CHAPTER XLIV

wnmemoriescoloureditnow,forHelen’schildhadbeenborninthecentralroomofthenine.ThenMargaretsaid,“Oh,takecare—!”forsomethingmovedbehindthewindowofthehall,andthedooropened. “Theconclave’sbreakingatlast.I’llgo.” ItwasPaul. Helenretreatedwiththechildrenfarintothefield.Friendlyvoicesgreetedher.Margaretrose,toencounteramanwithaheavyblackmoustache. “Myfatherhasaskedforyou,”hesaidwithhostility. Shetookherworkandfollowedhim. “Wehavebeentalkingbusiness,”hecontinued,“butIdaresayyouknewallaboutitbeforehand.” “Yes,Idid.” Clumsyofmovement—forhehadspentallhislifeinthesaddle—Pauldrovehisfootagainstthepaintofthefrontdoor.Mrs.Wilcoxgavealittlecryofannoyance.ShedidnotlikeanythingscratchedshestoppedinthehalltotakeDolly’sboaandglovesoutofavase. Herhusbandwaslyinginagreatleatherchairinthedining-room,andbyhisside,holdinghishandratherostentatiously,wasEvie.Dolly,dressedinpurple,satnearthewindow.Theroomwasalittledarkandairlesstheywereobligedtokeepitlikethisuntilthecartingofthehay.Margaretjoinedthefamilywithoutspeakingthefiveofthemhadmetalreadyattea,andsheknewquitewellwhatwasgoingtobesaid.Aversetowastinghertime,shewentonsewing.Theclockstrucksix. “Isthisgoingtosuiteveryone?”saidHenryinawearyvoice.Heusedtheoldphrases,buttheireffectwasunexpectedandshadowy.“BecauseIdon’twantyouallcomingherelateronandcomplainingthatIhavebeenunfair.” “It’sapparentlygottosuitus,”saidPaul. “Ibegyourpardon,myboy.Youhaveonlytospeak,andIwillleavethehousetoyouinstead.” Paulfrownedill-temperedly,andbeganscratchingathisarm.“AsI’vegivenuptheoutdoorlifethatsuitedme,andIhavecomehometolookafterthebusiness,it’snogoodmysettlingdownhere,”hesaidatlast.“It’snotreallythecountry,andit’snotthetown.” “Verywell.Doesmyarrangementsuityou,Evie?” “Ofcourse,father.” “Andyou,Dolly?” Dollyraisedherfadedlittleface,whichsorrowcouldwitherbutnotsteady.“Perfectlysplendidly,”shesaid.“IthoughtCharleswanteditfortheboys,butlasttimeIsawhimhesaidno,becausewecannotpossiblyliveinthispartofEnglandagain.Charlessaysweoughttochangeourname,butIcannotthinkwhatto,forWilcoxjustsuitsCharlesandme,andIcan’tthinkofanyothername.” Therewasageneralsilence.Dollylookednervouslyround,fearingthatshehadbeeninappropriate.Paulcontinuedtoscratchhisarm. “ThenIleaveHowardsEndtomywifeabsolutely,”saidHenry.“AndleteveryoneunderstandthatandafterIamdeadlettherebenojealousyandnosurprise.” Margaretdidnotanswer.Therewassomethinguncannyi