CHAPTER XI

ine,awispofhaywithdewonit—canpassionforsuchthingsbetransmittedwherethereisnobondofblood?NotheWilcoxesarenottobeblamed.Theproblemistooterrific,andtheycouldnotevenperceiveaproblem.Noitisnaturalandfittingthatafterduedebatetheyshouldtearthenoteupandthrowitontotheirdining-roomfire.Thepracticalmoralistmayacquitthemabsolutely.Hewhostrivestolookdeepermayacquitthem—almost.Foronehardfactremains.Theydidneglectapersonalappeal.Thewomanwhohaddieddidsaytothem,“Dothis,”andtheyanswered,“Wewillnot.” Theincidentmadeamostpainfulimpressiononthem.Griefmountedintothebrainandworkedtheredisquietingly.Yesterdaytheyhadlamented:“Shewasadearmother,atruewifeinourabsencesheneglectedherhealthanddied.”To-daytheythought:“Shewasnotastrue,asdear,aswesupposed.”Thedesireforamoreinwardlighthadfoundexpressionatlast,theunseenhadimpactedontheseen,andallthattheycouldsaywas“Treachery.”Mrs.Wilcoxhadbeentreacheroustothefamily,tothelawsofproperty,toherownwrittenword.HowdidsheexpectHowardsEndtobeconveyedtoMissSchlegel?Washerhusband,towhomitlegallybelonged,tomakeitovertoherasafreegift?WasthesaidMissSchlegeltohavealifeinterestinit,ortoownitabsolutely?Wastheretobenocompensationforthegarageandotherimprovementsthattheyhadmadeundertheassumptionthatallwouldbetheirssomeday?Treacherous!treacherousandabsurd!Whenwethinkthedeadbothtreacherousandabsurd,wehavegonefartowardsreconcilingourselvestotheirdeparture.Thatnote,scribbledinpencil,sentthroughthematron,wasunbusinesslikeaswellascruel,anddecreasedatoncethevalueofthewomanwhohadwrittenit. “Ah,well!”saidMr.Wilcox,risingfromthetable.“Ishouldn’thavethoughtitpossible.” “Mothercouldn’thavemeantit,”saidEvie,stillfrowning. “No,mygirl,ofcoursenot.” “Motherbelievedsoinancestorstoo—itisn’tlikehertoleaveanythingtoanoutsider,who’dneverappreciate.” “Thewholethingisunlikeher,”heannounced.“IfMissSchlegelhadbeenpoor,ifshehadwantedahouse,Icouldunderstanditalittle.Butshehasahouseofherown.Whyshouldshewantanother?Shewouldn’thaveanyuseforHowardsEnd.” “Thattimemayprove,”murmuredCharles. “How?”askedhissister. “Presumablysheknows—motherwillhavetoldher.Shegottwiceorthreetimesintothenursinghome.Presumablysheisawaitingdevelopments.” “Whatahorridwoman!”AndDolly,whohadrecovered,cried,“Why,shemaybecomingdowntoturnusoutnow!” Charlesputherright.“Iwishshewould,”hesaidominously.“Icouldthendealwithher.” “SocouldI,”echoedhisfather,whowasfeelingratherinthecold.Charleshadbeenkindinundertakingthefuneralarrangementsandintellinghimtoeathisbreakfast,buttheboyashegrewupwasalittledictatorial,andassumedthepostofchairmantooreadily.“Icoulddealwithher,ifshecomes,butshewon’tcome.You’reallabithardonMissSchlegel.” “ThatPaulbusinesswasprettyscandalous,though.” “IwantnomoreofthePaulbusiness,Charles,asIsaidatthetime,andbesides,itisquiteapartfromthisbusiness.MargaretSchlegelhasbeenofficiousandtiresomeduringthisterribleweek,andwehaveallsufferedunderher,butuponmysoulshe’shonest.She’sNOTincollusionwiththematron.I’mabsolutelycertainofit.Norwasshewiththedoctor,I’mequallycertainofthat.Shedidnothideanythingfromus,foruptothatveryafternoonshewasasignorantasweare.She,likeourselves,wasadupe—”Hestoppedforamoment.“Yousee,Charles,inherterriblepainyourmotherputusallinfalsepositions.PaulwouldnothaveleftEngland,youwouldnothavegonetoItaly,norEvieandIintoYorkshire,ifonlywehadknown.Well,MissSchlegel’spositionhasbeenequallyfalse.Takeallinall,shehasnotcomeoutofitbadly.” Eviesaid:“Butthosechrysanthemums—” “Orcomingdowntothefuneralatall—”echoedDolly. “Whyshouldn’tshecomedown?Shehadtherightto,andshestoodfarbackamongtheHiltonwomen.Theflowers—certainlyweshouldnothavesentsuchflowers,buttheymayhaveseemedtherightthingtoher,Evie,andforallyouknowtheymaybethecustominGermany.” “Oh,Iforgetsheisn’treallyEnglish,”criedEvie.“Thatwouldexplainalot.” “She’sacosmopolitan,”saidCharles,lookingathiswatch.“IadmitI’mratherdownoncosmopolitans.Myfault,doubtless.Icannotstandthem,andaGermancosmopolitanisthelimit.Ithinkthat’saboutall,isn’tit?IwanttorundownandseeChalkeley.Abicyclewilldo.And,bytheway,Iwishyou’dspeaktoCranesometime.I’mcertainhe’shadmynewcarout.” “Hashedoneitanyharm?” “No.” “InthatcaseIshallletitpass.It’snotworthwhilehavingarow.” Charlesandhisfathersometimesdisagreed.Buttheyalwayspartedwithanincreasedregardforoneanother,andeachdesirednodoughtiercomradewhenitwasnecessarytovoyageforalittlepasttheemotions.SothesailorsofUlyssesvoyagedpasttheSirens,havingfirststoppedoneanother’searswithwool.