CHAPTER XXX

ing.Itrustyourjudgment.Whatwouldyoudo?” “Igatherhehashadamistress,”saidTibby. Helenflushedwithshameandanger.“Andruinedtwopeople’slives.Andgoesaboutsayingthatpersonalactionscountfornothing,andtherealwayswillberichandpoor.HemetherwhenhewastryingtogetrichoutinCyprus—Idon’twishtomakehimworsethanheis,andnodoubtshewasreadyenoughtomeethim.Butthereitis.Theymet.Hegoeshiswayandshegoeshers.Whatdoyousupposeistheendofsuchwomen?” Heconcededthatitwasabadbusiness. “Theyendintwoways:Eithertheysinktillthelunaticasylumsandtheworkhousesarefullofthem,andcauseMr.Wilcoxtowriteletterstothepaperscomplainingofournationaldegeneracy,orelsetheyentrapaboyintomarriagebeforeitistoolate.She—Ican’tblameher.” “Butthisisn’tall,”shecontinuedafteralongpause,duringwhichthelandladyservedthemwithcoffee.“IcomenowtothebusinessthattookustoOniton.Wewentallthree.ActingonMr.Wilcox’sadvice,themanthrowsupasecuresituationandtakesaninsecureone,fromwhichheisdismissed.Therearecertainexcuses,butinthemainMr.Wilcoxistoblame,asMegherselfadmitted.Itisonlycommonjusticethatheshouldemploythemanhimself.Buthemeetsthewoman,and,likethecurthatheis,herefuses,andtriestogetridofthem.HemakesMegwrite.Twonotescamefromherlatethatevening—oneforme,oneforLeonard,dismissinghimwithbarelyareason.Icouldn’tunderstand.ThenitcomesoutthatMrs.BasthadspokentoMr.Wilcoxonthelawnwhilewelefthertogetrooms,andwasstillspeakingabouthimwhenLeonardcamebacktoher.ThisLeonardknewallalong.Hethoughtitnaturalheshouldberuinedtwice.Natural!Couldyouhavecontainedyourself?” “Itiscertainlyaverybadbusiness,”saidTibby. Hisreplyseemedtocalmhissister.“IwasafraidthatIsawitoutofproportion.Butyouarerightoutsideit,andyoumustknow.Inadayortwo—orperhapsaweek—takewhateverstepsyouthinkfit.Ileaveitinyourhands.” Sheconcludedhercharge. “ThefactsastheytouchMegareallbeforeyou,”sheaddedandTibbysighedandfeltitratherhardthat,becauseofhisopenmind,heshouldbeempanelledtoserveasajuror.Hehadneverbeeninterestedinhumanbeings,forwhichonemustblamehim,buthehadhadrathertoomuchoft