CHAPTER XXIII
關燈
小
中
大
oom,satdowntotherough-and-readylunch,everydishofwhichconcealedorexudedcream.Mr.Brycewasthechieftopicofconversation.Dollydescribedhisvisitwiththekey,whileherfather-in-lawgavesatisfactionbychaffingherandcontradictingallshesaid.ItwasevidentlythecustomtolaughatDolly.HechaffedMargarettoo,andMargaretrousedfromagravemeditationwaspleasedandchaffedhimback.Dollyseemedsurprisedandeyedhercuriously.Afterlunchthetwochildrencamedown.Margaretdislikedbabies,buthititoffbetterwiththetwo-year-old,andsentDollyintofitsoflaughterbytalkingsensetohim.“Kissthemnow,andcomeaway,”saidMr.Wilcox.Shecame,butrefusedtokissthemitwassuchhardluckonthelittlethings,shesaid,andthoughDollyprofferedChorly-worlyandPorgly-wogglesinturn,shewasobdurate.
Bythistimeitwasrainingsteadily.Thecarcameroundwiththehoodup,andagainshelostallsenseofspace.Inafewminutestheystopped,andCraneopenedthedoorofthecar.
“What’shappened?”askedMargaret.
“Whatdoyousuppose?”saidHenry.
Alittleporchwascloseupagainstherface.
“Arewetherealready?”
“Weare.”
“Well,Inever!Inyearsagoitseemedsofaraway.”
Smiling,butsomehowdisillusioned,shejumpedout,andherimpetuscarriedhertothefront-door.Shewasabouttoopenit,whenHenrysaid:“That’snogoodit’slocked.Who’sgotthekey?”
Ashehadhimselfforgottentocallforthekeyatthefarm,noonereplied.Healsowantedtoknowwhohadleftthefrontgateopen,sinceacowhadstrayedinfromtheroad,andwasspoilingthecroquetlawn.Thenhesaidrathercrossly:“Margaret,youwaitinthedry.I’llgodownforthekey.Itisn’tahundredyards.”
“Mayn’tIcometoo?”
“NoIshallbebackbeforeI’mgone.”
Thenthecarturnedaway,anditwasasifacurtainhadrisen.Forthesecondtimethatdayshesawtheappearanceoftheearth.
Therewerethegreengage-treesthatHelenhadoncedescribed,therethetennislawn,therethehedgethatwouldbegloriouswithdog-rosesinJune,butthevisionnowwasofblackandpalestgreen.Downbythedell-holemorevividcolourswereawakening,andLentliliesstoodsentinelonitsmargin,oradvancedinbattalionsoverthegrass.Tulipswereatrayofjewels.Shecouldnotseethewych-elmtree,butabranchofthecelebratedvine,studdedwithvelvetknobshadcoveredtheperch.Shewasstruckbythefertilityofthesoilshehadseldombeeninagardenwheretheflowerslookedsowell,andeventheweedsshewasidlypluckingoutoftheporchwereintenselygreen.WhyhadpoorMr.Brycefledfromallthisbeauty?Forshehadalreadydecidedthattheplacewasbeautiful.
“Naughtycow!Goaway!”criedMargarettothecow,butwithoutindignation.
Hardercametherain,pouringoutofawindlesssky,andspatteringupfromthenotice-boardsofthehouse-agents,whichlayinarowonthelawnwhereCharleshadhurledthem.ShemusthaveinterviewedCharlesinanotherworld—whereonedidhaveinterviews.HowHelenwouldrevelinsuchanotion!Charlesdead,allpeopledead,nothingalivebuthousesandgardens.Theobviousdead,theintangiblealive,andnoconnectionatallbetweenth
