CHAPTER XLIV

nhertriumph.She,whohadneverexpectedtoconqueranyone,hadchargedstraightthroughtheseWilcoxesandbrokenuptheirlives. “Inconsequence,Ileavemywifenomoney,”saidHenry.“Thatisherownwish.Allthatshewouldhavehadwillbedividedamongyou.Iamalsogivingyouagreatdealinmylifetime,sothatyoumaybeindependentofme.Thatisherwish,too.Shealsoisgivingawayagreatdealofmoney.Sheintendstodiminishherincomebyhalfduringthenexttenyearssheintendswhenshediestoleavethehousetohernephew,downinthefield.Isallthatclear?Doeseveryoneunderstand?” Paulrosetohisfeet.Hewasaccustomedtonatives,andaverylittleshookhimoutoftheEnglishman.Feelingmanlyandcynical,hesaid:“Downinthefield?Oh,come!Ithinkwemighthavehadthewholeestablishment,piccaninniesincluded.” Mrs.Cahillwhispered:“Don’t,Paul.Youpromisedyou’dtakecare.”Feelingawomanoftheworld,sheroseandpreparedtotakeherleave. Herfatherkissedher.“Good-bye,oldgirl,”hesaid“don’tyouworryaboutme.” “Good-bye,dad.” ThenitwasDolly’sturn.Anxioustocontribute,shelaughednervously,andsaid:“Good-bye,Mr.Wilcox.ItdoesseemcuriousthatMrs.WilcoxshouldhaveleftMargaretHowardsEnd,andyetshegetit,afterall.” FromEviecameasharply-drawnbreath.“Goodbye,”shesaidtoMargaret,andkissedher. Andagainandagainfelltheword,liketheebbofadyingsea. “Good-bye.” “Good-bye,Dolly.” “Solong,father.” “Good-bye,myboyalwaystakecareofyourself.” “Good-bye,Mrs.Wilcox.” “Good-bye.” Margaretsawtheirvisitorstothegate.Thenshereturnedtoherhusbandandlaidherheadinhishands.Hewaspitiablytired.ButDolly’sremarkhadinterestedher.Atlastshesaid:“Couldyoutellme,Henry,whatwasthataboutMrs.WilcoxhavingleftmeHowardsEnd?” Tranquillyhereplied:“Yes,shedid.Butthatisaveryoldstory.Whenshewasillandyouweresokindtohershewantedtomakeyousomereturn,and,notbeingherselfatthetime,scribbled‘HowardsEnd’onapieceofpaper.Iwentintoitthoroughly,and,asitwasclearlyfanciful,Isetitaside,littleknowingwhatmyMargaretwouldbetomeinthefuture.” Margaretwassilent.Somethingshookherlifeinitsinmostrecesses,andsheshivered. “Ididn’tdowrong,didI?”heasked,bendingdown. “Youdidn’t,darling.Nothinghasbeendonewrong.” Fromthegardencamelaughter.“Heretheyareatlast!”exclaimedHenry,disengaginghimselfwithasmile.Helenrushedintothegloom,holdingTombyonehandandcarryingherbabyontheother.Therewereshoutsofinfectiousjoy. “Thefield’scut!”Helencriedexcitedly—“thebigmeadow!We’veseentotheveryend,andit’llbesuchacropofhayasnever!” WEYBRIDGE,1908-1910.