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Margaretanswered，“Iliketostand，ifyoudon\'tmind，foritgivesmeapleasantviewoftheSixHills。“
“Asyoulike。“
“Haveyouanythingelsetoaskme，Henry？“
“Nextyoumusttellmewhetheryouhavegatheredanything。Ihaveoftennoticedyourinsight，dear。Ionlywishmyownwasasgood。Youmayhaveguessedsomething，eventhoughyoursistersaidnothing。Theslightesthintwouldhelpus。“
“Whois\'we\'？“
“IthoughtitbesttoringupCharles。“
“Thatwasunnecessary，“saidMargaret，growingwarmer。
“ThisnewswillgiveCharlesdisproportionatepain。“
“Hehasatoncegonetocallonyourbrother。“
“Thattoowasunnecessary。“
“Letmeexplain，dear，howthematterstands。
Youdon\'tthinkthatIandmysonareotherthangentlemen？ItisinHelen\'sintereststhatweareacting。Itisstillnottoolatetosavehername。“
ThenMargarethitoutforthefirsttime。
“Arewetomakeherseducermarryher？“sheasked。
“Ifpossible。Yes。“
“But，Henry，supposeheturnedouttobemarriedalready？Onehasheardofsuchcases。“
“Inthatcasehemustpayheavilyforhismisconduct，andbethrashedwithinaninchofhislife。“
Soherfirstblowmissed。Shewasthankfulofit。Whathadtemptedhertoimperilbothoftheirlives？
Henry\'sobtusenesshadsavedheraswellashimself。Exhaustedwithanger，shesatdownagain，blinkingathimashetoldherasmuchashethoughtfit。Atlastshesaid:“MayIaskyoumyquestionnow？“
“Certainly，mydear。“
“TomorrowHelengoestoMunich——“
“Well，possiblysheisright。“
“Henry，letaladyfinish。Tomorrowshegoes；
tonight，withyourpermission，shewouldliketosleepatHowardsEnd。“
Itwasthecrisisofhislife。Againshewouldhaverecalledthewordsassoonastheywereuttered。Shehadnotleduptothemwithsufficientcare。Shelongedtowarnhimthattheywerefarmoreimportantthanhesupposed。Shesawhimweighingthem，asiftheywereabusinessproposition。
“WhyHowardsEnd？“hesaidatlast。“Wouldshenotbemorecomfortable，asIsuggested，atthehotel？“
Margarethastenedtogivehimreasons。“Itisanoddrequest，butyouknowwhatHelenisandwhatwomeninherstateare。“Hefrowned，andmovedirritably。“Shehastheideathatonenightinyourhousewouldgiveherpleasureanddohergood。Ithinkshe\'sright。Beingoneofthoseimaginativegirls，thepresenceofallourbooksandfurnituresoothesher。Thisisafact。Itistheendofhergirlhood。Herlastwordstomewere，\'Abeautifulending。\'“
“Shevaluestheoldfurnitureforsentimentalreasons，infact。“
“Exactly。Youhavequiteunderstood。
Itisherlasthopeofbeingwithit。“
“Idon\'tagreethere，mydear！Helenwillhavehershareofthegoodswherevershegoes——possiblymorethanhershare，foryouaresofondofherthatyou\'dgiveheranythingofyoursthatshefancies，wouldn\'tyou？andI\'draisenoobjection。Icouldunderstanditifitwasheroldhome，becauseahome，orahouse“——hechangedtheword，designedly；hehadthoughtofatellingpoint——“becauseahouseinwhichonehasoncelivedbecomesinasortofwaysacred，Idon\'tknowwhy。Associationsandsoon。NowHelenhasnoassociationswithHowardsEnd，thoughIandCharlesandEviehave。Idonotseewhyshewantstostaythenightthere。Shewillonlycatchcold。“
“Leaveitthatyoudon\'tsee，“criedMargaret。
“Callitfancy。Butrealizethatfancyisascientificfact。
Helenisfanciful，andwantsto。“
Thenhesurprisedher——arareoccurrence。
Heshotanunexpectedbolt。“Ifshewantstosleeponenight，shemaywanttosleeptwo。Weshallnevergetheroutofthehouse，perhaps。“
“Well？“saidMargaret，withtheprecipiceinsight。
“Andsupposewedon\'tgetheroutofthehouse？Woulditmatter？
Shewoulddonooneanyharm。“
Againtheirritatedgesture。
“No，Henry，“shepanted，receding。“Ididn\'tmeanthat。WewillonlytroubleHowardsEndforthisonenight。
ItakehertoLondontomorrow——“
“Doyouintendtosleepinadamphouse，too？“
“Shecannotbeleftalone。“
“That\'squiteimpossible！Madness。YoumustbeheretomeetCharles。“
“IhavealreadytoldyouthatyourmessagetoCharleswasunnecessary，andIhavenodesiretomeethim。“
“Margaret——myMargaret——“
“WhathasthisbusinesstodowithCharles？
Ifitconcernsmelittle，itconcernsyouless，andCharlesnotatall。“
“AsthefutureownerofHowardsEnd，“saidMr。Wilcox，archinghisfingers，“IshouldsaythatitdidconcernCharles。“
“Inwhatway？WillHelen\'sconditiondepreciatetheproperty？“
“Mydear，youareforgettingyourself。“
“Ithinkyouyourselfrecommendedplainspeaking。“
Theylookedateachotherinamazement。Theprecipicewasattheirfeetnow。
“Helencommandsmysympathy，“saidHenry。
“Asyourhusband，IshalldoallforherthatIcan，andIhavenodoubtthatshewillprovemoresinnedagainstthansinning。ButIcannottreatherasifnothinghashappened。IshouldbefalsetomypositioninsocietyifIdid。“
Shecontrolledherselfforthelasttime。
“No，letusgobacktoHelen\'srequest，“shesaid。“Itisunreasonable，buttherequestofanunhappygirl。TomorrowshewillgotoGermany，andtroublesocietynolonger。Tonightsheaskstosleepinyouremptyhouse——ahousewhichyoudonotcareabout，andwhichyouhavenotoccupiedforoverayear。Mayshe？Willyougivemysisterleave？Willyouforgiveher——asyouhopetobeforgiven，andasyouhaveactuallybeenforgiven？Forgiveherforonenightonly。
Thatwillbeenough。“
“AsIhaveactuallybeenforgiven——？“
“NevermindforthemomentwhatImeanbythat，“
saidMargaret。“Answermyquestion。“
Perhapssomehintofhermeaningdiddawnonhim。
Ifso，heblotteditout。Straightfromhisfortressheanswered:
“Iseemratherunaccommodating，butIhavesomeexperienceoflife，andknowhowonethingleadstoanother。Iamafraidthatyoursisterhadbettersleepatthehotel。Ihavemychildrenandthememoryofmydearwifetoconsider。Iamsorry，butseethatsheleavesmyhouseatonce。“
“YoumentionedMrs。Wilcox。“
“Ibegyourpardon？“
“Arareoccurrence。Inreply，mayImentionMrs。Bast？“
“Youhavenotbeenyourselfallday，“saidHenry，androsefromhisseatwithfaceunmoved。Margaretrushedathimandseizedbothhishands。Shewastransfigured。
“Notanymoreofthis！“shecried。“Youshallseetheconnectionifitkillsyou，Henry！Youhavehadamistress——I
forgaveyou。Mysisterhasalover——youdriveherfromthehouse。
Doyouseetheconnection？Stupid，hypocritical，cruel——oh，contemptible！——
amanwhoinsultshiswifewhenshe\'saliveandcantswithhermemorywhenshe\'sdead。Amanwhoruinsawomanforhispleasure，andcastsherofftoruinothermen。Andgivesbadfinancialadvice，andthensaysheisnotresponsible。These，man，areyou。Youcan\'trecognizethem，becauseyoucannotconnect。I\'vehadenoughofyourunweededkindness。I\'vespoiltyoulongenough。Allyourlifeyouhavebeenspoiled。Mrs。Wilcoxspoiledyou。Noonehasevertoldwhatyouare——muddled，criminallymuddled。Menlikeyouuserepentanceasablind，sodon\'trepent。Onlysaytoyourself，\'WhatHelenhasdone，I\'vedone。\'“
“Thetwocasesaredifferent，“Henrystammered。
Hisrealretortwasnotquiteready。Hisbrainwasstillinawhirl，andhewantedalittlelonger。
“Inwhatwaydifferent？YouhavebetrayedMrs。Wilcox，Helenonlyherself。Youremaininsociety，Helencan\'t。
Youhavehadonlypleasure，shemaydie。Youhavetheinsolencetotalktomeofdifferences，Henry？“
Oh，theuselessnessofit！Henry\'sretortcame。
“Iperceiveyouareattemptingblackmail。
Itisscarcelyaprettyweaponforawifetouseagainstherhusband。
Myrulethroughlifehasbeennevertopaytheleastattentiontothreats，andIcanonlyrepeatwhatIsaidbefore:IdonotgiveyouandyoursisterleavetosleepatHowardsEnd。“
Margaretloosedhishands。Hewentintothehouse，wipingfirstoneandthentheotheronhishandkerchief。ForalittleshestoodlookingattheSixHills，tombsofwarriors，breastsofthespring。Thenshepassedoutintowhatwasnowtheevening。Chapter39CharlesandTibbymetatDucieStreet，wherethelatterwasstaying。
Theirinterviewwasshortandabsurd。TheyhadnothingincommonbuttheEnglishlanguage，andtriedbyitshelptoexpresswhatneitherofthemunderstood。CharlessawinHelenthefamilyfoe。HehadsingledheroutasthemostdangerousoftheSchlegels，and，angryashewas，lookedforwardtotellinghiswifehowrighthehadbeen。
Hismindwasmadeupatonce:thegirlmustbegotoutofthewaybeforeshedisgracedthemfarther。Ifoccasionofferedshemightbemarriedtoavillainor，possibly，toafool。Butthiswasaconcessiontomorality，itformednopartofhismainscheme。HonestandheartywasCharles\'sdislike，andthepastspreaditselfoutveryclearlybeforehim；hatredisaskilfulcompositor。Asiftheywereheadsinanote-book，heranthroughalltheincidentsoftheSchlegels\'campaign:theattempttocompromisehisbrother，hismother\'slegacy，hisfather\'smarriage，theintroductionofthefurniture，theunpackingofthesame。HehadnotyetheardoftherequesttosleepatHowardsEnd；thatwastobetheirmaster-strokeandtheopportunityforhis。ButhealreadyfeltthatHowardsEndwastheobjective，and，thoughhedislikedthehouse，wasdeterminedtodefendit。
Tibby，ontheotherhand，hadnoopinions。
Hestoodabovetheconventions:hissisterhadarighttodowhatshethoughtright。Itisnotdifficulttostandabovetheconventionswhenweleavenohostagesamongthem；mencanalwaysbemoreunconventionalthanwomen，andabachelorofindependentmeansneedencounternodifficultiesatall。UnlikeCharles，Tibbyhadmoneyenough；hisancestorshadearneditforhim，andifheshockedthepeopleinonesetoflodgingshehadonlytomoveintoanother。Hiswastheleisurewithoutsympathy——anattitudeasfatalasthestrenuous:alittlecoldculturemayberaisedonit，butnoart。Hissistershadseenthefamilydanger，andhadneverforgottentodiscountthegoldisletsthatraisedthemfromthesea。
Tibbygaveallthepraisetohimself，andsodespisedthestrugglingandthesubmerged。
Hencetheabsurdityoftheinterview；thegulfbetweenthemwaseconomicaswellasspiritual。Butseveralfactspassed:
Charlespressedforthemwithanimpertinencethattheundergraduatecouldnotwithstand。OnwhatdatehadHelengoneabroad？Towhom？
(CharleswasanxioustofastenthescandalonGermany。)Then，changinghistactics，hesaidroughly:“Isupposeyourealizethatyouareyoursister\'sprotector？“
“Inwhatsense？“
“Ifamanplayedaboutwithmysister，I\'dsendabulletthroughhim，butperhapsyoudon\'tmind。“
“Imindverymuch，“protestedTibby。
“Whod\'yesuspect，then？Speakout，man。
Onealwayssuspectssomeone。“
“Noone。Idon\'tthinkso。“Involuntarilyheblushed。HehadrememberedthesceneinhisOxfordrooms。
“Youarehidingsomething，“saidCharles。
Asinterviewsgo，hegotthebestofthisone。“Whenyousawherlast，didshementionanyone\'sname？Yes，orno！“hethundered，sothatTibbystarted。
“Inmyroomsshementionedsomefriends，calledtheBasts——“
“WhoaretheBasts？“
“People——friendsofhersatEvie\'swedding。“
“Idon\'tremember。But，bygreatScott！
Ido。Myaunttoldmeaboutsometag-rag。Wasshefullofthemwhenyousawher？Isthereaman？Didshespeakoftheman？
Or——lookhere——haveyouhadanydealingswithhim？“
Tibbywassilent。Withoutintendingit，hehadbetrayedhissister\'sconfidence；hewasnotenoughinterestedinhumanlifetoseewherethingswillleadto。Hehadastrongregardforhonesty，andhisword，oncegiven，hadalwaysbeenkeptuptonow。
Hewasdeeplyvexed，notonlyfortheharmhehaddoneHelen，butfortheflawhehaddiscoveredinhisownequipment。
“Isee——youareinhisconfidence。Theymetatyourrooms。Oh，whatafamily，whatafamily！Godhelpthepoorpater——“
AndTibbyfoundhimselfalone。Chapter40Leonard——hewouldfigureatlengthinanewspaperreport，butthateveninghedidnotcountformuch。Thefootofthetreewasinshadow，sincethemoonwasstillhiddenbehindthehouse。Butabove，toright，toleft，downthelongmeadowthemoonlightwasstreaming。Leonardseemednotaman，butacause。
PerhapsitwasHelen\'swayoffallinginlove——acuriouswaytoMargaret，whoseagonyandwhosecontemptofHenrywereyetimprintedwithhisimage。Helenforgotpeople。Theywerehusksthathadenclosedheremotion。Shecouldpity，orsacrificeherself，orhaveinstincts，buthadsheeverlovedinthenoblestway，wheremanandwoman，havinglostthemselvesinsex，desiretolosesexitselfincomradeship？
Margaretwondered，butsaidnowordofblame。
ThiswasHelen\'sevening。Troublesenoughlayaheadofher——thelossoffriendsandofsocialadvantages，theagony，thesupremeagony，ofmotherhood，whichisevenyetnotamatterofcommonknowledge。Forthepresentletthemoonshinebrightlyandthebreezesofthespringblowgently，dyingawayfromthegaleoftheday，andlettheearth，whobringsincrease，bringpeace。NoteventoherselfdaresheblameHelen。Shecouldnotassesshertrespassbyanymoralcode；itwaseverythingornothing。
Moralitycantellusthatmurderisworsethanstealing，andgroupmostsinsinanorderallmustapprove，butitcannotgroupHelen。Thesureritspronouncementsonthispoint，thesurermaywebethatmoralityisnotspeaking。ChristwasevasivewhentheyquestionedHim。
Itisthosethatcannotconnectwhohastentocastthefirststone。
ThiswasHelen\'sevening——wonatwhatcost，andnottobemarredbythesorrowsofothers。OfherowntragedyMargaretneverutteredaword。
“Oneisolates，“saidHelenslowly。“IisolatedMr。WilcoxfromtheotherforcesthatwerepullingLeonarddownhill。
Consequently，Iwasfullofpity，andalmostofrevenge。ForweeksIhadblamedMr。Wilcoxonly，andso，whenyourletterscame——“
“Ineedneverhavewrittenthem，“sighedMargaret。
“TheynevershieldedHenry。Howhopelessitistotidyawaythepast，evenforothers！“
“IdidnotknowthatitwasyourownideatodismisstheBasts。“
“Lookingback，thatwaswrongofme。“
“Lookingback，darling，Iknowthatitwasright。
Itisrighttosavethemanwhomoneloves。Iamlessenthusiasticaboutjusticenow。Butweboththoughtyouwroteathisdictation。
Itseemedthelasttouchofhiscallousness。Beingverymuchwroughtupbythistime——andMrs。Bastwasupstairs。Ihadnotseenher，andhadtalkedforalongtimetoLeonard——Ihadsnubbedhimfornoreason，andthatshouldhavewarnedmeIwasindanger。SowhenthenotescameIwantedustogotoyouforanexplanation。Hesaidthatheguessedtheexplanation——heknewofit，andyoumustn\'tknow。Ipressedhimtotellme。Hesaidnoonemustknow；itwassomethingtodowithhiswife。RightuptotheendwewereMr。BastandMissSchlegel。
IwasgoingtotellhimthathemustbefrankwithmewhenIsawhiseyes，andguessedthatMr。Wilcoxhadruinedhimintwoways，notone。
Idrewhimtome。Imadehimtellme。Ifeltverylonelymyself。
Heisnottoblame。Hewouldhavegoneonworshippingme。I
wantnevertoseehimagain，thoughitsoundsappalling。Iwantedtogivehimmoneyandfeelfinished。Oh，Meg，thelittlethatisknownaboutthesethings！“
Shelaidherfaceagainstthetree。
“Thelittle，too，thatisknownaboutgrowth！
Bothtimesitwasloneliness，andthenight，andpanicafterwards。
DidLeonardgrowoutofPaul？“
Margaretdidnotspeakforamoment。Sotiredwasshethatherattentionhadactuallywanderedtotheteeth——theteeththathadbeenthrustintothetree\'sbarktomedicateit。Fromwhereshesatshecouldseethemgleam。Shehadbeentryingtocountthem。
“Leonardisabettergrowththanmadness，“shesaid。“IwasafraidthatyouwouldreactagainstPauluntilyouwentovertheverge。“
“IdidreactuntilIfoundpoorLeonard。I
amsteadynow。Ishan\'teverlikeyourHenry，dearestMeg，orevenspeakkindlyabouthim，butallthatblindinghateisover。IshallneverraveagainstWilcoxesanymore。Iunderstandhowyoumarriedhim，andyouwillnowbeveryhappy。“
Margaretdidnotreply。
“Yes，“repeatedHelen，hervoicegrowingmoretender，“Idoatlastunderstand。“
“ExceptMrs。Wilcox，dearest，nooneunderstandsourlittlemovements。“
“Becauseindeath——Iagree。“
“Notquite。IfeelthatyouandIandHenryareonlyfragmentsofthatwoman\'smind。Sheknowseverything。
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，butIknowthattomorrowIshallseethemoonriseoutofGermany。Notallyourgoodnesscanalterthefactsofthecase。Unlessyouwillcomewithme。“
Margaretthoughtforamoment。InthepastyearshehadgrownsofondofEnglandthattoleaveitwasarealgrief。
Yetwhatdetainedher？NodoubtHenrywouldpardonheroutburst，andgoonblusteringandmuddlingintoaripeoldage。Butwhatwasthegood？Shehadjustassoonvanishfromhismind。
“Areyouseriousinaskingme，Helen？ShouldIgetonwithyourMonica？“
“Youwouldnot，butIamseriousinaskingyou。“
“Still，nomoreplansnow。Andnomorereminiscences。“
Theyweresilentforalittle。ItwasHelen\'sevening。
Thepresentflowedbythemlikeastream。
Thetreerustled。Ithadmademusicbeforetheywereborn，andwouldcontinueaftertheirdeaths，butitssongwasofthemoment。Themomenthadpassed。Thetreerustledagain。Theirsensesweresharpened，andtheyseemedtoapprehendlife。Lifepassed。
Thetreenestledagain。
“Sleepnow，“saidMargaret。
Thepeaceofthecountrywasenteringintoher。
Ithasnocommercewithmemory，andlittlewithhope。Leastofallisitconcernedwiththehopesofthenextfiveminutes。Itisthepeaceofthepresent，whichpassesunderstanding。Itsmurmurcame“now，“and“now“oncemoreastheytrodthegravel，and“now，“asthemoonlightfellupontheirfather\'ssword。Theypassedupstairs，kissed，andamidsttheendlessiterationsfellasleep。Thehousehadenshadowedthetreeatfirst，butasthemoonrosehigherthetwodisentangled，andwereclearforafewmomentsatmidnight。Margaretawokeandlookedintothegarden。HowincomprehensiblethatLeonardBastshouldhavewonherthisnightofpeace！WashealsopartofMrs。Wilcox\'smind？Chapter41FardifferentwasLeonard\'sdevelopment。ThemonthsafterOniton，whateverminortroublestheymightbringhim，wereallovershadowedbyRemorse。WhenHelenlookedbackshecouldphilosophize，orshecouldlookintothefutureandplanforherchild。Butthefathersawnothingbeyondhisownsin。Weeksafterwards，inthemidstofotheroccupations，hewouldsuddenlycryout，“Brute——youbrute，Icouldn\'thave——“andberentintotwopeoplewhohelddialogues。Orbrownrainwoulddescend，blottingoutfacesandthesky。EvenJackynoticedthechangeinhim。Mostterriblewerehissufferingswhenheawokefromsleep。
Sometimeshewashappyatfirst，butgrewconsciousofaburdenhangingtohimandweighingdownhisthoughtswhentheywouldmove。Orlittleironsscorchedhisbody。Oraswordstabbedhim。Hewouldsitattheedgeofhisbed，holdinghisheartandmoaning，“OhwhatshallIdo，whatevershallIdo？“Nothingbroughtease。Hecouldputdistancebetweenhimandthetrespass，butitgrewinhissoul。
Remorseisnotamongtheeternalverities。
TheGreekswererighttodethroneher。Heractionistoocapricious，asthoughtheErinyesselectedforpunishmentonlycertainmenandcertainsins。AndofallmeanstoregenerationRemorseissurelythemostwasteful。Itcutsawayhealthytissueswiththepoisoned。Itisaknifethatprobesfardeeperthantheevil。Leonardwasdrivenstraightthroughitstormentsandemergedpure，butenfeebled——abetterman，whowouldneverlosecontrolofhimselfagain，butalsoasmaller，whohadlesstocontrol。Nordidpuritymeanpeace。Theuseoftheknifecanbecomeahabitashardtoshakeoffaspassionitself，andLeonardcontinuedtostartwithacryoutofdreams。
Hebuiltupasituationthatwasfarenoughfromthetruth。ItneveroccurredtohimthatHelenwastoblame。
Heforgottheintensityoftheirtalk，thecharmthathadbeenlenthimbysincerity，themagicofOnitonunderdarknessandofthewhisperingriver。Helenlovedtheabsolute。Leonardhadbeenruinedabsolutely，andhadappearedtoherasamanapart，isolatedfromtheworld。
Arealman，whocaredforadventureandbeauty，whodesiredtolivedecentlyandpayhisway，whocouldhavetravelledmoregloriouslythroughlifethantheJuggernautcarthatwascrushinghim。MemoriesofEvie\'sweddinghadwarpedher，thestarchedservants，theyardsofuneatenfood，therustleofoverdressedwomen，motor-carsoozinggreaseonthegravel，rubbishonapretentiousband。Shehadtastedtheleesofthisonherarrival:inthedarkness，afterfailure，theyintoxicatedher。
Sheandthevictimseemedaloneinaworldofunreality，andshelovedhimabsolutely，perhapsforhalfanhour。
Inthemorningshewasgone。Thenotethatsheleft，tenderandhystericalintone，andintendedtobemostkind，hurtherloverterribly。Itwasasifsomeworkofarthadbeenbrokenbyhim，somepictureintheNationalGalleryslashedoutofitsframe。
Whenherecalledhertalentsandhersocialposition，hefeltthatthefirstpasserbyhadarighttoshoothimdown。Hewasafraidofthewaitressandtheportersattherailway-station。Hewasafraidatfirstofhiswife，thoughlaterhewastoregardherwithastrangenewtenderness，andtothink，“Thereisnothingtochoosebetweenus，afterall。“
TheexpeditiontoShropshirecrippledtheBastspermanently。Heleninherflightforgottosettlethehotelbill，andtooktheirreturnticketsawaywithher；theyhadtopawnJacky\'sbanglestogethome，andthesmashcameafewdaysafterwards。ItistruethatHelenofferedhimfivethousandspounds，butsuchasummeantnothingtohim。Hecouldnotseethatthegirlwasdesperatelyrightingherself，andtryingtosavesomethingoutofthedisaster，ifitwasonlyfivethousandpounds。Buthehadtolivesomehow。Heturnedtohisfamily，anddegradedhimselftoaprofessionalbeggar。Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo。
“AletterfromLeonard，“thoughtBlanche，hissister；
“andafterallthistime。“Shehidit，sothatherhusbandshouldnotsee，andwhenhehadgonetohisworkreaditwithsomeemotion，andsenttheprodigalalittlemoneyoutofherdressallowance。
“AletterfromLeonard！“saidtheothersister，Laura，afewdayslater。Sheshowedittoherhusband。Hewroteacruelinsolentreply，butsentmoremoneythanBlanche，soLeonardsoonwrotetohimagain。
Andduringthewinterthesystemwasdeveloped。
Leonardrealizedthattheyneedneverstarve，becauseitwouldbetoopainfulforhisrelatives。Societyisbasedonthefamily，andthecleverwastrelcanexploitthisindefinitely。Withoutagenerousthoughtoneitherside，poundsandpoundspassed。ThedonorsdislikedLeonard，andhegrewtohatethemintensely。WhenLauracensuredhisimmoralmarriage，hethoughtbitterly，“Shemindsthat！Whatwouldshesayifsheknewthetruth？“WhenBlanche\'shusbandofferedhimwork，hefoundsomepretextforavoidingit。HehadwantedworkkeenlyatOniton，buttoomuchanxietyhadshatteredhim；hewasjoiningtheunemployable。
Whenhisbrother，thelay-reader，didnotreplytoaletter，hewroteagain，sayingthatheandJackywouldcomedowntohisvillageonfoot。
Hedidnotintendthisasblackmail。Still，thebrothersentapostalorder，anditbecamepartofthesystem。Andsopassedhiswinterandhisspring。
Inthehorrortherearetwobrightspots。
Heneverconfusedthepast。Heremainedalive，andblessedarethosewholive，ifitisonlytoasenseofsinfulness。Theanodyneofmuddledom，bywhichmostmenblurandblendtheirmistakes，neverpassedLeonard\'slips——AndifIdrinkoblivionofaday，SoshortenIthestatureofmysoul。Itisahardsaying，andahardmanwroteit，butitliesatthefootofallcharacter。
AndtheotherbrightspotwashistendernessforJacky。Hepitiedherwithnobilitynow——notthecontemptuouspityofamanwhostickstoawomanthroughthickandthin。Hetriedtobelessirritable。Hewonderedwhatherhungryeyesdesired——nothingthatshecouldexpress，orthatheoranymancouldgiveher。Wouldsheeverreceivethejusticethatismercy——thejusticeforby-productsthattheworldistoobusytobestow？Shewasfondofflowers，generouswithmoney，andnotrevengeful。Ifshehadbornehimachildhemighthavecaredforher。Unmarried，Leonardwouldneverhavebegged；hewouldhaveflickeredoutanddied。Butthewholeoflifeismixed。
HehadtoprovideforJacky，andwentdowndirtypathsthatshemighthaveafewfeathersanddishesoffoodthatsuitedher。
OnedayhecaughtsightofMargaretandherbrother。
HewasinSt。Paul\'s。Hehadenteredthecathedralpartlytoavoidtherainandpartlytoseeapicturethathadeducatedhiminformeryears。Butthelightwasbad，thepictureillplaced，andTimeandJudgmentwereinsidehimnow。Deathalonestillcharmedhim，withherlapofpoppies，onwhichallmenshallsleep。Hetookoneglance，andturnedaimlesslyawaytowardsachair。ThendownthenavehesawMissSchlegelandherbrother。Theystoodinthefairwayofpassengers，andtheirfaceswereextremelygrave。Hewasperfectlycertainthattheywereintroubleabouttheirsister。
Onceoutside——andhefledimmediately——hewishedthathehadspokentothem。Whatwashislife？Whatwereafewangrywords，orevenimprisonment？Hehaddonewrong——thatwasthetrueterror。Whatevertheymightknow，hewouldtellthemeverythingheknew。Here-enteredSt。Paul\'s。Buttheyhadmovedinhisabsence，andhadgonetolaytheirdifficultiesbeforeMr。WilcoxandCharles。
ThesightofMargaretturnedremorseintonewchannels。
Hedesiredtoconfess，andthoughthedesireisproofofaweakenednature，whichisabouttolosetheessenceofhumanintercourse，itdidnottakeanignobleform。Hedidnotsupposethatconfessionwouldbringhimhappiness。Itwasratherthatheyearnedtogetclearofthetangle。
Sodoesthesuicideyearn。Theimpulsesareakin，andthecrimeofsuicideliesratherinitsdisregardforthefeelingsofthosewhomweleavebehind。Confessionneedharmnoone——itcansatisfythattest——andthoughitwasun-English，andignoredbyourAnglicancathedral，Leonardhadarighttodecideuponit。
Moreover，hetrustedMargaret。Hewantedherhardnessnow。Thatcold，intellectualnatureofherswouldbejust，ifunkind。Hewoulddowhatevershetoldhim，evenifhehadtoseeHelen。Thatwasthesupremepunishmentshewouldexact。AndperhapsshewouldtellhimhowHelenwas。Thatwasthesupremereward。
HeknewnothingaboutMargaret，notevenwhethershewasmarriedtoMr。Wilcox，andtrackingherouttookseveraldays。
ThateveninghetoiledthroughthewettoWickhamPlace，wherethenewflatswerenowappearing。Washealsothecauseoftheirmove？
Weretheyexpelledfromsocietyonhisaccount？Thencetoapubliclibrary，butcouldfindnosatisfactorySchlegelinthedirectory。
Onthemorrowhesearchedagain。HehungaboutoutsideMr。Wilcox\'sofficeatlunchtime，and，astheclerkscameoutsaid:“Excuseme，sir，butisyourbossmarried？“Mostofthemstared，somesaid，“What\'sthattoyou？“butone，whohadnotyetacquiredreticence，toldhimwhathewished。Leonardcouldnotlearntheprivateaddress。Thatnecessitatedmoretroublewithdirectoriesandtubes。DucieStreetwasnotdiscoveredtilltheMonday，thedaythatMargaretandherhusbandwentdownontheirhuntingexpeditiontoHowardsEnd。
Hecalledataboutfouro\'clock。Theweatherhadchanged，andthesunshonegailyontheornamentalsteps——blackandwhitemarbleintriangles。Leonardloweredhiseyestothemafterringingthebell。Hefeltincurioushealth:doorsseemedtobeopeningandshuttinginsidehisbody，andhehadbeenobligedtosteepsittingupinbed，withhisbackproppedagainstthewall。Whentheparlourmaidcamehecouldnotseeherface；thebrownrainhaddescendedsuddenly。
“DoesMrs。Wilcoxlivehere？“heasked。
“She\'sout，“wastheanswer。
“Whenwillshebeback？“
“I\'llask，“saidtheparlourmaid。
Margarethadgiveninstructionsthatnoonewhomentionedhernameshouldeverberebuffed。Puttingthedooronthechain——forLeonard\'sappearancedemandedthis——shewentthroughtothesmoking-room，whichwasoccupiedbyTibby。Tibbywasasleep。
Hehadhadagoodlunch。CharlesWilcoxhadnotyetrunghimupforthedistractinginterview。Hesaiddrowsily:“Idon\'tknow。
Hilton。HowardsEnd。Whoisit？“
“I\'llask，sir。“
“No，don\'tbother。“
“TheyhavetakenthecartoHowardsEnd，“saidtheparlourmaidtoLeonard。
