CHAPTER XLIV

“Isthatenough?” “Notforus.Butforhim.” Helentookupabunchofgrass.Shelookedatthesorrel,andtheredandwhiteandyellowclover,andthequakergrass,andthedaisies,andthebentsthatcomposedit.Sheraisedittoherface. “Isitsweeteningyet?”askedMargaret. “No,onlywithered.” “Itwillsweetento-morrow.” Helensmiled.“Oh,Meg,youareaperson,”shesaid.“Thinkoftheracketandtorturethistimelastyear.ButnowIcouldn’tstopunhappyifItried.Whatachange—andallthroughyou!” “Oh,wemerelysettleddown.YouandHenrylearnttounderstandoneanotherandtoforgive,allthroughtheautumnandthewinter.” “Yes,butwhosettledusdown?” Margaretdidnotreply.Thescythinghadbegun,andshetookoffherpince-neztowatchit. “You!”criedHelen.“Youdiditall,sweetest,thoughyou’retoostupidtosee.Livingherewasyourplan—Iwantedyouhewantedyouandeveryonesaiditwasimpossible,butyouknew.Justthinkofourliveswithoutyou,Meg—IandbabywithMonica,revoltingbytheory,hehandedaboutfromDollytoEvie.Butyoupickedupthepieces,andmadeusahome.Can’titstrikeyou—evenforamoment—thatyourlifehasbeenheroic?Can’tyourememberthetwomonthsafterCharles’sarrest,whenyoubegantoact,anddidall?” “Youwerebothillatthetime,”saidMargaret.“Ididtheobviousthings.Ihadtwoinvalidstonurse.Herewasahouse,readyfurnishedandempty.Itwasobvious.Ididn’tknowmyselfitwouldturnintoapermanenthome.NodoubtIhavedonealittletowardsstraighteningthetangle,butthingsthatIcan’tphrasehavehelpedme.” “Ihopeitwillbepermanent,”saidHelen,driftingawaytootherthoughts. “Ithinkso.TherearemomentswhenIfeelHowardsEndpeculiarlyourown.” “Allthesame,London’screeping.” Shepointedoverthemeadow—overeightorninemeadows,butattheendofthemwasaredrust. “YouseethatinSurreyandevenHampshirenow,”shecontinued.“IcanseeitfromthePurbeckDowns.AndLondonisonlypartofsomethingelse,I’mafraid.Life’sgoingtobemelteddown,allovertheworld.” Margaretknewthathersisterspoketruly.HowardsEnd,Oniton,thePurbeckDowns,theOderberge,wereallsurvivals,andthemelting-potwasbeingpreparedforthem.Logically,theyhadnorighttobealive.One’shopewasintheweaknessoflogic.Weretheypossiblytheearthbeatingtime? “Becauseathingisgoingstrongnow,itneednotgostrongforever,”shesaid.“Thiscrazeformotionhasonlysetinduringthelasthundredyears.Itmaybefollowedbyacivilisationthatwon’tbeamovement,becauseitwillrestontheearth.Allthesignsareagainstitnow,butIcan’thelphoping,andveryearlyinthemorninginthegardenIfeelthatourhouseisthefutureaswellasthepast.” Theyturnedandlookedatit.Theiro