CHAPTER XII
關燈
小
中
大
stmeisterbelievedhehadassurancetothecontrary.Germanyhadlost,butwithgood-humourholdingthemanhoodoftheworld,shefeltboundtowin.“AndtherewillevenbesomeoneforTibby,”concludedHelen.“Therenow,Tibby,thinkofthatFriedaissavingupalittlegirlforyou,inpig-tailsandwhiteworstedstockingsbutthefeetofthestockingsarepinkasifthelittlegirlhadtroddeninstrawberries.I’vetalkedtoomuch.Myheadaches.Nowyoutalk.”
Tibbyconsentedtotalk.Hetoowasfullofhisownaffairs,forhehadjustbeenuptotryforascholarshipatOxford.Themenweredown,andthecandidateshadbeenhousedinvariouscolleges,andhaddinedinhall.Tibbywassensitivetobeauty,theexperiencewasnew,andhegaveadescriptionofhisvisitthatwasalmostglowing.TheaugustandmellowUniversity,soakedwiththerichnessofthewesterncountiesthatithasservedforathousandyears,appealedatoncetotheboy’stasteitwasthekindofthinghecouldunderstand,andheunderstooditallthebetterbecauseitwasempty.Oxfordis—Oxfordnotamerereceptacleforyouth,likeCambridge.PerhapsitwantsitsinmatestoloveitratherthantoloveoneanothersuchatalleventswastobeitseffectonTibby.Hissisterssenthimtherethathemightmakefriends,fortheyknewthathiseducationhadbeencranky,andhadseveredhimfromotherboysandmen.Hemadenofriends.HisOxfordremainedOxfordempty,andhetookintolifewithhim,notthememoryofaradiance,butthememoryofacolourscheme.
ItpleasedMargarettohearherbrotherandsistertalking.Theydidnotgetonoverwellasarule.Forafewmomentsshelistenedtothem,feelingelderlyandbenign.
Thensomethingoccurredtoher,andsheinterrupted.
“Helen,ItoldyouaboutpoorMrs.Wilcoxthatsadbusiness?”
“Yes.”
“Ihavehadacorrespondencewithherson.Hewaswindinguptheestate,andwrotetoaskmewhetherhismotherhadwantedmetohaveanything.Ithoughtitgoodofhim,consideringIknewhersolittle.IsaidthatshehadoncespokenofgivingmeaChristmasp
