CHAPTER XXX
關燈
小
中
大
TibbywasnowapproachinghislastyearatOxford.Hehadmovedoutofcollege,andwascontemplatingtheUniverse,orsuchportionsofitasconcernedhim,fromhiscomfortablelodgingsinLongWall.Hewasnotconcernedwithmuch.Whenayoungmanisuntroubledbypassionsandsincerelyindifferenttopublicopinionhisoutlookisnecessarilylimited.Tibbywishedneithertostrengthenthepositionoftherichnortoimprovethatofthepoor,andsowaswellcontenttowatchtheelmsnoddingbehindthemildlyembattledparapetsofMagdalen.Thereareworselives.Thoughselfish,hewasnevercruelthoughaffectedinmanner,heneverposed.LikeMargaret,hedisdainedtheheroicequipment,anditwasonlyaftermanyvisitsthatmendiscoveredSchlegeltopossessacharacterandabrain.HehaddonewellinMods,muchtothesurpriseofthosewhoattendedlecturesandtookproperexercise,andwasnowglancingdisdainfullyatChineseincaseheshouldsomedayconsenttoqualifyasaStudentInterpreter.TohimthusemployedHelenentered.Atelegramhadprecededher.
Henoticed,inadistantway,thathissisterhadaltered.
Asarulehefoundhertoopronounced,andhadnevercomeacrossthislookofappeal,patheticyetdignified—thelookofasailorwhohaslosteverythingatsea.
“IhavecomefromOniton,”shebegan.“Therehasbeenagreatdealoftroublethere.”
“Who’sforlunch?”saidTibby,pickinguptheclaret,whichwaswarminginthehearth.Helensatdownsubmissivelyatthetable.“Whysuchanearlystart?”heasked.
“Sunriseorsomething—whenIcouldgetaway.”
“SoIsurmise.Why?”
“Idon’tknowwhat’stobedone,Tibby.IamverymuchupsetatapieceofnewsthatconcernsMeg,anddonotwanttofaceher,andIamnotgoingbacktoWickhamPlace.Istoppedheretotellyouthis.”
Thelandladycameinwiththecutlets.TibbyputamarkerintheleavesofhisChineseGrammarandhelpedthem.Oxford—theOxfordofthevacation—dreamedandrustledoutside,andindoorsthelittlefirewascoatedwithgreywherethesunshinetouchedit.Helencontinuedheroddstory.
“GiveMegmyloveandsaythatIwanttobealone.ImeantogotoMunichorelseBonn.”
“Suchamessageiseasilygiven,”saidherbrother.
“AsregardsWickhamPlaceandmyshareofthefurniture,youandshearetodoexactlyasyoulike.Myownfeelingisthateverything
