CHAPTER XXIII

,butMargaret,withherpackingtodo,focussedtheconversationonHenry.ShemightabuseHenrybehindhisback,butpleasewouldshealwaysbeciviltohimincompany?“Idefinitelydislikehim,butI’lldowhatIcan,”promisedHelen.“Dowhatyoucanwithmyfriendsinreturn.” ThisconversationmadeMargareteasier.TheirinnerlifewassosafethattheycouldbargainoverexternalsinawaythatwouldhavebeenincredibletoAuntJuley,andimpossibleforTibbyorCharles.Therearemomentswhentheinnerlifeactually“pays,”whenyearsofself-scrutiny,conductedfornoulteriormotive,aresuddenlyofpracticaluse.SuchmomentsarestillrareintheWestthattheycomeatallpromisesafairerfuture.Margaret,thoughunabletounderstandhersister,wasassuredagainstestrangement,andreturnedtoLondonwithamorepeacefulmind. Thefollowingmorning,ateleveno’clock,shepresentedherselfattheofficesoftheImperialandWestAfricanRubberCompany.Shewasgladtogothere,forHenryhadimpliedhisbusinessratherthandescribedit,andtheformlessnessandvaguenessthatoneassociateswithAfricaitselfhadhithertobroodedoverthemainsourcesofhiswealth.Notthatavisittotheofficeclearedthingsup.Therewasjusttheordinarysurfacescumofledgersandpolishedcountersandbrassbarsthatbeganandstoppedfornopossiblereason,ofelectric-lightglobesblossomingintriplets,oflittlerabbit-hutchesfacedwithglassorwire,oflittlerabbits.Andevenwhenshepenetratedtotheinnerdepths,shefoundonlytheordinarytableandTurkeycarpet,andthoughthemapoverthefireplacediddepictahelpingofWestAfrica,itwasaveryordinarymap.Anothermaphungopposite,onwhichthewholecontinentappeared,lookinglikeawhalemarkedoutforablubber,andbyitssidewasadoor,shut,butHenry’svoicecamethroughit,dictatinga“strong”letter.ShemighthavebeenatthePorphyrion,orDempster’sBank,orherownwine-merchant’s.Everythingseemsjustalikeinthesedays.ButperhapsshewasseeingtheImperialsideofthecompanyratherthanitsWestAfrican,andImperialismalwayshadbeenoneofherdifficulties. “Oneminute!”calledMr.Wilcoxonreceivinghername.Hetouchedabell,theeffectofwhichwastoproduceCharles. Charleshadwrittenhisfatheranadequateletter—moreadequatethanEvie’s,throughwhichagirlishindignationthrobbed.Andhegreetedhisfuturestepmotherwithpropriety. “Ihopethatmywife—howdoyoudo?—willgiveyouadecentlunch,”washisopening.“Ileftinstructions,butweliveinarough-and-readyway.Sheexpectsyoubacktotea,too,afteryouhavehadalookatHowardsEnd.Iwonderwhatyou’llthinkoftheplace.Iwouldn’ttouchitwithtongsmyself.Dositdown!It’sameaslylittleplace.” “Ishallenjoyseeingit,”saidMargaret,feeling,forthefirsttime,shy. “You’llseeitatitsworst,forBrycedecampedabroadlastMondaywithoutevenarrangingforacharwomantoclearupafterhim.Ineversawsuchadisgracefulmess.It’sunbelievable.Hewasn’tinthehouseamonth.” “I’vemorethanalittlebonetopickwithBryce,”calledHenryfromtheinnerchamber. “Whydidhegososuddenly?” “Invalidtyp