay,andIhopethatyouwillforgiveme.”
“Itdoesn’tmatter,MissSchlegel.Itisgoodofyoutohavecomeroundsopromptly.”
“Itdoesmatter,”criedMargaret.“Ihavebeenrudetoyouandmysisterisnotevenathome,sotherewasnoteventhatexcuse.”
“Indeed?”
“ShehasjustgonetoGermany.”
“Shegoneaswell,”murmuredtheother.“Yes,certainly,itisquitesafe—safe,absolutely,now.”
“You’vebeenworryingtoo!”exclaimedMargaret,gettingmoreandmoreexcited,andtakingachairwithoutinvitation.“Howperfectlyextraordinary!Icanseethatyouhave.YoufeltasIdoHelenmustn’tmeethimagain.”
“Ididthinkitbest.”
“Nowwhy?”
“That’samostdifficultquestion,”saidMrs.Wilcox,smiling,andalittlelosingherexpressionofannoyance.“Ithinkyouputitbestinyourletter—itwasaninstinct,whichmaybewrong.”
“Itwasn’tthatyoursonstill—”
“Ohnoheoften—myPaulisveryyoung,yousee.”
“Thenwhatwasit?”
Sherepeated:“Aninstinctwhichmaybewrong.”
“Inotherwords,theybelongtotypesthatcanfallinlove,butcouldn’tlivetogether.That’sdreadfullyprobable.I’mafraidthatinninecasesoutoftenNaturepullsonewayandhumannatureanother.”
“Theseareindeed‘otherwords,’”saidMrs.Wilcox.“Ihadnothingsocoherentinmyhead.IwasmerelyalarmedwhenIknewthatmyboycaredforyoursister.”
“Ah,Ihavealwaysbeenwantingtoaskyou.HowDIDyouknow?Helenwassosurprisedwhenourauntdroveup,andyousteppedforwardandarrangedthings.DidPaultellyou?”
“Thereisnothingtobegainedbydiscussingthat,”saidMrs.Wilcoxafteramoment’spause.
“Mrs.Wilcox,wereyouveryangrywithuslastJune?Iwroteyoualetterandyoudidn’tanswerit.”
“IwascertainlyagainsttakingMrs.Matheson’sflat.Iknewitwasoppositeyourhouse.”
“Butit’sallrightnow?”
“Ithinkso.”
“Youonlythink?Youaren’tsure?Idolovetheselittlemuddlestidiedup?”
“Ohyes,I’msure,”saidMrs.Wilcox,movingwithuneasinessbeneaththeclothes.“Ialwayssounduncertainoverthings.Itismywayofspeaking.”
“That’sallright,andI’msure,too.”
Herethemaidcameintoremovethebreakfast-tray.Theywereinterrupted,andwhentheyresumedconversationitwasonmorenormallines.
“Imustsaygood-byenow—youwillbegettingup.”
“No—pleasestopalittlelonger—Iamtakingadayinbed.NowandthenIdo.”
“Ithoughtofyouasoneoftheearlyrisers.”
“AtHowardsEnd—yesthereisnothingtogetupforinLondon.”
“Nothingtogetupfor?”criedthescandalisedMargaret.“Whentherearealltheautumnexhibitions,andYsayeplayingintheafternoon!Nottomentionpeople.”
“Thetruthis,Iamalittletired.Firstcamethewedding,andthenPaulwentoff,and,insteadofrestingyesterday,Ipaidaroundofcalls.”
“Awedding?”
“YesCharles,myelde
