CHAPTER XV

titwas.WhenMargaretsaidthatshesupposedthatclerks,likeeveryoneelse,founditextremelydifficulttogetsituationsinthesedays,hereplied,“Yes,extremely,”androsetorejoinhisfriends.Heknewbyhisownoffice—seldomavacantpost,andhundredsofapplicantsforitatpresentnovacantpost. “Andhow’sHowardsEndlooking?”saidMargaret,wishingtochangethesubjectbeforetheyparted.Mr.Wilcoxwasalittleapttothinkonewantedtogetsomethingoutofhim. “It’slet.” “Really.AndyouwanderinghomelessinlonghairedChelsea?HowstrangearethewaysofFate!” “Noit’sletunfurnished.We’vemoved.” “Why,Ithoughtofyoubothasanchoredthereforever.Evienevertoldme.” “IdaresaywhenyoumetEviethethingwasn’tsettled.Weonlymovedaweekago.Paulhasratherafeelingfortheoldplace,andweheldonforhimtohavehisholidaytherebut,really,itisimpossiblysmall.Endlessdrawbacks.Iforgetwhetheryou’vebeenuptoit?” “Asfarasthehouse,never.” “Well,HowardsEndisoneofthoseconvertedfarms.Theydon’treallydo,spendwhatyouwillonthem.Wemessedawaywithagarageallamongthewych-elmroots,andlastyearweenclosedabitofthemeadowandattemptedarockery.EviegotratherkeenonAlpineplants.Butitdidn’tdo—no,itdidn’tdo.Youremember,yoursisterwillremember,thefarmwiththoseabominableguinea-fowls,andthehedgethattheoldwomanneverwouldcutproperly,sothatitallwentthinatthebottom.And,insidethehouse,thebeams—andthestaircasethroughadoor—picturesqueenough,butnotaplacetolivein.”Heglancedovertheparapetcheerfully.“Fulltide.Andthepositionwasn’trighteither.Theneighbourhood’sgettingsuburban.EitherbeinLondonoroutofit,Isaysowe’vetakenahouseinDucieStreet,closetoSloaneStreet,andaplacerightdowninShropshire—OnitonGrange.EverheardofOniton?Docomeandseeus—rightawayfromeverywhere,uptowardsWales.” “Whatachange!”saidMargaret.Butthechangewasinherownvoice,whichhadbecomemostsad.“Ican’timagineHowardsEndorHiltonwithoutyou.” “Hiltonisn’twithoutus,”hereplied.“Charlesistherestill.” “Still?”saidMargaret,whohadnotkeptupwiththeCharles’s.“ButIthoughthewasstillatEpsom.TheywerefurnishingthatChristmas—oneChristmas.Howeverythingalters!IusedtoadmireMrs.Charlesfromourwindowsveryoften.Wasn’titEpsom?” “Yes,buttheymovedeighteenmonthsago.Charles,thegoodchap”—hisvoicedropped—“thoughtIshouldbelonely.Ididn’twanthimtomove,buthewould,andtookahouseattheotherendofHilton,downbytheSixHills.Hehadamotor,too.Theretheyallare,averyjollyparty—heandsheandthetwograndchildren.” “Imanageotherpeople’saffairssomuchbetterthantheymanagethemthemselves,”saidMargaretastheyshookhands.“WhenyoumovedoutofHowardsEnd,IshouldhavemovedMr.CharlesWilcoxintoit.Ishouldhavekeptsoremarkableaplaceinthefamily.” “Soitis,”hereplied.“Ihaven’tsoldit,anddon’tmeanto.” “Nobutnoneofyouarethere.” “Oh,we’vegotasplendidtenant—HamarBryce,aninvalid.IfCharleseverwantedit—buthewon’t.Dollyissodependentonmodernconveniences.No,wehavealldecidedagainstHowardsEnd.Welikeitinaway,butnowwefeelthatitisneitheronethingnortheother.Onemusthaveonethingortheother.” “Andsomepeopleareluckyenoughtohaveboth.You’redoingyourselfproud,Mr.Wilcox.Mycongratulations.” “Andmine,”saidHelen. “DoremindEvietocomeandseeus—2WickhamPlace.Weshan’tbethereverylong,either.” “You,too,onthemove?” “NextSeptember,”Margaretsighed. “Everyonemoving!Good-bye.” Thetidehadbeguntoebb.Margaretleantovertheparapetandwatcheditsadly.Mr.Wilcoxhadforgottenhiswife,Helenherloversheherselfwasprobablyforgetting.Everyonemoving.Isitworthwhileattemptingthepastwhenthereisthiscontinualfluxevenintheheartsofmen? Helenrousedherbysaying:“WhataprosperousvulgarianMr.Wilcoxhasgrown!Ihaveverylittleuseforhiminthesedays.However,hedidtellusaboutthePorphyrion.LetuswritetoMr.Bastassoonaseverwegethome,andtellhimtoclearoutofitatonce.” “Doyes,that’sworthdoing.Letus.”