CHAPTER XVIII

AstheywereseatedatAuntJuley’sbreakfast-tableatTheBays,parryingherexcessivehospitalityandenjoyingtheviewofthebay,alettercameforMargaretandthrewherintoperturbation.ItwasfromMr.Wilcox.Itannouncedan“importantchange”inhisplans.OwingtoEvie’smarriage,hehaddecidedtogiveuphishouseinDucieStreet,andwaswillingtoletitonayearlytenancy.Itwasabusinesslikeletter,andstatedfranklywhathewoulddoforthemandwhathewouldnotdo.Alsotherent.Iftheyapproved,MargaretwastocomeupATONCE—thewordswereunderlined,asisnecessarywhendealingwithwomen—andtogooverthehousewithhim.Iftheydisapproved,awirewouldoblige,asheshouldputitintothehandsofanagent. Theletterperturbed,becauseshewasnotsurewhatitmeant.Ifhelikedher,ifhehadmanoeuvredtogethertoSimpson’s,mightthisbeamanoeuvretogethertoLondon,andresultinanofferofmarriage?Sheputittoherselfasindelicatelyaspossible,inthehopethatherbrainwouldcry,“Rubbish,you’reaself-consciousfool!”Butherbrainonlytingledalittleandwassilent,andforatimeshesatgazingatthemincingwaves,andwonderingwhetherthenewswouldseemstrangetotheothers. Assoonasshebeganspeaking,thesoundofherownvoicereassuredher.Therecouldbenothinginit.Therepliesalsoweretypical,andintheburrofconversationherfearsvanished. “Youneedn’tgothough—”beganherhostess. “Ineedn’t,buthadn’tIbetter?It’sreallygettingratherserious.Weletchanceafterchanceslip,andtheendofitisweshallbebundledoutbagandbaggageintothestreet.Wedon’tknowwhatweWANT,that’sthemischiefwithus—” “No,wehavenorealties,”saidHelen,helpingherselftotoast. “Shan’tIgouptotownto-day,takethehouseifit’stheleastpossible,andthencomedownbytheafternoontrainto-morrow,andstartenjoyingmyself.Ishallbenofuntomyselfortoothersuntilthisbusinessisoffmymind.” “Butyouwon’tdoanythingrash,Margaret?” “There’snothingrashtodo.” “WhoAREtheWilcoxes?”saidTibby,aquestionthatsoundssilly,butwasreallyextremelysubtleashisauntfoundtohercostwhenshetriedtoanswerit.“Idon’tMANAGEtheWilcoxesIdon’tseewheretheycomeIN.” “NomoredoI,”agreedHelen.“It’sfunnythatwejustdon’tlosesightofthem.Outofallourhotelacquaintances,Mr.Wilcoxistheonlyonewhohasstuck.Itisnowoverthreeyears,andwehavedriftedawayfromfarmoreinterestingpeopleinthattime.” “Interestingpeopledon’tgetonehouses.” “Meg,ifyoustartinyourhonest-Englishvein,Ishallthrowthetreacleatyou.” “It’sabetterveinthanthecosmopolitan,”saidMargaret,gettingup.“Now,children,whichisittobe?YouknowtheDucieStreethouse.ShallIsayyesorshallIsayno?Tibbylove—which?I’mspeciallyanxioustopinyouboth.” “Italldependsonwhatmeaningyouattachtotheword‘possible’” “Itdependsonnothingofthesort.Say‘yes.’” “Say‘no.’” ThenMargaretspokeratherseriously.“Ithink,”shesaid,“thatourraceisdegenerating.Wecannotsettleeventhislittlethingwhatwillitbelikewhenwehavetosettleabigone?” “Itwillbeaseasyaseating,”returnedHelen. “Iwasthinkingoffather.HowcouldhesettletoleaveGermanyashedid,whenhehadfoughtforitasayoungman,andallhisfeelingsandfriendswerePrussian?HowcouldhebreakloosewithPatriotismandbeginaimingatsomethingelse?Itwouldhav