CHAPTER XX
關燈
小
中
大
whyIdreaditso.Imistrustrivers,eveninscenery.Now,thesea—”
“Hightide,yes.”
“Hoytoid”—fromthepromenadingyouths.
“Andthesearethementowhomwegivethevote,”observedMr.Wilcox,omittingtoaddthattheywerealsothementowhomhegaveworkasclerks—workthatscarcelyencouragedthemtogrowintoothermen.“However,theyhavetheirownlivesandinterests.Let’sgeton.”
Heturnedashespoke,andpreparedtoseeherbacktoTheBays.Thebusinesswasover.Hishotelwasintheoppositedirection,andifheaccompaniedherhisletterswouldbelateforthepost.Sheimploredhimnottocome,buthewasobdurate.
“Anicebeginning,ifyourauntsawyouslipinalone!”
“ButIalwaysdogoaboutalone.ConsideringI’vewalkedovertheApennines,it’scommonsense.Youwillmakemesoangry.Idon’ttheleasttakeitasacompliment.”
Helaughed,andlitacigar.“Itisn’tmeantasacompliment,mydear.Ijustwon’thaveyougoingaboutinthedark.Suchpeopleabouttoo!It’sdangerous.”
“Can’tIlookaftermyself?Idowish—”
“Comealong,Margaretnowheedling.”
Ayoungerwomanmighthaveresentedhismasterlyways,butMargarethadtoofirmagripoflifetomakeafuss.Shewas,inherownway,asmasterly.Ifhewasafortressshewasamountainpeak,whomallmighttread,butwhomthesnowsmadenightlyvirginal.Disdainingtheheroicoutfit,excitableinhermethods,garrulous,episodical,shrill,shemisledherlovermuchasshehadmisledheraunt.HemistookherfertilityforWeakness.Hesupposedher“ascleverastheymakethem,”butnomore,notrealisingthatshewaspenetratingtothedepthsofhissoul,andapprovingofwhatshefoundthere.
Andifinsightweresufficient,iftheinnerlifewerethewholeoflife,theirhappinesshadbeenassured.
Theywalkedaheadbriskly.Theparadeandtheroadafteritwerewelllighted,butitwasdarkerinAuntJuley’sgarden.Astheyweregoingupbytheside-paths,throughsomerhododendrons,Mr.Wilcox,whowasinfront,said“Margaret”ratherhuskily,turned,droppedhiscigar,andtookherinhisarms.
Shewasstartled,andnearlyscreamed,butrecoveredherselfatonce,andkissedwithgenuinelovethelipsthatwerepressedagainstherown.Itwastheirfirstkiss,andwhenitwasoverhesawhersafelytothedoorandrangthebellforherbutdisappearedintothenightbeforethemaidansweredit.Onlookingback,theincidentdispleasedher.Itwassoisolated.Nothingintheirpreviousconversationhadheraldedit,and,worsestill,notendernesshadensued.Ifamancannotleaduptopassionhecanatalleventsleaddownfromit,andshehadhoped,afterhercomplaisance,forsomeinterchangeofgentlewords.Buthehadhurriedawayasifashamed,andforaninstantshewasremindedofHelenandPaul.
