CHAPTER XXV

,inspiteofallthattheycouldsay.Afterwalkingalittleontheroad,shehadcalmeddownandhadsaidthatshewassorry.Hisfatheracceptedthisexplanation,andneitherknewthatMargarethadartfullypreparedthewayforit.Itfittedintoowellwiththeirviewoffemininenature.Inthesmoking-room,afterdinner,theColonelputforwardtheviewthatMissSchlegelhadjumpeditoutofdevilry.Wellherememberedasayoungman,intheharbourofGibraltaronce,howagirl—ahandsomegirl,too—hadjumpedoverboardforabet.Hecouldseehernow,andalltheladsoverboardafterher.ButCharlesandMr.WilcoxagreeditwasmuchmoreprobablynervesinMissSchlegel’scase.Charleswasdepressed.Thatwomanhadatongue.Shewouldbringworsedisgraceonhisfatherbeforeshehaddonewiththem.Hestrolledoutontothecastlemoundtothinkthematterover.Theeveningwasexquisite.Onthreesidesofhimalittleriverwhispered,fullofmessagesfromtheWestabovehisheadtheruinsmadepatternsagainstthesky.Hecarefullyreviewedtheirdealingswiththisfamily,untilhefittedHelen,andMargaret,andAuntJuleyintoanorderlyconspiracy.Paternityhadmadehimsuspicious.Hehadtwochildrentolookafter,andmorecoming,anddaybydaytheyseemedlesslikelytogrowuprichmen.“Itisallverywell,”hereflected,“thepater’ssayingthathewillbejusttoall,butonecan’tbejustindefinitely.Moneyisn’telastic.What’stohappenifEviehasafamily?And,cometothat,somaythepater.There’llnotbeenoughtogoround,forthere’snonecomingin,eitherthroughDollyorPercy.It’sdamnable!”HelookedenviouslyattheGrange,whosewindowspouredlightandlaughter.Firstandlast,thisweddingwouldcostaprettypenny.Twoladieswerestrollingupanddownthegardenterrace,andasthesyllables“Imperialism”werewaftedtohisears,heguessedthatoneofthemwashisaunt.Shemighthavehelpedhim,ifshetoohadnothadafamilytoprovidefor.“Everyoneforhimself,”herepeated—amaximwhichhadcheeredhiminthepast,butwhichranggrimlyenoughamongtheruinsofOniton.Helackedhisfather’sabilityinbusiness,andsohadaneverhigherregardformoneyunlesshecouldinheritplenty,hefearedtoleavehischildrenpoor. Ashesatthinking,oneoftheladieslefttheterraceandwalkedintothemeadowherecognisedherasMargaretbythewhitebandagethatgleamedonherarm,andputouthiscigar,lestthegleamshouldbetrayhim.Sheclimbedupthemoundinzigzags,andattimesstoopeddown,asifshewasstrokingtheturf.Itsoundsabsolutelyincredible,butforamomentCharlesthoughtthatshewasinlovewithhim,andhadcomeouttotempthim.Charlesbelievedintemptresses,whoareindeedthestrongman’snecessarycomplement,andhavingnosenseofhumour,hecouldnotpurgehimselfofthethoughtbyasmile.Margaret,whowasengagedtohisfather,andhissister’swedding-guest,keptonherwaywithoutnoticinghim,andheadmittedthathehadwrongedheronthispoint.Butwhatwasshedoing?Whywasshestumblingaboutamongsttherubbleandcatchingherdressinbramblesandburrs?Assheedgedroundthekeep,shemusthavegottowindwardandsmelthiscigar-smoke,forsheexclaimed,“Hullo!Who’sthat?” Charlesmadenoanswer. “SaxonorCelt?”shecontinued,laughinginthedarkness.“Butitdoesn’tmatter.Whicheveryouare,youwillhavetolistentome.Ilovethisplace.IloveShropshire.IhateLondon.Iamgladthatthiswillbemyhome.Ah,dear”—shewasnowmovingbacktowardsthehouse—“whatacomforttohavearrived!” “Thatwomanmeansmischief,”thoughtCharles,andcompressedhislips.Inafewminuteshefollowedherindoors,asthegroundwasgettingdamp.Mistswererisingfromtheriver,andpresentlyitbecameinvisible,thoughitwhisperedmoreloudly.TherehadbeenaheavydownpourintheWelshhills.