CHAPTER XXX

cernsMr.Wilcox,andyouaretouseyourdiscretion.Thesecondconcernsthemoney,andistobementionedtonoone,andcarriedoutliterally.Youwillsendahundredpoundsonaccountto-morrow.” Hewalkedwithhertothestation,passingthroughthosestreetswhoseserriedbeautyneverbewilderedhimandneverfatigued.Thelovelycreatureraiseddomesandspiresintothecloudlessblue,andonlytheganglionofvulgarityroundCarfaxshowedhowevanescentwasthephantom,howfaintitsclaimtorepresentEngland.Helen,rehearsinghercommission,noticednothingtheBastswereinherbrain,andsheretoldthecrisisinameditativeway,whichmighthavemadeothermencurious.Shewasseeingwhetheritwouldhold.HeaskedheroncewhyshehadtakentheBastsrightintotheheartofEvie’swedding.Shestoppedlikeafrightenedanimalandsaid,“Doesthatseemtoyousoodd?”Hereyes,thehandlaidonthemouth,quitehauntedhim,untiltheywereabsorbedintothefigureofSt.MarytheVirgin,beforewhomhepausedforamomentonthewalkhome. Itisconvenienttofollowhiminthedischargeofhisduties.Margaretsummonedhimthenextday.ShewasterrifiedatHelen’sflight,andhehadtosaythatshehadcalledinatOxford.Thenshesaid:“DidsheseemworriedatanyrumouraboutHenry?”Heanswered,“Yes.”“Iknewitwasthat!”sheexclaimed.“I’llwritetoher.”Tibbywasrelieved. HethensentthechequetotheaddressthatHelengavehim,andstatedthathewasinstructedtoforwardlateronfivethousandpounds.Ananswercamebackverycivilandquietintone—suchananswerasTibbyhimselfwouldhavegiven.Thechequewasreturned,thelegacyrefused,thewriterbeinginnoneedofmoney.TibbyforwardedthistoHelen,addinginthefulnessofhisheartthatLeonardBastseemedsomewhatamonumentalpersonafterall.Helen’sreplywasfrantic.Hewastotakenonotice.Hewastogodownatonceandsaythatshecommandedacceptance.Hewent.Ascurfofbooksandchinaornamentsawaitedhim.TheBastshadjustbeenevictedfornotpayingtheirrent,andhadwanderednooneknewwhither.Helenhadbegunbunglingwithhermoneybythistime,andhadevensoldouthersharesintheNottinghamandDerbyRailway.Forsomeweeksshedidnothing.Thenshereinvested,and,owingtothegoodadviceofherstockbrokers,becameratherricherthanshehadbeenbefore.