CHAPTER XXXI
關燈
小
中
大
mpinsuchasituation?Inthefirstplace,theGrangeisonclay,andbuiltwherethecastlemoatmusthavebeenthenthere’sthatdetestablelittleriver,steamingallnightlikeakettle.Feelthecellarwallslookupundertheeaves.AskSirJamesoranyone.ThoseShropshirevalleysarenotorious.TheonlypossibleplaceforahouseinShropshireisonahillbut,formypart,IthinkthecountryistoofarfromLondon,andthescenerynothingspecial.”
Margaretcouldnotresistsaying,“Whydidyougothere,then?”
“I—because—”Hedrewhisheadbackandgrewratherangry.“WhyhavewecometotheTyrol,ifitcomestothat?Onemightgoonaskingsuchquestionsindefinitely.”
Onemightbuthewasonlygainingtimeforaplausibleanswer.Outitcame,andhebelieveditassoonasitwasspoken.
“Thetruthis,ItookOnitononaccountofEvie.Don’tletthisgoanyfurther.”
“Certainlynot.”
“Ishouldn’tlikehertoknowthatshenearlyletmeinforaverybadbargain.NosoonerdidIsigntheagreementthanshegotengaged.Poorlittlegirl!Shewassokeenonitall,andwouldn’tevenwaittomakeproperinquiriesabouttheshooting.Afraiditwouldgetsnappedup—justlikeallofyoursex.Well,noharm’sdone.Shehashadhercountrywedding,andI’vegotridofmygoosetosomefellowswhoarestartingapreparatoryschool.”
“Whereshallwelive,then,Henry?Ishouldenjoylivingsomewhere.”
“Ihavenotyetdecided.WhataboutNorfolk?”
Margaretwassilent.Marriagehadnotsavedherfromthesenseofflux.Londonwasbutaforetasteofthisnomadiccivilisationwhichisalteringhumannaturesoprofoundly,andthrowsuponpersonalrelationsastressgreaterthantheyhaveeverbornebefore.Undercosmopolitanism,ifitcomes,weshallreceivenohelpfromtheearth.Treesandmeadowsandmountainswillonlybeaspectacle,andthebindingforcethattheyonceexercisedoncharactermustbeentrustedtoLovealone.MayLovebeequaltothetask!
“Itisnowwhat?”continuedHenry.“NearlyOctober.LetuscampforthewinteratDucieStreet,andlookoutfor
