CHAPTER XXXIV
關燈
小
中
大
Itwasnotunexpectedentirely.AuntJuley’shealthhadbeenbadallwinter.Shehadhadalongseriesofcoldsandcoughs,andhadbeentoobusytogetridofthem.Shehadscarcelypromisedherniece“toreallytakemytiresomechestinhand,”whenshecaughtachillanddevelopedacutepneumonia.MargaretandTibbywentdowntoSwanage.Helenwastelegraphedfor,andthatspringpartythatafterallgatheredinthathospitablehousehadallthepathosoffairmemories.Onaperfectday,whentheskyseemedblueporcelain,andthewavesofthediscreetlittlebaybeatgentlestoftattoosuponthesand,Margarethurriedupthroughtherhododendrons,confrontedagainbythesenselessnessofDeath.Onedeathmayexplainitself,butitthrowsnolightuponanotherthegropinginquirymustbeginanew.Preachersorscientistsmaygeneralise,butweknowthatnogeneralityispossibleaboutthosewhomwelovenotoneheavenawaitsthem,notevenoneoblivion.AuntJuley,incapableoftragedy,slippedoutoflifewithoddlittlelaughsandapologiesforhavingstoppedinitsolong.Shewasveryweakshecouldnotrisetotheoccasion,orrealisethegreatmysterywhichallagreemustawaitheritonlyseemedtoherthatshewasquitedoneup—moredoneupthaneverbeforethatshesawandheardandfeltlesseverymomentandthat,unlesssomethingchanged,shewouldsoonfeelnothing.Hersparestrengthshedevotedtoplans:couldnotMargarettakesomesteamerexpeditions?weremackerelcookedasTibbylikedthem?SheworriedherselfaboutHelen’sabsence,andalsothatsheshouldbethecauseofHelen’sreturn.Thenursesseemedtothinksuchinterestsquitenatural,andperhapsherswasanaverageapproachtotheGreatGate.ButMargaretsawDeathstrippedofanyfalseromancewhatevertheideaofDeathmaycontain,theprocesscanbetrivialandhideous.
“Important—Margaretdear,taketheLulworthwhenHelencomes.”
“Helenwon’tbeabletostop,AuntJuley.Shehastelegraphedthatshecanonlygetawayjusttoseeyou.ShemustgobacktoGermanyassoonasyouarewell.”
“HowveryoddofHelen!Mr.Wilcox—”
“Yes,dear?”
“Canhespareyou?”
Henrywishedhertocome,andhadbeenverykind.YetagainMargaretsaidso.
Mrs.Muntdidnotdie.Quiteoutsideherwill,amoredignifiedpowertookholdofherandcheckedheronthedownwardslope.Shereturned,withoutemotion,asfidgetyasever.Onthefourthdayshewasoutofdanger.
“Margaret—important,”itwenton:“Ishouldlikeyoutohavesomecompaniontotakewalkswith.DotryMissConder.”
“IhavebeenforalittlewalkwithMissConder.”
“Butsheisnotreallyinteresting.IfonlyyouhadHelen.”
“IhaveTibby,AuntJuley.”
“No,buthehastodohisChinese.Somerealcompanioniswhatyouneed.Really,Helenisodd.”
“Helenisodd,very,”agreedMargaret.
“Notcontentwithgoingabroad,whydoesshewanttogobackthereatonce?”
“Nodoubtshewillchangehermindwhensheseesus.Shehasnottheleastbalance.”
ThatwasthestockcriticismaboutHelen,butMargaret’svoicetrembledasshemadeit.Bynowshewasdeeplypainedathersister’sbehaviour.ItmaybeunbalancedtoflyoutofEngland,buttostayawayeightmonthsarguesthattheheartisawryaswellasthehead.Asick-bedcouldrecallHelen,butshewasdeaftomorehumancallsafteraglimpseatheraunt,shewouldretireintohernebulouslifebehindsomeposterestante.Shescarcelyexistedherlettershadbecomedul
