CHAPTER XIV

Themystery,likesomanymysteries,wasexplained.Nextday,justastheyweredressedtogoouttodinner,aMr.Bastcalled.HewasaclerkintheemploymentofthePorphyrionFireInsuranceCompany.Thusmuchfromhiscard.Hehadcome“abouttheladyyesterday.”ThusmuchfromAnnie,whohadshownhimintothedining-room. “Cheers,children!”criedHelen.“It’sMrs.Lanoline.” Tibbywasinterested.Thethreehurrieddownstairs,tofind,notthegaydogtheyexpected,butayoungman,colourless,toneless,whohadalreadythemournfuleyesaboveadroopingmoustachethataresocommoninLondon,andthathauntsomestreetsofthecitylikeaccusingpresences.Oneguessedhimasthethirdgeneration,grandsontotheshepherdorploughboywhomcivilisationhadsuckedintothetownasoneofthethousandswhohavelostthelifeofthebodyandfailedtoreachthelifeofthespirit.Hintsofrobustnesssurvivedinhim,morethanahintofprimitivegoodlooks,andMargaret,notingthespinethatmighthavebeenstraight,andthechestthatmighthavebroadened,wonderedwhetheritpaidtogiveupthegloryoftheanimalforatailcoatandacoupleofideas.Culturehadworkedinherowncase,butduringthelastfewweeksshehaddoubtedwhetherithumanisedthemajority,sowideandsowideningisthegulfthatstretchesbetweenthenaturalandthephilosophicman,somanythegoodchapswhoarewreckedintryingtocrossit.Sheknewthistypeverywell—thevagueaspirations,thementaldishonesty,thefamiliaritywiththeoutsidesofbooks.Sheknewtheverytonesinwhichhewouldaddressher.Shewasonlyunpreparedforanexampleofherownvisiting-card. “Youwouldn’tremembergivingmethis,MissSchlegel?”saidhe,uneasilyfamiliar. “NoIcan’tsayIdo.” “Well,thatwashowithappened,yousee.” “Wheredidwemeet,Mr.Bast?FortheminuteIdon’tremember.” “ItwasaconcertattheQueen’sHall.Ithinkyouwillrecollect,”headdedpretentiously,“whenItellyouthatitincludedaperformanceoftheFifthSymphonyofBeethoven.” “WeheartheFifthpracticallyeverytimeit’sdone,soI’mnotsure—doyouremember,Helen?” “Wasitthetimethesandycatwalkedroundthebalustrade?” Hethoughtnot. “ThenIdon’tremember.That’stheonlyBeethovenIeverrememberspecially.” “Andyou,ifImaysayso,tookawaymyumbrella,inadvertentlyofcourse.” “Likelyenough,”Helenlaughed,“forIstealumbrellasevenoftenerthanIhearBeethoven.Didyougetitback?” “Yes,thankyou,MissSchlegel.” “Themistakearoseoutofmycard,didit?”interposedMargaret. “Yes,themistakearose—itwasamistake.” “Theladywhocalledhereyesterdaythoughtthatyouwerecallingtoo,andthatshecouldfindyou?”shecontinued,pushinghimforward,for,thoughhehadpromisedanexplanation,heseemedunabletogiveone. “That’sso,callingtoo—amistake.” “Thenwhy—?”beganHelen,butMargaretlaidahandonherarm. “Isaidtomywife,”hecontinuedmorerapidly“IsaidtoMrs.Bast,‘Ihavetopayacallonsomefriends,’andMrs.Bastsaidtome,‘Dogo.’WhileIwasgone,however,shewantedmeonimportantbusiness,andthoughtIhadcomehere,owingtothecard,andsocameafterme,andIbegtotendermyapologies,andhersaswell,foranyinconveniencewemayhaveinadvertentlycausedyou.” “Noinconvenience,”saidHelen“butIstilldon’tunderstand.” AnairofevasioncharacterisedMr.Bast.Heexplainedagain,butwasobviouslylying,andHelendidn’tseewhyheshouldgetoff.Shehadthecrueltyofyouth.Neglectinghersister’spressure,shesaid,“Istilldon’tunderstand.Whendidyousayyoupaidthiscall?” “Call?Wh