CHAPTER XVIII

ekilledme.Whenhewasnearlyfortyhecouldchangecountriesandideals—andwe,atourage,can’tchangehouses.It’shumiliating.” “Yourfathermayhavebeenabletochangecountries,”saidMrs.Muntwithasperity,“andthatmayormaynotbeagoodthing.Buthecouldchangehousesnobetterthanyoucan,infact,muchworse.NevershallIforgetwhatpoorEmilysufferedinthemovefromManchester.” “Iknewit,”criedHelen.“Itoldyouso.Itisthelittlethingsonebunglesat.Thebig,realonesarenothingwhentheycome.” “Bungle,mydear!Youaretoolittletorecollect—infact,youweren’tthere.ButthefurniturewasactuallyinthevansandonthemovebeforetheleaseforWickhamPlacewassigned,andEmilytooktrainwithbaby—whowasMargaretthen—andthesmallerluggageforLondon,withoutsomuchasknowingwherehernewhomewouldbe.Gettingawayfromthathousemaybehard,butitisnothingtothemiserythatweallwentthroughgettingyouintoit.” Helen,withhermouthfull,cried: “Andthat’sthemanwhobeattheAustrians,andtheDanes,andtheFrench,andwhobeattheGermansthatwereinsidehimself.Andwe’relikehim.” “Speakforyourself,”saidTibby.“RememberthatIamcosmopolitan,please.” “Helenmayberight.” “Ofcourseshe’sright,”saidHelen. Helenmightberight,butshedidnotgouptoLondon.Margaretdidthat.Aninterruptedholidayistheworstoftheminorworries,andonemaybepardonedforfeelingmorbidwhenabusinesslettersnatchesoneawayfromtheseaandfriends.Shecouldnotbelievethatherfatherhadeverfeltthesame.Hereyeshadbeentroublingherlately,sothatshecouldnotreadinthetrainanditboredhertolookatthelandscape,whichshehadseenbutyesterday.AtSouthamptonshe“waved”toFriedaFriedawasonherwaydowntojointhematSwanage,andMrs.Munthadcalculatedthattheirtrainswouldcross.ButFriedawaslookingtheotherway,andMargarettravelledontotownfeelingsolitaryandold-maidish.HowlikeanoldmaidtofancythatMr.Wilcoxwascourtingher!Shehadoncevisitedaspinster—poor,silly,andunattractive—whosemaniaitwasthateverymanwhoapproachedherfellinlove.HowMargaret’shearthadbledforthedeludedthing!Howshehadlectured,reasoned,andindespairacquiesced!“Imayhavebeendeceivedbythecurate,mydear,buttheyoungfellowwhobringsthemiddaypostreallyisfondofme,andhas,asamatteroffact—”Ithadalwaysseemedtoherthemosthideouscornerofoldage,yetshemightbedrivenintoitherselfbythemerepressureofvirginity. Mr.WilcoxmetheratWaterloohimself.Shefeltcertainthathewasnotthesameasusualforonething,hetookoffenceateverythingshesaid. “Thisisawfullykindofyou,”shebegan,“butI’mafraidit’snotgoingtodo.ThehousehasnotbeenbuiltthatsuitstheSchlegelfamily.” “What!Haveyoucomeupdeterminednottodeal?” “Notexactly.” “Notexactly?Inthatcaselet’sbestarting.” Shelingeredtoadmirethemotor,whichwasnew,andafairercreaturethanthevermiliongiantthathadborneAuntJuleytoherdoomthreeyearsbefore. “Presumablyit’sverybeautiful,”shesaid.“Howdoyoulikeit,Crane?” “Come,let’sbestarting,”repeatedherhost.“HowonearthdidyouknowthatmychauffeurwascalledCrane?” “Why,IknowCraneI’vebeenforadrivewithEvieonce.Iknowthatyou’vegotaparlourmaidcalledMilton.Iknowallsortsofthings.” “Evie!”heechoedininjuredtones.“Youwon’tseeh