CHAPTER XX

a?Itcan’tbetendaysago.” “Yes,”hesaid,laughing.“AndyouandyoursisterwereheadandearsdeepinsomeQuixoticscheme.Ahwell!” “Ilittlethoughtthen,certainly.Didyou?” “Idon’tknowaboutthatIshouldn’tliketosay.” “Why,wasitearlier?”shecried.“Didyouthinkofmethiswayearlier!Howextraordinarilyinteresting,Henry!Tellme.” ButHenryhadnointentionoftelling.Perhapshecouldnothavetold,forhismentalstatesbecameobscureassoonashehadpassedthroughthem.Hemislikedtheveryword“interesting,”connotingitwithwastedenergyandevenwithmorbidity.Hardfactswereenoughforhim. “Ididn’tthinkofit,”shepursued.“Nowhenyouspoketomeinthedrawing-room,thatwaspracticallythefirst.Itwasallsodifferentfromwhatit’ssupposedtobe.Onthestage,orinbooks,aproposalis—howshallIputit?—afull-blownaffair,akindofbouquetitlosesitsliteralmeaning.Butinlifeaproposalreallyisaproposal—” “Bytheway—” “—asuggestion,aseed,”sheconcludedandthethoughtflewawayintodarkness. “Iwasthinking,ifyoudidn’tmind,thatweoughttospendthiseveninginabusinesstalktherewillbesomuchtosettle.” “Ithinksotoo.Tellme,inthefirstplace,howdidyougetonwithTibby?” “Withyourbrother?” “Yes,duringcigarettes.” “Oh,verywell.” “Iamsoglad,”sheanswered,alittlesurprised.“Whatdidyoutalkabout?Me,presumably.” “AboutGreecetoo.” “Greecewasaverygoodcard,Henry.Tibby’sonlyaboystill,andonehastopickandchoosesubjectsalittle.Welldone.” “IwastellinghimIhavesharesinacurrant-farmnearCalamata.” “Whatadelightfulthingtohavesharesin!Can’twegothereforourhoneymoon?” “Whattodo?” “Toeatthecurrants.Andisn’ttheremarvellousscenery?” “Moderately,butit’snotthekindofplaceonecouldpossiblygotowithalady.” “Whynot?” “Nohotels.” “Someladiesdowithouthotels.AreyouawarethatHelenandIhavewalkedaloneovertheApennines,withourluggageonourbacks?” “Iwasn’taware,and,ifIcanmanageit,youwillneverdosuchathingagain.” Shesaidmoregravely:“Youhaven’tfoundtimeforatalkwithHelenyet,Isuppose?” “No.” “Do,beforeyougo.Iamsoanxiousyoutwoshouldbefriends.” “YoursisterandIhavealwayshititoff,”hesaidnegligently.“Butwe’redriftingawayfromourbusiness.Letmebeginatthebeginning.YouknowthatEvieisgoingtomarryPercyCahill.” “Dolly’suncle.” “Exactly.Thegirl’smadlyinlovewithhim.Averygoodsortoffellow,buthedemands—andrightly—asuitableprovisionwithher.Andinthesecondplaceyouwillnaturallyunderstand,thereisCharles.Beforeleavingtown,IwroteCharlesaverycarefulletter