CHAPTER VIII

rson,ismarried.” “Indeed!” “Wetooktheflatchieflyonthataccount,andalsothatPaulcouldgethisAfricanoutfit.Theflatbelongstoacousinofmyhusband’s,andshemostkindlyofferedittous.SobeforethedaycamewewereabletomaketheacquaintanceofDolly’speople,whichwehadnotyetdone.” MargaretaskedwhoDolly’speoplewere. “Fussell.ThefatherisintheIndianarmy—retiredthebrotherisinthearmy.Themotherisdead.” Soperhapsthesewerethe“chinlesssunburntmen”whomHelenhadespiedoneafternoonthroughthewindow.MargaretfeltmildlyinterestedinthefortunesoftheWilcoxfamily.ShehadacquiredthehabitonHelen’saccount,anditstillclungtoher.SheaskedformoreinformationaboutMissDollyFussellthatwas,andwasgivenitineven,unemotionaltones.Mrs.Wilcox’svoice,thoughsweetandcompelling,hadlittlerangeofexpression.Itsuggestedthatpictures,concerts,andpeopleareallofsmallandequalvalue.Onlyoncehaditquickened—whenspeakingofHowardsEnd. “CharlesandAlbertFussellhaveknownoneanothersometime.Theybelongtothesameclub,andarebothdevotedtogolf.Dollyplaysgolftoo,thoughIbelievenotsowellandtheyfirstmetinamixedfoursome.Wealllikeher,andareverymuchpleased.Theyweremarriedonthe11th,afewdaysbeforePaulsailed.Charleswasveryanxioustohavehisbrotherasbestman,sohemadeagreatpointofhavingitonthe11th.TheFussellswouldhavepreferreditafterChristmas,buttheywereveryniceaboutit.ThereisDolly’sphotograph—inthatdoubleframe.” “AreyouquitecertainthatI’mnotinterrupting,Mrs.Wilcox?” “Yes,quite.” “ThenIwillstay.I’menjoyingthis.” Dolly’sphotographwasnowexamined.Itwassigned“FordearMims,”whichMrs.Wilcoxinterpretedas“thenamesheandCharleshadsettledthatsheshouldcallme.”Dollylookedsilly,andhadoneofthosetriangularfacesthatsooftenproveattractivetoarobustman.Shewasverypretty.FromherMargaretpassedtoCharles,whosefeaturesprevailedopposite.ShespeculatedontheforcesthathaddrawnthetwotogethertillGodpartedthem.Shefoundtimetohopethattheywouldbehappy. “TheyhavegonetoNaplesfortheirhoneymoon.” “Luckypeople!” “IcanhardlyimagineCharlesinItaly.” “Doesn’thecarefortravelling?” “Helikestravel,buthedoesseethroughforeignersso.WhatheenjoysmostisamotortourinEngland,andIthinkthatwouldhavecarriedthedayiftheweatherhadnotbeensoabominable.Hisfathergavehimacarforaweddingpresent,whichforthepresentisbeingstoredatHowardsEnd.” “Isupposeyouhaveagaragethere?” “Yes.Myhusbandbuiltalittleoneonlylastmonth,tothewestofthehouse,notfarfromthewych-elm,inwhatusedtobethepaddockforthepony.” Thelastwordshadanindescribableringaboutthem. “Where’stheponygone?”askedMargaretafterapause. “Thepony?Oh,dead,eversolongago.” “Thewych-elmIremember.Helenspokeofitasaverysplendidtree.” “Itisthefinestwych-elminHertfordshire.Didyoursistertellyouabouttheteeth?” “No.” “Oh,itmightinterestyou.Therearepigs’teethstuckintothetrunk,abou