CHAPTER XL
關燈
小
中
大
wseverything.Sheiseverything.Sheisthehouse,andthetreethatleansoverit.Peoplehavetheirowndeathsaswellastheirownlives,andevenifthereisnothingbeyonddeath,weshalldifferinournothingness.Icannotbelievethatknowledgesuchasherswillperishwithknowledgesuchasmine.Sheknewaboutrealities.Sheknewwhenpeoplewereinlove,thoughshewasnotintheroom.Idon’tdoubtthatsheknewwhenHenrydeceivedher.”
“Good-night,Mrs.Wilcox,”calledavoice.
“Oh,good-night,MissAvery.”
“WhyshouldMissAveryworkforus?”Helenmurmured.
“Why,indeed?”
MissAverycrossedthelawnandmergedintothehedgethatdivideditfromthefarm.Anoldgap,whichMr.Wilcoxhadfilledup,hadreappeared,andhertrackthroughthedewfollowedthepaththathehadturfedover,whenheimprovedthegardenandmadeitpossibleforgames.
“Thisisnotquiteourhouseyet,”saidHelen.“WhenMissAverycalled,Ifeltweareonlyacoupleoftourists.”
“Weshallbethateverywhere,andforever.”
“Butaffectionatetourists.”
“Buttouristswhopretendeachhotelistheirhome.”
“Ican’tpretendverylong,”saidHelen.“Sittingunderthistreeoneforgets,butIknowthatto-morrowIshallseethemoonriseoutofGermany.Notallyourgoodnesscanalterthefactsofthecase.Unlessyouwillcomewithme.”
Margaretthoughtforamoment.InthepastyearshehadgrownsofondofEnglandthattoleaveitwasarealgrief.Yetwhatdetainedh
