CHAPTER XXVI

ewantsoughttobeashamedofherself.”Margarethadwinced,butshewasinfluencingHenrynow,andthoughpleasedatherlittlevictory,sheknewthatshehadwonitbythemethodsoftheharem. “Ishouldbegladifyoutookhim,”shesaid,“butIdon’tknowwhetherhe’squalified.” “I’lldowhatIcan.But,Margaret,thismustn’tbetakenasaprecedent.” “No,ofcourse—ofcourse—” “Ican’tfitinyourprotegeseveryday.Businesswouldsuffer.” “Icanpromiseyouhe’sthelast.He—he’sratheraspecialcase.” “Protegesalwaysare.” Sheletitstandatthat.Herosewithalittleextratouchofcomplacency,andheldouthishandtohelpherup.HowwidethegulfbetweenHenryashewasandHenryasHelenthoughtheoughttobe!Andsheherself—hoveringasusualbetweenthetwo,nowacceptingmenastheyare,nowyearningwithhersisterforTruth.LoveandTruth—theirwarfareseemseternal.Perhapsthewholevisibleworldrestsonit,andiftheywereone,lifeitself,likethespiritswhenProsperowasreconciledtohisbrother,mightvanishintoair,intothinair. “Yourprotegehasmadeuslate,”saidhe.“TheFussells—willjustbestarting.” Onthewholeshesidedwithmenastheyare.HenrywouldsavetheBastsashehadsavedHowardsEnd,whileHelenandherfriendswerediscussingtheethicsofsalvation.Hiswasaslap-dashmethod,buttheworldhasbeenbuiltslap-dash,andthebeautyofmountainandriverandsunsetmaybebutthevarnishwithwhichtheunskilledartificerhideshisjoins.Oniton,likeherself,wasimperfect.Itsapple-treeswerestunted,itscastleruinous.It,too,hadsufferedintheborderwarfarebetweentheAnglo-SaxonandtheCelt,betweenthingsastheyareandastheyoughttobe.Oncemorethewestwasretreating,onceagaintheorderlystarsweredottingtheeasternsky.Thereiscertainlynorestforusontheearth.Butthereishappiness,andasMargaretdescendedthemoundonherlover’sarm,shefeltthatshewashavinghershare. Toherannoyance,Mrs.BastwasstillinthegardenthehusbandandHelenhadlefthertheretofinishhermealwhiletheywenttoengagerooms.Margaretfoundthiswomanrepellent.Shehadfelt,whenshakingherhand,anoverpoweringshame.SherememberedthemotiveofhercallatWickhamPlace,andsmeltagainodoursfromtheabyss—odoursthemoredisturbingbecausetheywereinvoluntary.FortherewasnomaliceinJacky.Thereshesat,apieceofcakeinonehand,anemptychampagneglassintheother,doingnoharmtoanybody. “She’sovertired,”Margaretwhispered. “She’ssomethingelse,”saidHenry.“Thiswon’tdo.Ican’thaveherinmygardeninthisstate.” “Isshe—”Margarethesitatedtoadd“drunk.”Nowthatshewasgoingtomarryhim,hehadgrownparticular.Hediscountenancedrisqueconversationsnow. Henrywentuptothewoman.Sheraisedherface,whichgleamedinthetwilightlikeapuff-ball. “Madam,youwillbemorecomfortableatthehotel,”hesaidsharply. Jackyreplied:“Ifitisn’tHen!” “Necroispasquelemariluiressemble,”apologisedMargaret.“Ilesttoutàfaitdifférent.” “Henry!”sherepeated,quitedistinctly. Mr.Wilcoxwasmuchannoyed.“Icongratulateyouonyourproteges,”heremarked. “Hen,don’tgo.Youdoloveme,dear,don’tyou?” “Blessus,whataperson!”sighedMargaret,gatheringupherskirts. Jackypointedwithhercake.“You’reaniceboy,youare.”Sheyawned.“Therenow,Iloveyou.” “Henry,Iamawfullysorry.” “Andpraywhy?”heasked,andlookedathersosternlythatshefearedhewasill.Heseemedmorescandalisedthanthefactsdemanded. “Tohavebroughtthisdownonyou.” “Praydon’tapologise.” Thevoicecontinued. “Whydoesshecallyou‘Hen’?”saidMargaretinnocently.“Hassheeverseenyoubefore?” “SeenHenbefore!”saidJacky.“Whohasn’tseenHen?He’sservingyoulikeme,myboys!Youwait—Stillwelove’em.” “Areyounowsatisfied?”Henryasked. Margaretbegantogrowfrightened.“Idon’tknowwhatitisallabout,”shesaid.“Let’scomein.” Buthethoughtshewasacting.Hethoughthewastrapped.Hesawhiswholelifecrumbling.“Don’tyouindeed?”hesaidbitingly.“Ido.Allowmetocongratulateyouonthesuccessofyourplan.” “ThisisHelen’splan,notmine.” “InowunderstandyourinterestintheBasts.Verywellthoughtout.Iamamusedatyourcaution,Margaret.Youarequiteright—itwasnecessary.Iamaman,andhavelivedaman’spast.Ihavethehonourtoreleaseyoufromyourengagement.” Stillshecouldnotunderstand.Sheknewoflife’sseamysideasatheoryshecouldnotgraspitasafact.MorewordsfromJackywerenecessary—wordsunequivocal,undenied. “Sothat—”burstfromher,andshewentindoors.Shestoppedherselffromsayingmore. “Sowhat?”askedColonelFussell,whowasgettingreadytostartinthehall. “Weweresaying—HenryandIwerejusthavingthefiercestargument,mypointbeing—”Seizinghisfurcoatfromafootman,sheofferedtohelphimon.Heprotested,andtherewasaplayfullittlescene. “No,letmedothat,”saidHenry,following. “Thankssomuch!Yousee—hehasforgivenme!” TheColonelsaidgallantly:“Idon’texpectthere’smuchtoforgive.” Hegotintothecar.Theladiesfollowedhimafteraninterval.Maids,courier,andheavierluggagehadbeensentonearlierbythebranch-line.Stillchattering,stillthankingtheirhostandpatronisingtheirfuturehostess,theguestswereborneaway. ThenMargaretcontinued:“Sothatwomanhasbeenyourmistress?” “Youputitwithyourusualdelicacy,”hereplied. “When,please?” “Why?” “When,please?” “Tenyearsago.” Shelefthimwithoutaword.ForitwasnothertragedyitwasMrs.Wilcox’s.