CHAPTER XII

rue.Fewwomenhadtriedmoreearnestlytopiercetheaccretionsinwhichbodyandsoulareenwrapped.ThedeathofMrs.Wilcoxhadhelpedherinherwork.Shesawalittlemoreclearlythanhithertowhatahumanbeingis,andtowhathemayaspire.Truerrelationshipsgleamed.Perhapsthelastwordwouldbehope—hopeevenonthissideofthegrave. Meanwhile,shecouldtakeaninterestinthesurvivors.InspiteofherChristmasduties,inspiteofherbrother,theWilcoxescontinuedtoplayaconsiderablepartinherthoughts.Shehadseensomuchoftheminthefinalweek.Theywerenot“hersort,”theywereoftensuspiciousandstupid,anddeficientwheresheexcelledbutcollisionwiththemstimulatedher,andshefeltaninterestthatvergedintoliking,evenforCharles.Shedesiredtoprotectthem,andoftenfeltthattheycouldprotecther,excellingwhereshewasdeficient.Oncepasttherocksofemotion,theyknewsowellwhattodo,whomtosendfortheirhandswereonalltheropes,theyhadgritaswellasgrittinessandshevaluedgritenormously.Theyledalifethatshecouldnotattainto—theouterlifeof“telegramsandanger,”whichhaddetonatedwhenHelenandPaulhadtouchedinJune,andhaddetonatedagaintheotherweek.ToMargaretthislifewastoremainarealforce.Shecouldnotdespiseit,asHelenandTibbyaffectedtodo.Itfosteredsuchvirtuesasneatness,decision,andobedience,virtuesofthesecondrank,nodoubt,buttheyhaveformedourcivilisation.Theyformcharacter,tooMargaretcouldnotdoubtittheykeepthesoulfrombecomingsloppy.HowdareSchlegelsdespiseWilcoxes,whenittakesallsortstomakeaworld? “Don’tbroodtoomuch,”shewrotetoHelen,“onthesuperiorityoftheunseentotheseen.It’strue,buttobroodonitismedieval.Ourbusinessisnottocontrastthetwo,buttoreconcilethem.” Helenrepliedthatshehadnointentionofbroodingonsuchadullsubject.Whatdidhersistertakeherfor?Theweatherwasmagnificent.SheandtheMosebachshadgonetobogganingontheonlyhillthatPomeraniaboasted.Itw