CHAPTER IX

pliedMargaret.“Aren’twedifferingonsomethingmuchwider,Mrs.Wilcox?Whetherwomenaretoremainwhattheyhavebeensincethedawnofhistoryorwhether,sincemenhavemovedforwardsofar,theytoomaymoveforwardalittlenow.Isaytheymay.Iwouldevenadmitabiologicalchange.” “Idon’tknow,Idon’tknow.” “Imustbegettingbacktomyoverhangingwarehouse,”saidtheman.“They’veturneddisgracefullystrict.” Mrs.Wilcoxalsorose. “Oh,butcomeupstairsforalittle.MissQuestedplays.DoyoulikeMacDowell?Doyoumindhisonlyhavingtwonoises?Ifyoumustreallygo,I’llseeyouout.Won’tyouevenhavecoffee?” Theyleftthedining-roomclosingthedoorbehindthem,andasMrs.Wilcoxbuttonedupherjacket,shesaid:“WhataninterestinglifeyouallleadinLondon!” “No,wedon’t,”saidMargaret,withasuddenrevulsion.“Weleadthelivesofgibberingmonkeys.Mrs.Wilcox—really—Wehavesomethingquietandstableatthebottom.Wereallyhave.Allmyfriendshave.Don’tpretendyouenjoyedlunch,foryouloathedit,butforgivemebycomingagain,alone,orbyaskingmetoyou.” “Iamusedtoyoungpeople,”saidMrs.Wilcox,andwitheachwordshespoketheoutlinesofknownthingsgrewdim.“Ihearagreatdealofchatterathome,forwe,likeyou,entertainagreatdeal.Withusitismoresportandpolitics,but—Ienjoyedmylunchverymuch,MissSchlegel,dear,andamnotpretending,andonlywishIcouldhavejoinedinmore.Foronething,I’mnotparticularlywelljustto-day.Foranother,youyoungerpeoplemovesoquicklythatitdazesme.Charlesisthesame,Dollythesame.Butweareallinthesameboat,oldandyoung.Ineverforgetthat.” Theyweresilentforamoment.Then,withanewbornemotion,theyshookhands.TheconversationceasedsuddenlywhenMargaretre-enteredthedining-roomherfriendshadbeentalkingoverhernewfriend,andhaddismissedherasuninteresting.