CHAPTER XXVI

me.” “Myoldhome’sfallingintopieces,Henry.Ionlywantmynew.Isn’titaperfectevening—” “TheAlexandrinaisn’tbad—” “TheAlexandrina,”sheechoed,moreoccupiedwiththethreadsofsmokethatwereissuingfromtheirchimneys,andrulingthesunlitslopeswithparallelsofgrey. “It’soffCurzonStreet.” “Isit?Let’sbemarriedfromoffCurzonStreet.” Thensheturnedwestward,togazeattheswirlinggold.Justwheretheriverroundedthehillthesuncaughtit.Fairylandmustlieabovethebend,anditspreciousliquidwaspouringtowardsthempastCharles’sbathing-shed.Shegazedsolongthathereyesweredazzled,andwhentheymovedbacktothehouse,shecouldnotrecognisethefacesofpeoplewhowerecomingoutofit.Aparlour-maidwasprecedingthem. “Whoarethosepeople?”sheasked. “They’recallers!”exclaimedHenry.“It’stoolateforcallers.” “Perhapsthey’retownpeoplewhowanttoseetheweddingpresents.” “I’mnotathomeyettotownees.” “Well,hideamongtheruins,andifIcanstopthem,Iwill.” Hethankedher. Margaretwentforward,smilingsocially.Shesupposedthatthesewereunpunctualguests,whowouldhavetobecontentwithvicariouscivility,sinceEvieandCharlesweregone,Henrytired,andtheothersintheirrooms.Sheassumedtheairsofahostessnotforlong.ForoneofthegroupwasHelen—Heleninheroldestclothes,anddominatedbythattense,woundingexcitementthathadmadeheraterrorintheirnurserydays. “Whatisit?”shecalled.“Oh,what’swrong?IsTibbyill?” Helenspoketohertwocompanions,whofellback.Thensheboreforwardfuriously. “They’restarving!”sheshouted.“Ifoundthemstarving!” “Who?Whyhaveyoucome?” “TheBasts.” “Oh,Helen!”moanedMargaret.“Whateverhaveyoudonenow?” “Hehaslosthisplace.Hehasbeenturnedoutofhisbank.Yes,he’sdonefor.Weupperclasseshaveruinedhim,andIsupposeyou’lltellmeit’sthebattleoflife.Starving.Hiswifeisill.Starving.Shefaintedinthetrain.” “Helen,areyoumad?” “Perhaps.Yes.Ifyoulike,I’mmad.ButI’vebroughtthem.I’llstandinjusticenolonger.I’llshowupthewretchednessthatliesunderthisluxury,thistalkofimpersonalforces,thiscantaboutGoddoingwhatwe’retooslacktodoourselves.” “HaveyouactuallybroughttwostarvingpeoplefromLondontoShropshire,Helen?” Helenwaschecked.Shehadnotthoughtofthis,andherhysteriaabated.“Therewasarestaurantcaronthetrain,”shesaid. “Don’tbeabsurd.Theyaren’tstarving,andyouknowit.Now,beginfromthebeginning.Iwon’thavesuchtheatricalnonsense.Howdareyou!Yes,howdareyou!”sherepeated,asangerfilledher,“burstingintoEvie’sweddinginthisheartlessway.Mygoodness!butyou’veapervertednotionofphilanthropy.Look”—sheindicatedthehouse—“servants,peopleoutofthewindows.Theythinkit’ssomevulgarscandal,andImustexplain,‘Ohno,it’sonlymysisterscreaming,andonlytwohangers-onofours,whomshehasbroughtherefornoconceivablereason.’” “Kindlytakebackthatword‘hangers-on,’”saidHelen,ominouslycalm. “Verywell,”concededMargaret,whoforallherwrathwasdeterminedtoavoidarealquarrel.“I,too,amsorryaboutthem,butitbeatsmewhyyou’vebroughtthemhere,orwhyyou’rehereyourself.” “It’sourlastchanceofseeingMr.Wilcox.” Margaretmovedtowardsthehouseatthis.ShewasdeterminednottoworryHenry. “He’sgoingtoScotland.Iknowheis.Iinsistonseeinghim.” “Yes,to-morrow.” “Iknewitwasourlastchance.” “Howdoyoudo,Mr.Bast?”saidMargaret,tryingtocontrolhervoice.“Thisisanoddbusiness.Whatviewdoyoutakeofit?” “ThereisMrs.Bast,too,”promptedHelen. Jackyalsoshookhands.She,likeherhusband,wasshy,and,furthermore,ill,andfurthermore,sobestiallystupidthatshecouldnotgraspwhatwashappening.Sheonlyknewthattheladyhadsweptdownlikeawhirlwindlastnight,hadpaidtherent,redeemedthefurniture,providedthemwithadinnerandabreakfast,andorderedthemtomeetheratPaddingtonnextmorning.Leonardhadfeeblyprotested,andwhenthemorningcame,hadsuggestedthattheyshouldn’tgo.Butshe,halfmesmerised,hadobeyed.Theladyhadtoldthemto,andtheymust,andtheirbed-sitting-roomhadaccordinglychangedintoPaddington,andPaddingtonintoarailwaycarriage,thatshook,andgrewhot,andgrewcold,andvanishedentirely,andreappearedamidtorrentsofexpensivescent.“Youhavefainted,”saidtheladyinanawe-struckvoice.“Perhapstheairwilldoyougood.”Andperhapsithad,forhereshewas,feelingratherbetteramongalotofflowers. “I’msureIdon’twanttointrude,”beganLeonard,inanswertoMargaret’squestion.“ButyouhavebeensokindtomeinthepastinwarningmeaboutthePorphyrionthatIwondered—why,Iwonderedwhether—” “WhetherwecouldgethimbackintothePorphyrionagain,”suppliedHelen.“Meg,thishasbeenacheerfulbusiness.Abrightevening’sworkthatwasonChelseaEmbankment.” MargaretshookherheadandreturnedtoMr.Bast. “Idon’tunderstand.YouleftthePorphyrionbecausewesuggesteditwasabadconcern,didn’tyou?” “That’sright.” “Andwentintoabankinstead?” “Itoldyouallthat,”saidHelen“andtheyreducedtheirstaffafterhehadbeeninamonth,andnowhe’spenniless,andIconsiderthatweandourinformantaredirectlytoblame.” “Ihateallthis,”Leonardmuttered. “Ihopeyoudo,Mr.Bast.Butit’snogoodmincingmatters.Youhavedoneyourselfnogoodbycominghere.IfyouintendtoconfrontMr.Wilcox,andtocallhimtoaccountforachanceremark,youwillmakeaverygreatmistake.” “Ibroughtthem.Id