CHAPTER X

thadbeensnubbed. “Athousandthanks,MissSchlegel,forallyourhelp.” “Notatall.” “Itissuchacomforttogetthepresentsoffmymind—theChristmas-cardsespecially.Idoadmireyourchoice.” Itwasherturntoreceivenoanswer.InherturnMargaretbecameannoyed. “MyhusbandandEviewillbebackthedayafterto-morrow.ThatiswhyIdraggedyououtshoppingto-day.Istayedintownchieflytoshop,butgotthroughnothing,andnowhewritesthattheymustcuttheirtourshort,theweatherissobad,andthepolice-trapshavebeensobad—nearlyasbadasinSurrey.Oursissuchacarefulchauffeur,andmyhusbandfeelsitparticularlyhardthattheyshouldbetreatedlikeroad-hogs.” “Why?” “Well,naturallyhe—heisn’taroad-hog.” “Hewasexceedingthespeed-limit,Iconclude.Hemustexpecttosufferwiththeloweranimals.” Mrs.Wilcoxwassilenced.Ingrowingdiscomforttheydrovehomewards.ThecityseemedSatanic,thenarrowerstreetsoppressinglikethegalleriesofamine. Noharmwasdonebythefogtotrade,foritlayhigh,andthelightedwindowsoftheshopswerethrongedwithcustomers.Itwasratheradarkeningofthespiritwhichfellbackuponitself,tofindamoregrievousdarknesswithin.Margaretnearlyspokeadozentimes,butsomethingthrottledher.Shefeltpettyandawkward,andhermeditationsonChristmasgrewmorecynical.Peace?Itmaybringothergifts,butisthereasingleLondonertowhomChristmasispeaceful?Thecravingforexcitementandforelaborationhasruinedthatblessing.Goodwill?Hadsheseenanyexampleofitinthehordesofpurchasers?Orinherself?Shehadfailedtorespondtothisinvitationmerelybecauseitwasalittlequeerandimaginative—she,whosebirthrightitwastonourishimagination!Bettertohaveaccepted,tohavetiredthemselvesalittlebythejourney,thancoldlytoreply,“MightIcomesomeotherday?”Hercynicismlefther.Therewouldbenootherday.Thisshadowywomanwouldneveraskheragain. TheypartedattheMansions.Mrs.Wilcoxwentinafterduecivilities,andMargaretwatchedthetall,lonelyfiguresweepupthehalltothelift.AstheglassdoorsclosedonitshehadthesenseofanimprisonmentThebeautifulheaddisappearedfirst,stillburiedinthemuffthelongtrailingskirtfollowed.Awomanofundefinableraritywasgoingupheavenward,likeaspecimeninabottle.Andintowhataheaven—avaultasofhell,sootyblack,fromwhichsootdescended! Atlunchherbrother,seeingherinclinedforsilenceinsistedontalking.Tibbywasnotill-natured,butfrombabyhoodsomethingdrovehimtodotheunwelcomeandtheunexpected.Nowhegaveheralongaccountoftheday-schoolthathesometimespatronised.Theaccountwasinteresting,andshehadoftenpressedhimforitbefore,butshecouldnotattendnow,forhermindwasfocussedontheinvisible.ShediscernedthatMrs.Wilcox,thoughalovingwifeandmother,hadonlyonepassioninlife—herhouse—andthatthemomentwassolemnwhensheinvitedafriendtosharethispassionwithher.Toanswer“anotherday”wastoanswerasafool.“Anotherday”wil