CHAPTER XXXVIII
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sassoonastheywereuttered.Shehadnotleduptothemwithsufficientcare.Shelongedtowarnhimthattheywerefarmoreimportantthanhesupposed.Shesawhimweighingthem,asiftheywereabusinessproposition.
“WhyHowardsEnd?”hesaidatlast.“Wouldshenotbemorecomfortable,asIsuggested,atthehotel?”
Margarethastenedtogivehimreasons.“Itisanoddrequest,butyouknowwhatHelenisandwhatwomeninherstateare.”Hefrowned,andmovedirritably.“Shehastheideathatonenightinyourhousewouldgiveherpleasureanddohergood.Ithinkshe’sright.Beingoneofthoseimaginativegirls,thepresenceofallourbooksandfurnituresoothesher.Thisisafact.Itistheendofhergirlhood.Herlastwordstomewere,‘Abeautifulending.’”
“Shevaluestheoldfurnitureforsentimentalreasons,infact.”
“Exactly.Youhavequiteunderstood.Itisherlasthopeofbeingwithit.”
“Idon’tagreethere,mydear!Helenwillhavehershareofthegoodswherevershegoes—possiblymorethanhershare,foryouaresofondofherthatyou’dgiveheranythingofyoursthatshefancies,wouldn’tyou?andI’draisenoobjection.Icouldunderstanditifitwasheroldhome,becauseahome,orahouse,”hechangedtheword,designedlyhehadthoughtofatellingpoint—“becauseahouseinwhichonehasoncelivedbecomesinasortofwaysacred,Idon’tknowwhy.Associationsandsoon.NowHelenhasnoassociationswithHowardsEnd,thoughIandCharlesandEviehave.Idonotseewhyshewantstostaythenightthere.Shewillonlycatchcold.”
“Leaveitthatyoudon’tsee,”criedMargaret.“Callitfancy.Butrealisethatfancyisascientificfact.Helenisfanciful,andwantsto.”
Thenhesurprisedher—arareoccurrence.Heshotanunexpectedbolt.“Ifshewantstosleeponenightshemaywanttosleeptwo.Weshallnevergetheroutofthehouse,perhaps.”
“Well?”saidMargaret,withtheprecipiceinsight.“Andsupposewedon’tgetheroutofthehouse?Woulditmatter?Shewoulddonooneanyharm.”
Againtheirritatedgesture.
“No,Henry,”shepanted,receding.“Ididn’tmeanthat.Wewillonl
