CHAPTER XVI

hout.” “Idon’twantyourpatronage.Idon’twantyourtea.Iwasquitehappy.Whatdoyouwanttounsettlemefor?”HeturnedtoMr.Wilcox.“Iputittothisgentleman.Iaskyou,sir,amItohavemybrainpicked?” Mr.WilcoxturnedtoMargaretwiththeairofhumorousstrengththathecouldsowellcommand.“Areweintruding,MissSchlegel?Canwebeofanyuse,orshallwego?” ButMargaretignoredhim. “I’mconnectedwithaleadinginsurancecompany,sir.IreceivewhatItaketobeaninvitationfromthese—ladies”(hedrawledtheword).“Icome,andit’stohavemybrainpicked.Iaskyou,isitfair?” “Highlyunfair,”saidMr.Wilcox,drawingagaspfromEvie,whoknewthatherfatherwasbecomingdangerous. “There,youhearthat?Mostunfair,thegentlemansays.There!Notcontentwith”—pointingatMargaret—“youcan’tdenyit.”HisvoicerosehewasfallingintotherhythmofascenewithJacky.“ButassoonasI’musefulit’saverydifferentthing.‘Ohyes,sendforhim.Cross-questionhim.Pickhisbrains.’Ohyes.Now,takemeonthewhole,I’maquietfellow:I’mlaw-abiding,Idon’twishanyunpleasantnessbutI—I—” “You,”saidMargaret—“you—you—” LaughterfromEvieasatarepartee. “YouarethemanwhotriedtowalkbythePoleStar.” Morelaughter. “Yousawthesunrise.” Laughter. “Youtriedtogetawayfromthefogsthatarestiflingusall—awaypastbooksandhousestothetruth.Youwerelookingforarealhome.” “Ifailtoseetheconnection,”saidLeonard,hotwithstupidanger. “SodoI.”Therewasapause.“YouwerethatlastSunday—youarethisto-day.Mr.Bast!Iandmysisterhavetalkedyouover.Wewantedtohelpyouwealsosupposedyoumighthelpus.Wedidnothaveyouhereoutofcharity—whichboresus—butbecausewehopedtherewouldbeaconnectionbetweenlastSundayandotherdays.Whatisthegoodofyourstarsandtrees,yoursunriseandthewind,iftheydonotenterintoourdailylives?Theyhaveneverenteredintomine,butintoyours,wethought—Haven’twealltostruggleagainstlife’sdailygreyness,againstpettiness,againstmechanicalcheerfulness,againstsuspicion?IstrugglebyrememberingmyfriendsothersIhaveknownbyrememberingsomeplace—somebelovedplaceortree—wethoughtyouoneofthese.” “Ofcourse,ifthere’sbeenanymisunderstanding,”mumbledLeonard,“allIcandoistogo.ButIbegtostate—”Hepaused.AhabandJezebeldancedathisbootsandmadehimlookridiculous.“Youwerepickingmybrainforofficialinformation—Icanproveit—I—”Heblewhisnoseandleftthem. “CanIhelpyounow?”saidMr.Wilcox,turningtoMargaret.“MayIhaveonequietwordwithhiminthehall?” “Helen,goafterhim—doanything—anything—tomakethenoodleunderstand.” Helenhesitated. “Butreally—”saidtheirvisitor.“Oughtsheto?” Atonceshewent. Heresumed.“Iwouldhavechimedin,butIfeltthatyoucouldpolishhimoffforyourselves—Ididn’tinterfere.Youweresplendid,MissSchlegel—absolutelysplendid.Youcantakemywordforit,butthereareveryfewwomenwhocouldhavemanagedhim.” “Ohyes,”saidMargaretdistractedly. “Bowlinghimoverwiththoselongsentenceswaswhatfetchedme,”criedEvie. “Yes,indeed,”chuckledherfather“allthatpartabout‘mechanicalcheerfulness’—oh,fine!” “I’mverysorry,”saidMargaret,collectingherself.“He’sanicecreaturereally.Icannotthinkwhatsethimoff.Ithasbeenmostunpleasantforyou.” “Oh,Ididn’tmind.”Thenhechangedhismood.Heaskedifhemightspeakasanoldfriend,and,permissiongiven,said:“Oughtn’tyoureallytobemorecareful?” Margaretlaughed,thoughherthoughtsstillstrayedafterHelen.“Doyourealisethatit’sallyourfault?”shesaid.“You’reresponsible.” “I?” “ThisistheyoungmanwhomweweretowarnagainstthePorphyrion.Wewarnhim,and—look!” Mr.Wilcoxwasannoyed.“Ihardlyconsiderthatafairdeduction,”hesaid. “Obviouslyunfair,”saidMargaret.“Iwa