CHAPTER XXXI

Houseshavetheirownwaysofdying,fallingasvariouslyasthegenerationsofmen,somewithatragicroar,somequietly,buttoanafter-lifeinthecityofghosts,whilefromothers—andthuswasthedeathofWickhamPlace—thespiritslipsbeforethebodyperishes.Ithaddecayedinthespring,disintegratingthegirlsmorethantheyknew,andcausingeithertoaccostunfamiliarregions.BySeptemberitwasacorpse,voidofemotion,andscarcelyhallowedbythememoriesofthirtyyearsofhappiness.Throughitsround-toppeddoorwaypassedfurniture,andpictures,andbooks,untilthelastroomwasguttedandthelastvanhadrumbledaway.Itstoodforaweekortwolonger,open-eyed,asifastonishedatitsownemptiness.Thenitfell.Navviescame,andspiltitbackintothegrey.Withtheirmusclesandtheirbeerygoodtemper,theywerenottheworstofundertakersforahousewhichhadalwaysbeenhuman,andhadnotmistakencultureforanend. Thefurniture,withafewexceptions,wentdownintoHertfordshire,Mr.WilcoxhavingmostkindlyofferedHowardsEndasawarehouse.Mr.Brycehaddiedabroad—anunsatisfactoryaffair—andasthereseemedlittleguaranteethattherentwouldbepaidregularly,hecancelledtheagreement,andresumedpossessionhimself.Untilhereletthehouse,theSchlegelswerewelcometostacktheirfurnitureinthegarageandlowerrooms.Margaretdemurred,butTibbyacceptedtheoffergladlyitsavedhimfromcomingtoanydecisionaboutthefuture.TheplateandthemorevaluablepicturesfoundasaferhomeinLondon,butthebulkofthethingswentcountry-ways,andwereentrustedtotheguardianshipofMissAvery. Shortlybeforethemove,ourheroandheroineweremarried.Theyhaveweatheredthestorm,andmayreasonablyexpectpeace.Tohavenoillusionsandyettolove—whatstrongersuretycanawomanfind?Shehadseenherhusband’spastaswellashisheart.Sheknewherownheartwithathoroughnessthatcommonplacepeoplebelieveimpossible.TheheartofMrs.Wilcoxwasalonehidden,andperhapsitissuperstitioustospeculate