CHAPTER X

Severaldayspassed. WasMrs.Wilcoxoneoftheunsatisfactorypeople—therearemanyofthem—whodangleintimacyandthenwithdrawit?Theyevokeourinterestsandaffections,andkeepthelifeofthespiritdawdlingroundthem.Thentheywithdraw.Whenphysicalpassionisinvolved,thereisadefinitenameforsuchbehaviour—flirting—andifcarriedfarenoughitispunishablebylaw.Butnolaw—notpublicopinioneven—punishesthosewhocoquettewithfriendship,thoughthedullachethattheyinflict,thesenseofmisdirectedeffortandexhaustion,maybeasintolerable.Wassheoneofthese? Margaretfearedsoatfirst,for,withaLondoner’simpatience,shewantedeverythingtobesettledupimmediately.Shemistrustedtheperiodsofquietthatareessentialtotruegrowth.DesiringtobookMrs.Wilcoxasafriend,shepressedontheceremony,pencil,asitwere,inhand,pressingthemorebecausetherestofthefamilywereaway,andtheopportunityseemedfavourable.Buttheelderwomanwouldnotbehurried.SherefusedtofitinwiththeWickhamPlaceset,ortoreopendiscussionofHelenandPaul,whomMargaretwouldhaveutilisedasashort-cut.Shetookhertime,orperhapslettimetakeher,andwhenthecrisisdidcomeallwasready. Thecrisisopenedwithamessage:WouldMissSchlegelcomeshopping?Christmaswasnearing,andMrs.Wilcoxfeltbehindhandwiththepresents.Shehadtakensomemoredaysinbed,andmustmakeupforlosttime.Margaretaccepted,andateleveno’clockonecheerlessmorningtheystartedoutinabrougham. “Firstofall,”beganMargaret,“wemustmakealistandtickoffthepeople’snames.Myauntalwaysdoes,andthisfogmaythickenupanymoment.Haveyouanyideas?” “IthoughtwewouldgotoHarrodsortheHaymarketStores,”saidMrs.Wilcoxratherhopelessly.“Everythingissuretobethere.Iamnotagoodshopper.Thedinissoconfusing,andyourauntisquiteright—oneoughttomakealist.Takemynotebook,then,andwriteyourownnameatthetopofthepage.” “Oh,hooray!”saidMargaret,writingit.“Howverykindofyoutostartwithme!”Butshedidnotwanttoreceiveanythingexpensive.Theiracquaintancewassingularratherthanintimate,andshedivinedthattheWilcoxclanwouldresentanyexpenditureonoutsidersthemorecompactfamiliesdo.ShedidnotwanttobethoughtasecondHelen,whowouldsnatchpresentssinceshecouldnotsnatchyoungmen,nortobeexposedlikeasecondAuntJuley,totheinsultsofCharles.Acertainausterityofdemeanourwasbest,andsheadded:“Idon’treallywantaYuletidegift,though.Infact,I’drathernot.” “Why?” “BecauseI’veoddideasaboutChristmas.BecauseIhaveallthatmoneycanbuy.Iwantmorepeople,butnomorethings.” “Ishouldliketogiveyousomethingworthyouracquaintance,MissSchlegel,inmemoryofyourkindnesstomeduringmylonelyfortnight.IthassohappenedthatIhavebeenleftalone,andyouhavestoppedmefrombrooding.Iamtooapttobrood.” “Ifthatisso,”saidMargaret,“ifIhavehappenedtobeofusetoyou,whichIdidn’tknow,youcannotpaymebackwithanythingtangible.” “