CHAPTER XVI
關燈
小
中
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oxslyly.
“Yes,indeed,father.”
“HewastrampinginSurrey,ifyoumeanthat,”saidMargaret,pacingawayrathercrossly.
“Oh,Idaresay!”
“MissWilcox,hewas!”
“M—m—m—m!”fromMr.Wilcox,whothoughttheepisodeamusing,ifrisque.Withmostladieshewouldnothavediscussedit,buthewastradingonMargaret’sreputationasanemancipatedwoman.
“Hesaidso,andaboutsuchathinghewouldn’tlie.”
Theybothbegantolaugh.
“That’swhereIdifferfromyou.Menlieabouttheirpositionsandprospects,butnotaboutathingofthatsort.”
Heshookhishead.“MissSchlegel,excuseme,butIknowthetype.”
“Isaidbefore—heisn’tatype.Hecaresaboutadventuresrightly.He’scertainthatoursmugexistenceisn’tall.He’svulgarandhystericalandbookish,butdon’tthinkthatsumshimup.There’smanhoodinhimaswell.Yes,that’swhatI’mtryingtosay.He’sarealman.”
Asshespoketheireyesmet,anditwasasifMr.Wilcox’sdefencesfell.Shesawbacktotherealmaninhim.Unwittinglyshehadtouchedhisemotions.
Awomanandtwomen—theyhadformedthemagictriangleofsex,andthemalewasthrilledtojealousy,incasethefemalewasattractedbyanothermale.Love,saytheascetics,revealsourshamefulkinshipwiththebeasts.Beitso:onecanbearthatjealousyistherealshame.Itisjealousy,notlove,thatconnectsuswiththefarmyardintolerably,andcallsupvisionsoftwoangrycocksandacomplacenthen.Margaretcrushedcomplacencydownbecauseshewascivilised.Mr.Wilcox,uncivilised,continuedtofeelangerlongafterhehadrebuilthisdefences,andwasagainpresentingabastiontotheworld.
“MissSchlegel,you’reapairofdearcreatures,butyoureallyMUSTbecarefulinthisuncharitableworld.Whatdoesyourbrothersay?”
“Iforget.”
“Surelyhehassomeopinion?”
“Helaughs,ifIremembercorrectly.”
“He’sveryclever,isn’the?”saidEvie,whohadmetanddetestedTibbyatOxford.
“Yes,prettywell—butIwonderwhatHelen’sdoing.”
“Sheisveryyoungtoundertakethissortofthing,”saidMr.Wilcox.
Margaretwentouttothelanding.Sheheardnosound,andMr.Bast’stopperwasmissingfromthehall.
“Helen!”shecalled.
“Yes!”repliedavoicefromthelibrary.
“Youinthere?”
“Yes—he’sgonesometime.”
Margaretwenttoher.“Why,you’reallalone,”shesaid.
“Yes—it’sallright,Meg.Poor,poorcreature—”
“ComebacktotheWilcoxesandtellmelater—Mr.Wmuchconcerned,andslightlytitillated.”
“Oh,I’venopatiencewithhim.Ihatehim.PoordearMr.Bast!hewantedtotalkliterature,andwewouldtalkbusiness.Suchamuddleofaman,andyetsoworthpullingthrough.Ilikehimextraordinarily.”
“Welldone,”saidMargaret,kissingher,“butcomeintothedrawing-roomnow,anddon’ttalkabouthimtotheWilcoxes.Makelightofthewholething.”
Helencameandbehavedwithacheerfulnessthatreassuredtheirvisitor—thishenatalleventswasfancy-free.
“He’sgonewithmyblessing,”shecried,“andnowforpuppies.”
Astheydroveaway,Mr.Wilcoxsaidtohisdaughter:
“Iamreallyconcernedatthewaythosegirlsgoon.Theyareascleverasyoumake’em,butunpractical—Godblessme!Oneofthesedaysthey’llgotoofar.Girlslikethatoughtn’ttolivealoneinLondon.Untiltheymarry,theyoughttohavesomeonetolookafterthem.Wemustlookinmoreoften—we’rebetterthannoone.Youlikethem,don’tyou,Evie?”
Eviereplied:“Helen’srightenough,butIcan’tstandthetoothyone.AndIshouldn’thavecalledeitherofthemgirls.”
Eviehadgrownuphandsome.Dark-eyed,withtheglowofyouthundersunburn,builtfirmlyandfirm-lipped,shewasthebesttheWilcoxescoulddointhewayoffemininebeauty.Forthepresent,puppiesandherfatherweretheonlythingssheloved,butthenetofmatrimonywasbeingpreparedforher,andafewdayslatershewasattractedtoaMr.PercyCahill,anuncleofMrs.Charles’s,andhewasattractedtoher.
