CHAPTER XXV

Evieheardofherfather’sengagementwhenshewasinforatennistournament,andherplaywentsimplytopot.Thatsheshouldmarryandleavehimhadseemednaturalenoughthathe,leftalone,shoulddothesamewasdeceitfulandnowCharlesandDollysaidthatitwasallherfault.“ButIneverdreamtofsuchathing,”shegrumbled.“Dadtookmetocallnowandthen,andmademeaskhertoSimpson’s.Well,I’maltogetheroffdad.”Itwasalsoaninsulttotheirmother’smemorytheretheywereagreed,andEviehadtheideaofreturningMrs.Wilcox’slaceandjewellery“asaprotest.”Againstwhatitwouldprotestshewasnotclearbutbeingonlyeighteen,theideaofrenunciationappealedtoher,themoreasshedidnotcareforjewelleryorlace.DollythensuggestedthatsheandUnclePercyshouldpretendtobreakofftheirengagement,andthenperhapsMr.WilcoxwouldquarrelwithMissSchlegel,andbreakoffhisorPaulmightbecabledfor.ButatthispointCharlestoldthemnottotalknonsense.SoEviesettledtomarryassoonaspossibleitwasnogoodhangingaboutwiththeseSchlegelseyeingher.ThedateofherweddingwasconsequentlyputforwardfromSeptembertoAugust,andintheintoxicationofpresentssherecoveredmuchofhergood-humour. Margaretfoundthatshewasexpectedtofigureatthisfunction,andtofigurelargelyitwouldbesuchanopportunity,saidHenry,forhertogettoknowhisset.SirJamesBidderwouldbethere,andalltheCahillsandtheFussells,andhissister-in-law,Mrs.WarringtonWilcox,hadfortunatelygotbackfromhertourroundtheworld.Henrysheloved,buthissetpromisedtobeanothermatter.Hehadnottheknackofsurroundinghimselfwithnicepeople—indeed,foramanofabilityandvirtuehischoicehadbeensingularlyunfortunatehehadnoguidingprinciplebeyondacertainpreferenceformediocrityhewascontenttosettleoneofthegreatestthingsinlifehaphazard,andso,whilehisinvestmentswentright,hisfriendsgenerallywentwrong.Shewouldbetold,“Oh,So-and-so’sagoodsort—athunderinggoodsort,”andfind,onmeetinghim,thathewasabruteorabore.IfHenryhadshownrealaffection,shewouldhaveunderstood,foraffectionexplainseverything.Butheseemedwithoutsentiment.The“thunderinggoodsort”mightatanymomentbecome“afellowforwhomIneverdidhavemuchuse,andhavelessnow,”andbeshakenoffcheerilyintooblivion.Margarethaddonethesameasaschoolgirl.Nowsheneverforgotanyoneforwhomshehadoncecaredsheconnected,thoughtheconnectionmightbebitter,andshehopedthatsomedayHenrywoulddothesame. EviewasnottobemarriedfromDucieStreet.Shehadafancyforsomethingrural,and,besides,noonewouldbeinLondonthen,sosheleftherboxesforafewweeksatOnitonGrange,andherbannsweredulypublishedintheparishchurch,andforacoupleofdaysthelittletown,dreamingbetweentheruddyhills,wasrousedbytheclangofourcivilisation,anddrewupbytheroadsidetoletthemotorspass.OnitonhadbeenadiscoveryofMr.Wilcox’s—adiscoveryofwhichhewasnotaltogetherproud.ItwasuptowardstheWelshborder,andsodifficultofaccessthathehadconcludeditmustbesomethingspecial.Aruinedcastlestoodinthegrounds.Buthavinggotthere,whatwasonetodo?Theshootingwasbad,thefishingindifferent,andwomenfolkreportedthesceneryasnothingmuch.TheplaceturnedouttobeinthewrongpartofShropshire,andthoughheneverrandownhisownpropertytoothers,hewasonlywaitingtogetitoffhishands,andthentoletfly.Evie’smarriagewasitslastappearanceinpublic.Assoonasatenantwasfound,itbecameahouseforwhichheneverhadhadmuchuse,andhadlessnow,and,likeHowardsEnd,fadedintoLimbo. ButonMargaretOnitonwasdestinedtomakealastingimpression.Sheregardeditasherfuturehome,andwasanxioustostartstraightwi