CHAPTER XXXVII

ward,shesaid:“Aboutmyidea.Couldn’tyouandIcampoutinthishouseforthenight?” “Idon’tthinkwecouldwelldothat,”saidMargaret. “Herearebeds,tables,towels—” “Iknowbutthehouseisn’tsupposedtobesleptin,andHenry’ssuggestionwas—” “Irequirenosuggestions.Ishallnotalteranythinginmyplans.Butitwouldgivemesomuchpleasuretohaveonenightherewithyou.Itwillbesomethingtolookbackon.Oh,Meglovey,dolet’s!” “But,Helen,mypet,”saidMargaret,“wecan’twithoutgettingHenry’sleave.Ofcourse,hewouldgiveit,butyousaidyourselfthatyoucouldn’tvisitatDucieStreetnow,andthisisequallyintimate.” “DucieStreetishishouse.Thisisours.Ourfurniture,oursortofpeoplecomingtothedoor.Doletuscampout,justonenight,andTomshallfeedusoneggsandmilk.Whynot?It’samoon.” Margarethesitated.“IfeelCharleswouldn’tlikeit,”shesaidatlast.“Evenourfurnitureannoyedhim,andIwasgoingtoclearitoutwhenAuntJuley’sillnesspreventedme.IsympathisewithCharles.Hefeelsit’shismother’shouse.Helovesitinratheranuntakingway.HenryIcouldanswerfor—notCharles.” “Iknowhewon’tlikeit,”saidHelen.“ButIamgoingtopassoutoftheirlives.Whatdifferencewillitmakeinthelongruniftheysay,‘AndsheevenspentthenightatHowardsEnd’?” “Howdoyouknowyou’llpassoutoftheirlives?Wehavethoughtthattwicebefore.” “Becausemyplans—” “—whichyouchangeinamoment.” “Thenbecausemylifeisgreatandtheirsarelittle,”saidHelen,takingfire.“Iknowofthingstheycan’tknowof,andsodoyou.Weknowthatthere’spoetry.Weknowthatthere’sdeath.Theycanonlytakethemonhearsay.Weknowthisisourhouse,becauseitfeelsours.Oh,theymaytakethetitle-deedsandthedoor-keys,butforthisonenightweareathome.” “Itwouldbelovelytohaveyouoncemorealone,”saidMargaret.“Itmaybeachanceinathousand.” “Yes,andwecouldtalk.”Shedroppedhervoice.“Itwon’tbeaverygloriousstory.Butunderthatwych-elm—honestly,Iseelittlehappinessahead.CannotIhavethisonenightwithyou?” “Ineedn’tsayhowmuchitwouldmeantome.” “Thenletus.” “Itisnogoodhesitating.ShallIdrivedowntoHiltonnowandgetleave?” “Oh,wedon’twantleave.” ButMargaretwasaloyalwife.Inspiteofimaginationandpoetry—perhapsonaccountofthem—shecouldsympathisewiththetechnicalattitudethatHenrywouldadopt.Ifpossible,shewouldbetechnical,too.Anight’slodging—andtheydemandednomore—neednotinvolvethediscussionofgeneralprinciples. “Charlesmaysayno,”grumbledHelen. “Weshan’tconsulthim.” “GoifyoulikeIshouldhavestoppedwithoutleave.” Itwasthetouchofselfishness,whichwasnotenoughtomarHelen’scharacter,andevenaddedtoitsbeauty.ShewouldhavestoppedwithoutleaveandescapedtoGermanythenextmorning.Margaretkissedher. “Expectmebackbeforedark.Iamlookingforwardtoitsomuch.Itislikeyoutohavethoughtofsuchabeautifulthing.” “Notathing,onlyanending,”saidHelenrathersadlyandthesenseoftragedyclosedinonMargaretagainassoonassheleftthehouse. ShewasafraidofMissAvery.Itisdisquietingtofulfilaprophecy,howeversuperficially.Shewasgladtoseenowatchingfigureasshedrovepastthefarm,butonlylittleTom,turningsomersaultsinthestraw.