CHAPTER XXII
關燈
小
中
大
rengthonthatsortofthing.”“Itisn’tfritteringawaythestrength,”sheprotested.“It’senlargingthespaceinwhichyoumaybestrong.”Heanswered:“You’reacleverlittlewoman,butmymotto’sConcentrate.”Andthismorningheconcentratedwithavengeance.
Theymetintherhododendronsofyesterday.Inthedaylightthebusheswereinconsiderableandthepathwasbrightinthemorningsun.ShewaswithHelen,whohadbeenominouslyquietsincetheaffairwassettled.“Hereweallare!”shecried,andtookhimbyonehand,retaininghersister’sintheother.
“Hereweare.Good-morning,Helen.”
Helenreplied,“Good-morning,Mr.Wilcox.”
“Henry,shehashadsuchaniceletterfromthequeer,crossboy.Doyourememberhim?Hehadasadmoustache,butthebackofhisheadwasyoung.”
“Ihavehadalettertoo.Notaniceone—Iwanttotalkitoverwithyou”forLeonardBastwasnothingtohimnowthatshehadgivenhimherwordthetriangleofsexwasbrokenforever.
“Thankstoyourhint,he’sclearingoutofthePorphyrion.”
“NotabadbusinessthatPorphyrion,”hesaidabsently,ashetookhisownletteroutofhispocket.
“NotaBAD—”sheexclaimed,droppinghishand.“Surely,onChelseaEmbankment—”
“Here’sourhostess.Good-morning,Mrs.Munt.Finerhododendrons.Good-morning,FrauLieseckewemanagetogrowflowersinEngland,don’twe?”
“NotaBADbusiness?”
“No.Myletter’saboutHowardsEnd.Brycehasbeenorderedabroad,andwantstosubletit—IamfarfromsurethatIshallgivehimpermission.Therewasnoclauseintheagreement.Inmyopinion,sublettingisamistake.Ifhecanfindmeanothertenant,whomIconsidersuitable,Imaycanceltheagreement.Morning,Schlegel.Don’tyouthinkthat’sbetterthansubletting?”
Helenhaddroppedherhandnow,andhehadsteeredherpastthewholepartytotheseawardsideofthehouse.Beneaththemwasthebourgeoislittlebay,whichmusthaveyearnedallthroughthecenturiesforjustsuchawatering-placeasSwanagetobebuiltonitsmargin.
Thewaveswerecolourless,andtheBournemouthsteamergaveafurthertouchofinsipidity,drawnupagainstthepierandhootingwildlyforexcursionists.
“WhenthereisasubletIfindthatdamage—”
“Doexcuseme,butaboutthePorphyrion.Idon’tfeeleasy—mightIjustbotheryou,Henry?”
Hermannerwassoseriousthathestopped,andaskedheralittlesharplywhatshewanted.
“YousaidonChelseaEmbankment,surely,thatitwasabadconcern,soweadvisedthisclerktoclearout.Hewritesthismorningthathe’stakenouradvice,andnowyousayit’snotabadconcern.”
“Aclerkwhoclearso
