CHAPTER XXXIX

CharlesandTibbymetatDucieStreet,wherethelatterwasstaying.Theirinterviewwasshortandabsurd.TheyhadnothingincommonbuttheEnglishlanguage,andtriedbyitshelptoexpresswhatneitherofthemunderstood.CharlessawinHelenthefamilyfoe.HehadsingledheroutasthemostdangerousoftheSchlegels,and,angryashewas,lookedforwardtotellinghiswifehowrighthehadbeen.Hismindwasmadeupatoncethegirlmustbegotoutofthewaybeforeshedisgracedthemfarther.Ifoccasionofferedshemightbemarriedtoavillain,or,possibly,toafool.Butthiswasaconcessiontomorality,itformednopartofhismainscheme.HonestandheartywasCharles’sdislike,andthepastspreaditselfoutveryclearlybeforehimhatredisaskilfulcompositor.Asiftheywereheadsinanote-book,heranthroughalltheincidentsoftheSchlegels’campaign:theattempttocompromisehisbrother,hismother’slegacy,hisfather’smarriage,theintroductionofthefu