CHAPTER XXV
關燈
小
中
大
moretothepointthanoneofus!”
“Theinsurancecompanyseetothat,”remarkedCharles,“andAlbertwilldothetalking.”
“Iwanttogoback,though,Isay!”repeatedMargaret,gettingangry.
Charlestooknonotice.Themotor,loadedwithrefugees,continuedtotravelveryslowlydownthehill.“Themenarethere,”chorusedtheothers.“Theywillseetoit.”
“ThemenCAN’Tseetoit.Oh,thisisridiculous!Charles,Iaskyoutostop.”
“Stopping’snogood,”drawledCharles.
“Isn’tit?”saidMargaret,andjumpedstraightoutofthecar.Shefellonherknees,cuthergloves,shookherhatoverherear.Criesofalarmfollowedher.“You’vehurtyourself,”exclaimedCharles,jumpingafterher.
“OfcourseI’vehurtmyself!”sheretorted.
“MayIaskwhat—”
“There’snothingtoask,”saidMargaret.
“Yourhand’sbleeding.”
“Iknow.”
“I’minforafrightfulrowfromthepater.”
“Youshouldhavethoughtofthatsooner,Charles.”
Charleshadneverbeeninsuchapositionbefore.Itwasawomaninrevoltwhowashobblingawayfromhim—andthesightwastoostrangetoleaveanyroomforanger.Herecoveredhimselfwhentheotherscaughtthemup:theirsortheunderstood.Hecommandedthemtogoback.
AlbertFussellwasseenwalkingtowardsthem.
“It’sallright!”hecalled.“Itwasacat.”
“There!”exclaimedCharlestriumphantly.“It’sonlyarottencat.”
“Gotroominyourcarforalittleun?IcutassoonasIsawitwasn’tadogthechauffeursaretacklingthegirl.”ButMargaretwalkedforwardsteadily.Whyshouldthechauffeurstacklethegirl?Ladiesshelteringbehindmen,menshelteringbehindservants—thewholesystem’swrong,andshemustchallengeit.
“MissSchlegel!’Ponmyword,you’vehurtyourhand.”
“I’mjustgoingtosee,”saidMargaret.“Don’tyouwait,Mr.Fussell.”
Thesecondmotorcameroundthecorner.“Itisallright,madam,”saidCraneinhisturn.Hehadtakentocallinghermadam.
“What’sallright?Thecat?”
“Yes,madam.Thegirlwillreceivecompensationforit.”
“Shewasaveryrudagirla,”saidAngelofromthethirdmotorthoughtfully.
“Wouldn’tyouhavebeenrude?”
TheItalianspreadouthishands,implyingthathehadnotthoughtofrudeness,butwouldproduceitifitpleasedher.Thesituationbecameabsurd.ThegentlemenwereagainbuzzingroundMissSchlegelwithoffersofassistance,andLadyEdserbegantobindupherhand.Sheyielded,apologisingslightly,andwasledbacktothecar,andsoonthelandscaperesumeditsmotion,thelonelycottagedisappeared,thecastleswelledonitscushionofturf,andtheyhadarrived.Nodoubtshehaddisgracedherself.ButshefelttheirwholejourneyfromLondonhadbeenunreal.Theyhadnopartwiththeearthanditsemotions.Theyweredust,andastink,andcosmopolitanchatter,andthegirlwhosecathadbeenkilledhadlivedmoredeeplythanthey.
“Oh,Henry,”sheexclaimed,“Ihavebeensonaughty,”forshehaddecidedtotakeupthisline.“Weranoveracat.Charlestoldmenottojumpout,butIwould,andlook!”Sheheldoutherbandagedhand.“YourpoorMegwentsuchaflop.”
Mr.Wilcoxlookedbewildered.Ineveningdress,hewasstandingtowelcomehisguestsinthehall.
“Thinkingitwasadog,”addedMrs.Warrington.
“Ah,adog’sacompanion!”saidColonelFussell.“Adog’llrememberyou.”
“Haveyouhurtyourself,Margaret?”
“Nottospeakaboutandit’smylefthand.”
“Well,hurryupandchange.”
Sheobeyed,asdidtheothers.Mr.Wilcoxthenturnedtohisson.
“Now,Charles,what’shappened?”
Charleswasabsolutelyhonest.Hedescribedwhathebelievedtohavehappened.Alberthadflattenedoutacat,andMissSchlegelhadlosthernerve,asanywomanmight.Shehadbeengotsafelyintotheothercar,butwhenitwasinmotionhadleaptoutagain
