CHAPTER XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
rsoothedher.ButthewheelsofEvie’sweddingwerestillatwork,tossingtheguestsoutwardsasdeftlyastheyhaddrawnthemin,andshecouldnotbewithhimlong.IthadbeenarrangedthattheyshouldmotortoShrewsbury,whencehewouldgonorth,andshebacktoLondonwiththeWarringtons.Forafractionoftimeshewashappy.Thenherbrainrecommenced.
“IamafraidtherehasbeengossipingofsomekindattheGeorge.Helenwouldnothaveleftunlessshehadheardsomething.Imismanagedthat.Itiswretched.Ioughttohavepartedherfromthatwomanatonce.”
“Margaret!”heexclaimed,loosingherarmimpressively.
“Yes—yes,Henry?”
“Iamfarfromasaint—infact,thereverse—butyouhavetakenme,forbetterorworse.Bygonesmustbebygones.Youhavepromisedtoforgiveme.Margaret,apromiseisapromise.Nevermentionthatwomanagain.”
“Exceptforsomepracticalreason—never.”
“Practical!Youpractical!”
“Yes,I’mpractical,”shemurmured,stoopingoverthemowing-machineandplayingwiththegrasswhichtrickledthroughherfingerslikesand.
Hehadsilencedher,butherfearsmadehimuneasy.Notforthefirsttime,hewasthreatenedwithblackmail.HewasrichandsupposedtobemoraltheBastsknewthathewasnot,andmightfinditprofitabletohintasmuch.
“Atallevents,youmustn’tworry,”hesaid.“Thisisaman’sbusiness.”Hethoughtintently.“Onnoaccountmentionittoanybody.”
Margaretflushedatadvicesoelementary,buthewasreallypavingthewayforalie.IfnecessaryhewoulddenythathehadeverknownMrs.Bast,andprosecuteherforlibel.Perhapsheneverhadknownher.HerewasMargaret,whobehavedasifhehadnot.Therethehouse.Roundthemwerehalfadozengardeners,clearingupafterhisdaughter’swedding.Allwassosolidandspruce,thatthepastflewupoutofsightlikeaspring-blind,leavingonlythelastfiveminutesunrolled.
Glancingatthese,hesawthatthecarwouldberoundduringthenextfive,andplungedintoaction.Gongsweretapped,ordersissued,Margaretwassenttodress,andthehousemaidtosweepupthelongtrickleofgrassthatshehadleftacrossthehall.AsisMantotheUnivers
