CHAPTER XL
關燈
小
中
大
andguessedthatMr.Wilcoxhadruinedhimintwoways,notone.Idrewhimtome.Imadehimtellme.Ifeltverylonelymyself.Heisnottoblame.Hewouldhavegoneonworshippingme.Iwantnevertoseehimagain,thoughitsoundsappalling.Iwantedtogivehimmoneyandfeelfinished.Oh,Meg,thelittlethatisknownaboutthesethings!”
Shelaidherfaceagainstthetree.
“Thelittle,too,thatisknownaboutgrowth!Bothtimesitwasloneliness,andthenight,andpanicafterwards.DidLeonardgrowoutofPaul?”
Margaretdidnotspeakforamoment.Sotiredwasshethatherattentionhadactuallywanderedtotheteeth—theteeththathadbeenthrustintothetree’sbarktomedicateit.Fromwhereshesatshecouldseethemgleam.Shehadbeentryingtocountthem.“Leonardisabettergrowththanmadness,”shesaid.“IwasafraidthatyouwouldreactagainstPauluntilyouwentovertheverge.”
“IdidreactuntilIfoundpoorLeonard.Iamsteadynow.Ishan’teverlikeyourHenry,dearestMeg,orevenspeakkindlyabouthim,butallthatblindinghateisover.IshallneverraveagainstWilcoxesanymore.Iunderstandhowyoumarriedhim,andyouwillnowbeveryhappy.”
Margaretdidnotreply.
“Yes,”repeatedHelen,hervoicegrowingmoretender,“Idoatlastunderstand.”
“ExceptMrs.Wilcox,dearest,nooneunderstandsourlittlemovements.”
“Becauseindeath—Iagree.”
“Notquite.IfeelthatyouandIandHenryareonlyfragmentsofthatwoman’smind.Shekno
