CHAPTER XXII
關燈
小
中
大
utofanyconcern,goodorbad,withoutsecuringaberthsomewhereelsefirst,isafool,andI’venopityforhim.”
“Hehasnotdonethat.He’sgoingintoabankinCamdenTown,hesays.Thesalary’smuchlower,buthehopestomanage—abranchofDempster’sBank.Isthatallright?”
“Dempster!Whygoodnessme,yes.”
“MorerightthanthePorphyrion?”
“Yes,yes,yessafeashouses—safer.”
“Verymanythanks.I’msorry—ifyousublet—?”
“Ifhesublets,Ishan’thavethesamecontrol.IntheorythereshouldbenomoredamagedoneatHowardsEndinpracticetherewillbe.Thingsmaybedoneforwhichnomoneycancompensate.Forinstance,Ishouldn’twantthatfinewych-elmspoilt.Ithangs—Margaret,wemustgoandseetheoldplacesometime.It’sprettyinitsway.We’llmotordownandhavelunchwithCharles.”
“Ishouldenjoythat,”saidMargaretbravely.
“WhataboutnextWednesday?”
“Wednesday?No,Icouldn’twelldothat.AuntJuleyexpectsustostophereanotherweekatleast.”
“Butyoucangivethatupnow.”
“Er—no,”saidMargaret,afteramoment’sthought.
“Oh,that’llbeallright.I’llspeaktoher.”
“Thisvisitisahighsolemnity.Myauntcountsonityearafteryear.Sheturnsthehouseupsidedownforussheinvitesourspecialfriends—shescarcelyknowsFrieda,andwecan’tleaveheronherhands.Imissedoneday,andshewouldbesohurtifIdidn’tstaythefullten.”
“ButI’llsayawordtoher.Don’tyoubother.”
“Henry,Iwon’tgo.Don’tbullyme.”
“Youwanttoseethehouse,though?”
“Verymuch—I’veheardsomuchaboutit,onewayortheother.Aren’ttherepigs’teethinthewych-elm?”
“PIGSTEETH?”
“Andyouchewthebarkfortoothache.”
“Whatarumnotion!Ofcoursenot!”
“PerhapsIhaveconfuseditwithsomeothertree.TherearestillagreatnumberofsacredtreesinEngland,itseems.”
ButhelefthertointerceptMrs.Munt,whosevoicecouldbeheardinthedistancetobeinterceptedhimselfbyHelen.
“Oh.Mr.Wilcox,aboutthePorphyrion—”shebeganandwentscarletalloverherface.
“It’sallright,”calledMargaret,catchingthemup.“Dempster’sBank’sbetter.”
“ButIthinkyoutoldusthePorphyrionwasbad,andwouldsmashbeforeChristmas.”
“DidI?ItwasstilloutsidetheTariffRing,andhadtotakerottenpolicies.Latelyitcamein—safeashousesnow.”
“Inotherwords,Mr.Bastneedneverhaveleftit.”
“No,thefellowneedn’t.”
“—andneedn’thavestartedlifeelsewhereatagreatlyreducedsalary.”
“Heonlysays‘reduced,’”correctedMargaret,seeingtroubleahead.
“Withamansopoor,everyreductionmustb
