CHAPTER IX

Mrs.WilcoxcannotbeaccusedofgivingMargaretmuchinformationaboutlife.AndMargaret,ontheotherhand,hasmadeafairshowofmodesty,andhaspretendedtoaninexperiencethatshecertainlydidnotfeel.Shehadkepthouseforovertenyearsshehadentertained,almostwithdistinctionshehadbroughtupacharmingsister,andwasbringingupabrother.Surely,ifexperienceisattainable,shehadattainedit.Yetthelittleluncheon-partythatshegaveinMrs.Wilcox’shonourwasnotasuccess.Thenewfrienddidnotblendwiththe“oneortwodelightfulpeople”whohadbeenaskedtomeether,andtheatmospherewasoneofpolitebewilderment.Hertastesweresimple,herknowledgeofcultureslight,andshewasnotinterestedintheNewEnglishArtClub,norinthedividing-linebetweenJournalismandLiterature,whichwasstartedasaconversationalhare.Thedelightfulpeopledartedafteritwithcriesofjoy,Margaretleadingthem,andnottillthemealwashalfoverdidtheyrealisethattheprincipalguesthadtakennopartinthechase.Therewasnocommontopic.Mrs.Wilcox,whoselifehadbeenspentintheserviceofhusbandandsons,hadlittletosaytostrangerswhohadneversharedit,andwhoseagewashalfherown.Clevertalkalarmedher,andwitheredherdelicateimaginingsitwasthesocialcounterpartofamotor-car,alljerks,andshewasawispofhay,aflower.Twiceshedeploredtheweather,twicecriticisedthetrainserviceontheGreatNorthernRailway.Theyvigorouslyassented,andrushedon,andwhensheinquiredwhethertherewasanynewsofHelen,herhostesswastoomuchoccupiedinplacingRothensteintoanswer.Thequestionwasrepeated:“IhopethatyoursisterissafeinGermanybynow.”Margaretcheckedherselfandsaid,“Yes,thankyouIheardonTuesday.”Butthedemonofvociferationwasinher,andthenextmomentshewasoffagain. “OnlyonTuesday,fortheyliverightawayatStettin.Didyoueverknowanyo