CHAPTER XXXVIII
關燈
小
中
大
tsheleavesmyhouseatonce.”
“YouhavementionedMrs.Wilcox.”
“Ibegyourpardon?”
“Arareoccurrence.Inreply,mayImentionMrs.Bast?”
“Youhavenotbeenyourselfallday,”saidHenry,androsefromhisseatwithfaceunmoved.Margaretrushedathimandseizedbothhishands.Shewastransfigured.
“Notanymoreofthis!”shecried.“Youshallseetheconnectionifitkillsyou,Henry!Youhavehadamistress—Iforgaveyou.Mysisterhasalover—youdriveherfromthehouse.Doyouseetheconnection?Stupid,hypocritical,cruel—oh,contemptible!—amanwhoinsultshiswifewhenshe’saliveandcantswithhermemorywhenshe’sdead.Amanwhoruinsawomanforhispleasure,andcastsherofftoruinothermen.Andgivesbadfinancialadvice,andthensaysheisnotresponsible.Thesemenareyou.Youcan’trecognisethem,becauseyoucannotconnect.I’vehadenoughofyourunneededkindness.I’vespoiltyoulongenough.Allyourlifeyouhavebeenspoiled.Mrs.Wilcoxspoiledyou.Noonehasevertoldwhatyouare—muddled,criminallymuddled.Menlikeyouuserepentanceasablind,sodon’trepent.Onlysaytoyourself,‘WhatHelenhasdone,I’vedone.’”
“Thetwocasesaredifferent,”Henrystammered.Hisrealretortwasnotquiteready.Hisbrainwasstillinawhirl,andhewantedalittlelonger.
“Inwhatwaydifferent?YouhavebetrayedMrs.Wilcox,Helenonlyherself.Youremaininsociety,Helencan’t.Youhavehadonlypleasure,shemaydie.Youhavetheinsolencetotalktomeofdifferences,Henry?”
Oh,theuselessnessofit!Henry’sretortcame.
“Iperceiveyouareattemptingblackmail.Itisscarcelyaprettyweaponforawifetouseagainstherhusband.Myrulethroughlifehasbeennevertopaytheleastattentiontothreats,andIcanonlyrepeatwhatIsaidbefore:IdonotgiveyouandyoursisterleavetosleepatHowardsEnd.”
Margaretloosedhishands.Hewentintothehouse,wipingfirstoneandthentheotheronhishandkerchief.ForalittleshestoodlookingattheSixHills,tombsofwarriors,breastsofthespring.Thenshepassedoutintowhatwasnowtheevening.
