CHAPTER XXXIII

,withotherthings.There’snotoneWilcoxthatcanstandupagainstafieldinJune—IlaughedfittoburstwhilehewascourtingRuth.” “Mybrothergetshayfevertoo,”saidMargaret. “Thishouseliestoomuchonthelandforthem.Naturally,theyweregladenoughtoslipinatfirst.ButWilcoxesarebetterthannothing,asIseeyou’vefound.” Margaretlaughed. “Theykeepaplacegoing,don’tthey?Yes,itisjustthat.” “TheykeepEnglandgoing,itismyopinion.” ButMissAveryupsetherbyreplying:“Ay,theybreedlikerabbits.Well,well,it’safunnyworld.ButHewhomadeitknowswhatHewantsinit,Isuppose.IfMrs.Charlieisexpectingherfourth,itisn’tforustorepine.” “Theybreedandtheyalsowork,”saidMargaret,consciousofsomeinvitationtodisloyalty,whichwasechoedbytheverybreezeandbythesongsofthebirds.“Itcertainlyisafunnyworld,butsolongasmenlikemyhusbandandhissonsgovernit,Ithinkit’llneverbeabadone—neverreallybad.” “No,better’nnothing,”saidMissAvery,andturnedtothewych-elm. Ontheirwaybacktothefarmshespokeofheroldfriendmuchmoreclearlythanbefore.InthehouseMargarethadwonderedwhethershequitedistinguishedthefirstwifefromthesecond.Nowshesaid:“IneversawmuchofRuthafterhergrandmotherdied,butwestayedcivil.Itwasaverycivilfamily.OldMrs.Howardneverspokeagainstanybody,norletanyonebeturnedawaywithoutfood.Thenitwasnever‘Trespasserswillbeprosecuted’intheirland,butwouldpeoplepleasenotcomein?Mrs.Howardwasnevercreatedtorunafarm.” “Hadtheynomentohelpthem?”Margaretasked. MissAveryreplied:“Thingswentonuntiltherewerenomen.” “UntilMr.Wilcoxcamealong,”correctedMargaret,anxiousthatherhusbandshouldreceivehisdues. “IsupposesobutRuthshouldhavemarrieda—nodisrespecttoyoutosaythis,forItakeityouwereintendedtogetWilcoxanyway,whethershegothimfirstorno.” “Whomshouldshehavemarried?” “Asoldier!”exclaimedtheoldwoman.“Somerealsoldier.” Margaretwassilent.ItwasacriticismofHenry’scharacterfarmoretrenchantthananyofherown.Shefeltdissatisfied. “Butthat’sallover,”shewenton.“Abettertimeiscomingnow,thoughyou’vekeptmelongenoughwaiting.InacoupleofweeksI’llseeyourlightshiningthroughthehedgeofanevening.Haveyouorderedincoals?” “Wearenotcoming,”saidMargaretfirmly.SherespectedMissAverytoomuchtohumourher.“No.Notcoming.Nevercoming.Ithasallbeenamistake.Thefurnituremustberepackedatonce,andIamverysorry,butIammakingotherarrangements,andmustaskyoutogivemethekeys.” “Certainly,Mrs.Wilcox,”saidMissAvery,andresignedherdutieswithasmile. Relievedatthisconclusion,andhavingsenthercomplimentstoMadge,Margaretwalkedbacktothestation.Shehadintendedtogotothefurniturewarehouseandgivedirectionsforremoval,butthemuddlehadturnedoutmoreextensivethansheexpected,soshedecidedtoconsultHenry.Itwasaswellthatshedidthis.Hewasstronglyagainstemployingthelocalmanwhomhehadpreviouslyrecommended,andadvisedhertostoreinLondonafterall. Butbeforethiscouldbedoneanunexpectedtroublefelluponher.