CHAPTER XXXIV

andtheSchlegelsgenerally,anddeclaredthatitwas“justlikeHelen”toleadherrelativesadance. “Thatiswhatweallsay,”repliedMargaret.“ButwhyshoulditbejustlikeHelen?Whyshouldshebeallowedtobesoqueer,andtogrowqueerer?” “Don’taskme.I’maplainmanofbusiness.Iliveandletlive.Myadvicetoyoubothis,don’tworry.Margaret,you’vegotblackmarksagainunderyoureyes.Youknowthat’sstrictlyforbidden.Firstyouraunt—thenyoursister.No,wearen’tgoingtohaveit.Arewe,Theobald?”Herangthebell.“I’llgiveyousometea,andthenyougostraighttoDucieStreet.Ican’thavemygirllookingasoldasherhusband.” “Allthesame,youhavenotquiteseenourpoint,”saidTibby. Mr.Wilcox,whowasingoodspirits,retorted,“Idon’tsupposeIevershall.”Heleantback,laughingatthegiftedbutridiculousfamily,whilethefireflickeredoverthemapofAfrica.Margaretmotionedtoherbrothertogoon.Ratherdiffident,heobeyedher. “Margaret’spointisthis,”hesaid.“Oursistermaybemad.” Charles,whowasworkingintheinnerroom,lookedround. “Comein,Charles,”saidMargaretkindly.“Couldyouhelpusatall?Weareagainintrouble.” “I’mafraidIcannot.Whatarethefacts?Weareallmadmoreorless,youknow,inthesedays.” “Thefactsareasfollows,”repliedTibby,whohadattimesapedanticlucidity.“ThefactsarethatshehasbeeninEnglandforthreedaysandwillnotseeus.Shehasforbiddenthebankerstogiveusheraddress.Sherefusestoanswerquestions.Margaretfindsherletterscolourless.Thereareotherfacts,butthesearethemoststriking.” “Shehasneverbehavedlikethisbefore,then?”askedHenry. “Ofcoursenot!”saidhiswife,withafrown. “Well,mydear,howamItoknow?” Asenselessspasmofannoyancecameoverher.“YouknowquitewellthatHelenneversinsagainstaffection,”shesaid.“Youmusthavenoticedthatmuchinher,surely.” “OhyessheandIhavealwayshititofftogether.” “No,Henry—can’tyousee?—Idon’tmeanthat.” Sherecoveredherself,butnotbeforeCharleshadobservedher.Stupidandattentive,hewaswatchingthescene. “Iwasmeaningthatwhenshewaseccentricinthepast,onecouldtraceitbacktotheheartinthelong-run.Shebehavedoddlybecauseshecaredforsomeone,orwantedtohelpthem.There’snopossibleexcuseforhernow.Sheisgrievingusdeeply,andthatiswhyIamsurethatsheisnotwell.‘Mad’istooterribleaword,butsheisnotwell.Ishallneverbelieveit.Ishouldn’tdiscussmysisterwithyouifIthoughtshewaswell—troubleyouabouther,Imean.” Henrybegantogrowserious.Ill-healthwastohimsomethingperfectlydefinite.Generallywellhimself,hecouldnotrealisethatwesinktoitbyslowgradations.Thesickhadnorightstheywereoutsidethepaleonecouldlietothemremorselessly.Whenhisfirstwifewasseized,hehadpromisedtotakeherdownintoHertfordshire,butmeanwhilearrangedwithanursing-homeinstead.Helen,too,wasill.Andtheplanthathesketchedoutforhercapture,cleverandwell-meaningasitwas,drewitsethicsfromthewolf-pack. “Youwanttogetholdofher?”hesaid.“That’stheproblem,isn’tit?Shehasgottoseeadoctor.” “ForallIknowshehasseenonealready.” “Yes,yesdon’tinterrupt.”Herosetohisfeetandthoughtintently.Thegenial,tentativehostdisappeared,andtheysawinsteadthemanwhohadcarvedmoneyoutofGre