CHAPTER XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
ddoesthesinnercomeforthpenitent,butterrible,toconquerpurewomanbyhisresistlesspower.Henrywasanxioustobeterrible,buthadnotgotitinhim.HewasagoodaverageEnglishman,whohadslipped.Thereallyculpablepoint—hisfaithlessnesstoMrs.Wilcox—neverseemedtostrikehim.ShelongedtomentionMrs.Wilcox.
Andbitbybitthestorywastoldher.Itwasaverysimplestory.Tenyearsagowasthetime,agarrisontowninCyprustheplace.Nowandthenheaskedherwhethershecouldpossiblyforgivehim,andsheanswered,“Ihavealreadyforgivenyou,Henry.”Shechoseherwordscarefully,andsosavedhimfrompanic.Sheplayedthegirl,untilhecouldrebuildhisfortressandhidehissoulfromtheworld.Whenthebutlercametoclearaway,Henrywasinaverydifferentmood—askedthefellowwhathewasinsuchahurryfor,complainedofthenoiselastnightintheservants’hall.Margaretlookedintentlyatthebutler.He,asahandsomeyoungman,wasfaintlyattractivetoherasawoman—anattractionsofaintasscarcelytobeperceptible,yettheskieswouldhavefallenifshehadmentionedittoHenry.
OnherreturnfromtheGeorgethebuildingoperationswerecomplete,andtheoldHenryfrontedher,competent,cynical,andkind.Hehadmadeacleanbreast,hadbeenforgiven,andthegreatthingnowwastoforgethisfailure,andtosenditthewayofotherunsuccessfulinvestments.JackyrejoinedHowardsEndandDudeStreet,andthevermilionmotor-car,andtheArgentineHardDollars,andallthethingsandpeopleforwhomhehadneverhadmuchuseandhadlessnow.Theirmemoryhamperedhim.HecouldscarcelyattendtoMargaret,whobroughtbackdisquietingnewsfromtheGeorge.Helenandherclientshadgone.
“Well,letthemgo—themanandhiswife,Imean,forthemoreweseeofyoursisterthebetter.”
“Buttheyhavegoneseparately—Helenveryearly,theBastsjustbeforeIarrived.Theyhaveleftnomessage.Theyhaveansweredneitherofmynotes.Idon’tliketothinkwhatitallmeans.”
“Whatdidyousayinthenotes?”
“Itoldyoulastnight.”
“Oh—ah—yes!Dear,wouldyoulikeoneturninthegarden?”
Margarettookhisarm.Thebeautifulweathe
