CHAPTER XXVI

Nextmorningafinemistcoveredthepeninsula.Theweatherpromisedwell,andtheoutlineofthecastlemoundgrewclearereachmomentthatMargaretwatchedit.Presentlyshesawthekeep,andthesunpaintedtherubblegold,andchargedthewhiteskywithblue.Theshadowofthehousegathereditselftogether,andfelloverthegarden.Acatlookedupatherwindowandmewed.Lastlytheriverappeared,stillholdingthemistsbetweenitsbanksanditsoverhangingalders,andonlyvisibleasfarasahill,whichcutoffitsupperreaches. MargaretwasfascinatedbyOniton.Shehadsaidthatshelovedit,butitwasratheritsromantictensionthatheldher.TheroundedDruidsofwhomshehadcaughtglimpsesinherdrive,therivershurryingdownfromthemtoEngland,thecarelesslymodelledmassesofthelowerhills,thrilledherwithpoetry.Thehousewasinsignificant,buttheprospectfromitwouldbeaneternaljoy,andshethoughtofallthefriendsshewouldhavetostopinit,andoftheconversionofHenryhimselftoarurallife.Society,too,promisedfavourably.Therectoroftheparishhaddinedwiththemlastnight,andshefoundthathewasafriendofherfather’s,andsoknewwhattofindinher.Shelikedhim.Hewouldintroducehertothetown.While,onherotherside,SirJamesBiddersat,repeatingthatsheonlyhadtogivetheword,andhewouldwhipupthecountyfamiliesfortwentymilesround.WhetherSirJames,whowasGardenSeeds,hadpromisedwhathecouldperform,shedoubted,butsolongasHenrymistookthemforthecountyfamilieswhentheydidcall,shewascontent. CharlesWilcoxandAlbertFussellnowcrossedthelawn.Theyweregoingforamorningdip,andaservantfollowedthemwiththeirbathing-suits.Shehadmeanttotakeastrollherselfbeforebreakfast,butsawthatthedaywasstillsacredtomen,andamusedherselfbywatchingtheircontretemps.Inthefirstplacethekeyofthebathing-shedcouldnotbefound.Charlesstoodbytheriversidewithfoldedhands,tragical,whiletheservantshouted,andwasmisunderstoodbyanotherservantinthegarden.Thencameadifficultyaboutaspringboard,andsoonthreepeoplewererunningbackwardsandforwardsoverthemeadow,withordersandcounterordersandrecriminationsandapologies.IfMargaretwantedtojumpfromamotor-car,shejumpedifTibbythoughtpaddlingwouldbenefithisankles,hepaddledifaclerkdesiredadventure,hetookawalkinthedark.Buttheseathletesseemedparalysed.Theycouldnotbathewithouttheirappliances,thoughthemorningsunwascallingandthelastmistswererisingfromthedimplingstream.Hadtheyfoundthelifeofthebodyafterall?Couldnotthemenwhomtheydespisedasmilksopsbeatthem,evenontheirownground? Shethoughtofthebathingarrangementsastheyshouldbeinherday—noworryingofservants,noappliances,beyondgoodsense.Herreflectionsweredisturbedbythequietchild,whohadcomeouttospeaktothecat,butwasnowwatchingherwatchthemen.Shecalled,“Good-morning,dear,”alittlesharply.Hervoicespreadconsternation.Charleslookedround,andthoughcompletelyattiredinindigoblue,vanishedintotheshed,andwasseennomore. “MissWilcoxisup—”thechildwhispered,andthenbecameunintelligible. “Whatisthat?”itsoundedlike,“—cut-yoke—sack-back—” “Ican’thear.” “—Onthebed—tissue-paper—” Gatheringthatthewedding-dresswasonview,andthatavisitwouldbeseemly,shewenttoEvie’sroom.Allwashilarityhere.Evie,inapetticoat,wasdancingwithoneoftheAnglo-Indianladies,whiletheotherwasadoringyardsofwhitesatin.Theyscreamed,theylaughed,theysang,andthedogbarked. Margaretscreamedalittletoo,butwithoutconviction.Shecouldnotfeelthataweddingwassofunny.Perhapssomethingwasmissinginherequipment. Eviegasped:“Dollyisarotternottobehere!Oh,wewouldragjustthen!”ThenMargaretwentdowntobreakfast. Henrywasalreadyinstalledheateslowlyandspokelittle,andwas,inMargaret’seyes,theonlymemberoftheirpartywhododgedemotionsuccessfully.Shecouldnotsupposehimindifferenteithertothelossofhisdaughterortothepresenceofhisfuturewife.Yethedweltintact,onlyissuingordersoccasionally—ordersthatpromotedthecomfortofhisguests.HeinquiredafterherhandhesethertopouroutthecoffeeandMrs.Warringtontopouroutthetea.WhenEviecamedowntherewasamoment’sawkwardness,andbothladiesrosetovacatetheirplaces.“Burton,”calledHenry,“serveteaandcoffeefromthesideboard!”Itwasn’tgenuinetact,butitwastact,ofasort—thesortthatisasusefulasthegenuine,andsavesevenmoresituationsatBoardmeetings.Henrytreatedamarriagelikeafuneral,itembyitem,neverraisinghiseyestothewhole,and“Death,whereisthysting?Love,whereisthyvictory?”onewouldexclaimattheclose. AfterbreakfastMargaretclaimedafewwordswithhim.Itwasalwaysbesttoapproachhimformally.Sheaskedfortheinterview,becausehewasgoingontoshootgrouseto-morrow,andshewasreturningtoHelenintown. “Certainly,dear,”saidhe.“Ofcourse,Ihavethetime.Whatdoyouwant?” “Nothing.” “Iwasafraidsomethinghadgonewrong.” “NoIhavenothingtosay,butyoumaytalk.” Glancingathiswatch,hetalkedofthenastycurveatthelych-gate.Sheheardhimwithinterest.Hersurfacecouldalwaysrespondtohiswithoutcontempt,thoughallherdeeperbeingmightbeyearningtohelphim.Shehadabandonedanyplanofaction.Loveisthebest,andthemoresheletherselflovehim,themorechancewastherethathewouldsethissoulinorder.Suchamomentasthis,whentheysatunderfairweatherbythewalksoftheirfuturehome,wassosweettoherthatitssweetnesswouldsurelypiercetohim