CHAPTER X

ydepartmentoftheHaymarketStores,andMrs.Wilcoxwantedtoordersomeprivategreetingcards. “Ifpossible,somethingdistinctive,”shesighed.Atthecountershefoundafriend,bentonthesameerrand,andconversedwithherinsipidly,wastingmuchtime.“Myhusbandandourdaughteraremotoring.”“Bertha,too?Oh,fancy,whatacoincidence!” Margaret,thoughnotpractical,couldshineinsuchcompanyasthis.Whiletheytalked,shewentthroughavolumeofspecimencards,andsubmittedoneforMrs.Wilcox’sinspection.Mrs.Wilcoxwasdelighted—sooriginal,wordssosweetshewouldorderahundredlikethat,andcouldneverbesufficientlygrateful.Then,justastheassistantwasbookingtheorder,shesaid:“Doyouknow,I’llwait.Onsecondthoughts,I’llwait.There’splentyoftimestill,isn’tthere,andIshallbeabletogetEvie’sopinion.” Theyreturnedtothecarriagebydeviouspathswhentheywerein,shesaid,“Butcouldn’tyougetitrenewed?” “Ibegyourpardon?”askedMargaret. “Thelease,Imean.” “Oh,thelease!Haveyoubeenthinkingofthatallthetime?Howverykindofyou!” “Surelysomethingcouldbedone.” “Novalueshaverisentooenormously.TheymeantopulldownWickhamPlace,andbuildflatslikeyours.” “Buthowhorrible!” “Landlordsarehorrible.” Thenshesaidvehemently:“Itismonstrous,MissSchlegelitisn’tright.Ihadnoideathatthiswashangingoveryou.Idopityyoufromthebottomofmyheart.Tobepartedfromyourhouse,yourfather’shouse—itoughtn’ttobeallowed.Itisworsethandying.Iwouldratherdiethan—Oh,poorgirls!Canwhattheycallcivilisationberight,ifpeoplemayn’tdieintheroomwheretheywereborn?Mydear,Iamsosorry.” Margaretdidnotknowwhattosay.Mrs.Wilcoxhadbeenovertiredbytheshopping,andwasinclinedtohysteria. “HowardsEndwasnearlypulleddownonce.Itwouldhavekilledme.” “I—HowardsEndmustbeaverydifferenthousetoours.Wearefondofours,butthereisnothingdistinctiveaboutit.Asyousaw,itisanordinaryLondonhouse.Weshalleasilyfindanother.” “Soyouthink.” “Againmylackofexperience,Isuppose!”saidMargaret,easingawayfromthesubject.“Ican’tsayanythingwhenyoutakeupthatline,Mrs.Wilcox.IwishIcouldseemyselfasyouseeme—foreshortenedintoabackfisch.Quitetheingenue.Verycharming—wonderfullywellreadformyage,butincapable—” Mrs.Wilcoxwouldnotbedeterred.“ComedownwithmetoHowardsEndnow,”shesaid,morevehementlythanever.“Iwantyoutoseeit.Youhaveneverseenit.Iwanttohearwhatyousayaboutit,foryoudoputthingssowonderfully.” Margaretglancedatthepitilessairandthenatthetiredfaceofhercompanion.“LateronIshouldloveit,”shecontinued,“butit’shardlytheweatherforsuchanexpedition,andweoughttostartwhenwe’refresh.Isn’tthehouseshutup,too?” Shereceivednoanswer.Mrs.Wilcoxappearedtobeannoyed. “MightIcomesomeotherday?” Mrs.Wilcoxbentforwardandtappedtheglass.“BacktoWickhamPlace,please!”washerordertothecoachman.Margare