第12章

Hethankedher，andaskedwhereaboutsthatplacewas。

“Youappeartowanttoknowagooddeal，“sheremarked。

ButMargarethadforbiddenhertobemysterious。ShetoldhimagainstherbetterjudgmentthatHowardsEndwasinHertfordshire。

“Isitavillage，please？“

“Village！It\'sMr。Wilcox\'sprivatehouse——atleast，it\'soneofthem。Mrs。Wilcoxkeepsherfurniturethere。

Hiltonisthevillage。“

“Yes。Andwhenwilltheybeback？“

“Mr。Schlegeldoesn\'tknow。Wecan\'tknoweverything，canwe？“Sheshuthimout，andwenttoattendtothetelephone，whichwasringingfuriously。

Heloiteredawayanothernightofagony。Confessiongrewmoredifficult。Assoonaspossiblehewenttobed。Hewatchedapatchofmoonlightcrosstheflooroftheirlodging，and，assometimeshappenswhenthemindisovertaxed，hefellasleepfortherestoftheroom，butkeptawakeforthepatchofmoonlight。Horrible！

Thenbeganoneofthosedisintegratingdialogues。Partofhimsaid:

“Whyhorrible？It\'sordinarylightfromtheroom。““Butitmoves。“

“Sodoesthemoon。““Butitisaclenchedfist。““Whynot？““Butitisgoingtotouchme。““Letit。“And，seemingtogathermotion，thepatchranuphisblanket。Presentlyabluesnakeappeared；thenanother，paralleltoit。“Istherelifeinthemoon？““Ofcourse。““ButI

thoughtitwasuninhabited。““NotbyTime，Death，Judgment，andthesmallersnakes。““Smallersnakes！“saidLeonardindignantlyandaloud。“Whatanotion！“Byarendingeffortofthewillhewoketherestoftheroomup。Jacky，thebed，theirfood，theirclothesonthechair，graduallyenteredhisconsciousness，andthehorrorvanishedoutwards，likearingthatisspreadingthroughwater。

“Isay，Jacky，I\'mgoingoutforabit。“

Shewasbreathingregularly。Thepatchoflightfellclearofthestripedblanket，andbegantocovertheshawlthatlayoverherfeet。Whyhadhebeenafraid？Hewenttothewindow，andsawthatthemoonwasdescendingthroughaclearsky。Hesawhervolcanoes，andthebrightexpansesthatagraciouserrorhasnamedseas。Theypaled，forthesun，whohadlitthemup，wascomingtolighttheearth。SeaofSerenity，SeaofTranquillity，OceanoftheLunarStorms，mergedintoonelucentdrop，itselftoslipintothesempiternaldawn。Andhehadbeenafraidofthemoon！

Hedressedamongthecontendinglights，andwentthroughhismoney。Itwasrunninglowagain，butenoughforareturntickettoHilton。AsitclinkedJackyopenedhereyes。

“Hullo，Len！Whatho，Len！“

“Whatho，Jacky！seeyouagainlater。“

Sheturnedoverandslept。

Thehousewasunlocked，theirlandlordbeingasalesmanatConventGarden。Leonardpassedoutandmadehiswaydowntothestation。Thetrain，thoughitdidnotstartforanhour，wasalreadydrawnupattheendoftheplatform，andhelaydowninitandslept。

Withthefirstjolthewasindaylight；theyhadleftthegatewaysofKing\'sCross，andwereunderbluesky。Tunnelsfollowed，andaftereachtheskygrewbluer，andfromtheembankmentatFinsburyParkhehadhisfirstsightofthesun。Itrolledalongbehindtheeasternsmokes——awheel，whosefellowwasthedescendingmoon——andasyetitseemedtheservantofthebluesky，notitslord。Hedozedagain。OverTewinWateritwasday。Totheleftfelltheshadowoftheembankmentanditsarches；totherightLeonardsawupintotheTewinWoodsandtowardsthechurch，withitswildlegendofimmortality。Sixforesttrees——thatisafact——growoutofoneofthegravesinTewinchurchyard。Thegrave\'soccupant——thatisthelegend——isanatheist，whodeclaredthatifGodexisted，sixforesttreeswouldgrowoutofhergrave。ThesethingsinHertfordshire；andfartherafieldlaythehouseofahermit——Mrs。

Wilcoxhadknownhim——whobarredhimselfup，andwroteprophecies，andgaveallhehadtothepoor。While，powderedinbetween，werethevillasofbusinessmen，whosawlifemoresteadily，thoughwiththesteadinessofthehalf-closedeye。Overallthesunwasstreaming，toallthebirdsweresinging，toalltheprimroseswereyellow，andthespeedwellblue，andthecountry，howevertheyinterpretedher，wasutteringhercryof“now。“ShedidnotfreeLeonardyet，andtheknifeplungeddeeperintohisheartasthetraindrewupatHilton。Butremorsehadbecomebeautiful。

Hiltonwasasleep，orattheearliest，breakfasting。

Leonardnoticedthecontrastwhenhesteppedoutofitintothecountry。

Heremenhadbeenupsincedawn。Theirhourswereruled，notbyaLondonoffice，butbythemovementsofthecropsandthesun。Thattheyweremenofthefinesttypeonlythesentimentalistcandeclare。

Buttheykepttothelifeofdaylight。TheyareEngland\'shope。

Clumsilytheycarryforwardthetorchofthesun，untilsuchtimeasthenationseesfittotakeitup。Halfclodhopper，halfboard-schoolprig，theycanstillthrowbacktoanoblerstock，andbreedyeomen。

Atthechalkpitamotorpassedhim。Initwasanothertype，whomNaturefavours——theImperial。Healthy，everinmotion，ithopestoinherittheearth。Itbreedsasquicklyastheyeoman，andassoundly；strongisthetemptationtoacclaimitasasuper-yeoman，whocarrieshiscountry\'svirtueoverseas。ButtheImperialistisnotwhathethinksorseems。Heisadestroyer。

Hepreparesthewayforcosmopolitanism，andthoughhisambitionsmaybefulfilled，theearththatheinheritswillbegrey。

ToLeonard，intentonhisprivatesin，therecametheconvictionofinnategoodnesselsewhere。Itwasnottheoptimismwhichhehadbeentaughtatschool。Againandagainmustthedrumstap，andthegoblinsstalkovertheuniversebeforejoycanbepurgedofthesuperficial。Itwasratherparadoxical，andarosefromhissorrow。

Deathdestroysaman，buttheideaofdeathsaveshim——thatisthebestaccountofitthathasyetbeengiven。Squalorandtragedycanbeckontoallthatisgreatinus，andstrengthenthewingsoflove。Theycanbeckon；itisnotcertainthattheywill，fortheyarenotlove\'sservants。

Buttheycanbeckon，andtheknowledgeofthisincredibletruthcomfortedhim。

Asheapproachedthehouseallthoughtstopped。

Contradictorynotionsstoodsidebysideinhismind。Hewasterrifiedbuthappy，ashamed，buthaddonenosin。Heknewtheconfession:

“Mrs。Wilcox，Ihavedonewrong，“butsunrisehadrobbeditsmeaning，andhefeltratheronasupremeadventure。

Heenteredagarden，steadiedhimselfagainstamotor-carthathefoundinit，foundadooropenandenteredahouse。

Yes，itwouldbeveryeasy。Fromaroomtotheleftheheardvoices，Margaret\'samongstthem。Hisownnamewascalledaloud，andamanwhomhehadneverseensaid，“Oh，ishethere？Iamnotsurprised。

Inowthrashhimwithinaninchofhislife。“

“Mrs。Wilcox，“saidLeonard，“Ihavedonewrong。“

Themantookhimbythecollarandcried，“Bringmeastick。“Womenwerescreaming。Astick，verybright，descended。

Ithurthim，notwhereitdescended，butintheheart。Booksfelloverhiminashower。Nothinghadsense。

“Getsomewater，“commandedCharles，whohadallthroughkeptverycalm。“He\'sshamming。OfcourseIonlyusedtheblade。Here，carryhimoutintotheair。“

Thinkingthatheunderstoodthesethings，Margaretobeyedhim。TheylaidLeonard，whowasdead，onthegravel；Helenpouredwateroverhim。

“That\'senough，“saidCharles。

“Yes，murder\'senough，“saidMissAvery，comingoutofthehousewiththesword。Chapter42WhenCharlesleftDucieStreethehadcaughtthefirsttrainhome，buthadnoinklingofthenewestdevelopmentuntillateatnight。Thenhisfather，whohaddinedalone，sentforhim，andinverygravetonesinquiredforMargaret。

“Idon\'tknowwheresheis，pater，“saidCharles。

“Dollykeptbackdinnernearlyanhourforher。“

“Tellmewhenshecomesin。“

Anotherhourpassed。Theservantswenttobed，andCharlesvisitedhisfatheragain，toreceivefurtherinstructions。

Mrs。Wilcoxhadstillnotreturned。

“I\'llsitupforheraslateasyoulike，butshecanhardlybecoming。Isn\'tshestoppingwithhersisteratthehotel？“

“Perhaps，“saidMr。Wilcoxthoughtfully——“perhaps。“

“CanIdoanythingforyou，sir？“

“Nottonight，myboy。“

Mr。Wilcoxlikedbeingcalledsir。Heraisedhiseyesandgavehissonmoreopenalookoftendernessthanheusuallyventured。HesawCharlesaslittleboyandstrongmaninone。

Thoughhiswifehadprovedunstablehischildrenwerelefttohim。

AftermidnighthetappedonCharles\'sdoor。

“Ican\'tsleep，“hesaid。“Ihadbetterhaveatalkwithyouandgetitover。“

Hecomplainedoftheheat。Charlestookhimoutintothegarden，andtheypacedupanddownintheirdressing-gowns。

Charlesbecameveryquietasthestoryunrolled；hehadknownallalongthatMargaretwasasbadashersister。

“Shewillfeeldifferentlyinthemorning，“saidMr。Wilcox，whohadofcoursesaidnothingaboutMrs。Bast。“ButIcannotletthiskindofthingcontinuewithoutcomment。IammorallycertainthatsheiswithhersisteratHowardsEnd。Thehouseismine——and，Charles，itwillbeyours——andwhenIsaythatnooneistolivethere，Imeanthatnooneistolivethere。Iwon\'thaveit。“

Helookedangrilyatthemoon。“Tomymindthisquestionisconnectedwithsomethingfargreater，therightsofpropertyitself。“

“Undoubtedly，“saidCharles。

Mr。Wilcoxlinkedhisarminhisson\'s，butsomehowlikedhimlessashetoldhimmore。“Idon\'twantyoutoconcludethatmywifeandIhadanythingofthenatureofaquarrel。Shewasonlyover-wrought，aswhowouldnotbe？IshalldowhatIcanforHelen，butontheunderstandingthattheyclearoutofthehouseatonce。

Doyousee？Thatisasinequanon。“

“ThenateighttomorrowImaygoupinthecar？“

“Eightorearlier。Saythatyouareactingasmyrepresentative，and，ofcourse，usenoviolence，Charles。“

Onthemorrow，asCharlesreturned，leavingLeonarddeaduponthegravel，itdidnotseemtohimthathehadusedviolence。

Deathwasduetoheartdisease。Hisstepmotherherselfhadsaidso，andevenMissAveryhadacknowledgedthatheonlyusedtheflatofthesword。Onhiswaythroughthevillageheinformedthepolice，whothankedhim，andsaidtheremustbeaninquest。Hefoundhisfatherinthegardenshadinghiseyesfromthesun。

“Ithasbeenprettyhorrible，“saidCharlesgravely。

“Theywerethere，andtheyhadthemanuptherewiththemtoo。“

“What——whatman？“

“Itoldyoulastnight。HisnamewasBast。“

“MyGod，isitpossible？“saidMr。Wilcox。

“Inyourmother\'shouse！Charles，inyourmother\'shouse！“

“Iknow，pater。ThatwaswhatIfelt。

Asamatteroffact，thereisnoneedtotroubleabouttheman。Hewasinthelaststagesofheartdisease，andjustbeforeIcouldshowhimwhatIthoughtofhimhewentoff。Thepoliceareseeingaboutitatthismoment。“

Mr。Wilcoxlistenedattentively。

“Igotupthere——oh，itcouldn\'thavebeenmorethanhalf-pastseven。TheAverywomanwaslightingafireforthem。

Theywerestillupstairs。Iwaitedinthedrawing-room。Wewereallmoderatelycivilandcollected，thoughIhadmysuspicions。

Igavethemyourmessage，andMrs。Wilcoxsaid，\'Ohyes，Isee；yes，\'inthatwayofhers。“

“Nothingelse？“

“Ipromisedtotellyou，\'withherlove，\'thatshewasgoingtoGermanywithhersisterthisevening。Thatwasallwehadtimefor。“

Mr。Wilcoxseemedrelieved。

“BecausebythenIsupposethemangottiredofhiding，forsuddenlyMrs。Wilcoxscreamedouthisname。Irecognizedit，andIwentforhiminthehall。WasIright，pater？Ithoughtthingsweregoingalittletoofar。“

“Right，mydearboy？Idon\'tknow。Butyouwouldhavebeennosonofmineifyouhadn\'t。Thendidhejust——just——crumpleupasyousaid？“Heshrunkfromthesimpleword。

“Hecaughtholdofthebookcase，whichcamedownoverhim。SoImerelyputthesworddownandcarriedhimintothegarden。Weallthoughthewasshamming。However，he\'sdeadrightenough。Awfulbusiness！“

“Sword？“criedhisfather，withanxietyinhisvoice。

“Whatsword？Whosesword？“

“Aswordoftheirs。“

“Whatwereyoudoingwithit？“

“Well，didn\'tyousee，pater，IhadtosnatchupthefirstthinghandyIhadn\'tariding-whiporstick。IcaughthimonceortwiceovertheshoulderswiththeflatoftheiroldGermansword。“

“Thenwhat？“

“Hepulledoverthebookcase，asIsaid，andfell，“

saidCharles，withasigh。Itwasnofundoingerrandsforhisfather，whowasneverquitesatisfied。

“Buttherealcausewasheartdisease？Ofthatyou\'resure？“

“Thatorafit。However，weshallhearmorethanenoughattheinquestonsuchunsavourytopics。“

Theywentintobreakfast。Charleshadarackingheadache，consequentonmotoringbeforefood。Hewasalsoanxiousaboutthefuture，reflectingthatthepolicemustdetainHelenandMargaretfortheinquestandferretthewholethingout。HesawhimselfobligedtoleaveHilton。Onecouldnotaffordtolivenearthesceneofascandal——itwasnotfaironone\'swife。Hiscomfortwasthatthepater\'seyeswereopenedatlast。Therewouldbeahorriblesmashup，andprobablyaseparationfromMargaret；thentheywouldallstartagain，moreastheyhadbeeninhismother\'stime。

“IthinkI\'llgoroundtothepolice-station，“saidhisfatherwhenbreakfastwasover。

“Whatfor？“criedDolly，whohadstillnotbeen“told。“

“Verywell，sir。Whichcarwillyouhave？“

“IthinkI\'llwalk。“

“It\'sagoodhalf-mile，“saidCharles，steppingintothegarden。“Thesun\'sveryhotforApril。Shan\'tItakeyouup，andthen，perhaps，alittlespinroundbyTewin？“

“YougoonasifIdidn\'tknowmyownmind，“saidMr。Wilcoxfretfully。Charleshardenedhismouth。“Youyoungfellows\'oneideaistogetintoamotor。Itellyou，Iwanttowalk:

I\'mveryfondofwalking。“

“Oh，allright；I\'maboutthehouseifyouwantmeforanything。Ithoughtofnotgoinguptotheofficetoday，ifthatisyourwish。“

“Itis，indeed，myboy，“saidMr。Wilcox，andlaidahandonhissleeve。

Charlesdidnotlikeit；hewasuneasyabouthisfather，whodidnotseemhimselfthismorning。Therewasapetulanttouchabouthim——morelikeawoman。Coulditbethathewasgrowingold？TheWilcoxeswerenotlackinginaffection；theyhaditroyally，buttheydidnotknowhowtouseit。Itwasthetalentinthenapkin，and，forawarm-heartedman，Charleshadconveyedverylittlejoy。

Ashewatchedhisfathershufflinguptheroad，hehadavagueregret——awishthatsomethinghadbeendifferentsomewhere——awish(thoughhedidnotexpressitthus)thathehadbeentaughttosay“I“inhisyouth。

HemeanttomakeupforMargaret\'sdefection，butknewthathisfatherhadbeenveryhappywithheruntilyesterday。Howhadshedoneit？

Bysomedishonesttrick，nodoubt——buthow？

Mr。Wilcoxreappearedateleven，lookingverytired。

TherewastobeaninquestonLeonard\'s\'bodytomorrow，andthepolicerequiredhissontoattend。

“Iexpectedthat，“saidCharles。“Ishallnaturallybethemostimportantwitnessthere。“Chapter43OutoftheturmoilandhorrorthathadbegunwithAuntJuley\'sillnessandwasnoteventoendwithLeonard\'sdeath，itseemedimpossibletoMargaretthathealthylifeshouldre-emerge。Eventssucceededinalogical，yetsenseless，train。Peoplelosttheirhumanity，andtookvaluesasarbitraryasthoseinapackofplaying-cards。ItwasnaturalthatHenryshoulddothisandcauseHelentodothat，andthenthinkherwrongfordoingit；naturalthatsheherselfshouldthinkhimwrong；naturalthatLeonardshouldwanttoknowhowHelenwas，andcome，andCharlesbeangrywithhimforcoming——natural，butunreal。Inthisjangleofcausesandeffectswhathadbecomeoftheirtrueselves？HereLeonardlaydeadinthegarden，fromnaturalcauses；yetlifewasadeep，deepriver，deathabluesky，lifewasahouse，deathawispofhay，aflower，atower，lifeanddeathwereanythingandeverything，exceptthisorderedinsanity，wherethekingtakesthequeen，andtheacetheking。Ah，no；therewasbeautyandadventurebehind，suchasthemanatherfeethadyearnedfor；therewashopethissideofthegrave；thereweretruerrelationshipsbeyondthelimitsthatfetterusnow。Asaprisonerlooksupandseesstarsbeckoning，soshe，fromtheturmoilandhorrorofthosedays，caughtglimpsesofthedivinerwheels。

AndHelen，dumbwithfright，buttryingtokeepcalmforthechild\'ssake，andMissAvery，calm，butmurmuringtenderly，“Nooneevertoldtheladhe\'llhaveachild“——theyalsoremindedherthathorrorisnottheend。Towhatultimateharmonywetendshedidnotknow，butthereseemedgreatchancethatachildwouldbebornintotheworld，totakethegreatchancesofbeautyandadventurethattheworldoffers。Shemovedthroughthesunlitgarden，gatheringnarcissi，crimson-eyedandwhite。Therewasnothingelsetobedone；thetimefortelegramsandangerwasover，anditseemedwisestthatthehandsofLeonardshouldbefoldedonhisbreastandbefilledwithflowers。

Herewasthefather；leaveitatthat。LetSqualorbeturnedintoTragedy，whoseeyesarethestars，andwhosehandsholdthesunsetandthedawn。

Andeventheinfluxofofficials，eventhereturnofthedoctor，vulgarandacute，couldnotshakeherbeliefintheeternityofbeauty。Scienceexplainedpeople，butcouldnotunderstandthem。

Afterlongcenturiesamongthebonesandmusclesitmightbeadvancingtoknowledgeofthenerves，butthiswouldnevergiveunderstanding。

OnecouldopenthehearttoMr。Mansbridgeandhissortwithoutdiscoveringitssecretstothem，fortheywantedeverythingdowninblackandwhite，andblackandwhitewasexactlywhattheywereleftwith。

TheyquestionedhercloselyaboutCharles。

Sheneversuspectedwhy。Deathhadcome，andthedoctoragreedthatitwasduetoheartdisease。Theyaskedtoseeherfather\'ssword。

SheexplainedthatCharles\'sangerwasnatural，butmistaken。MiserablequestionsaboutLeonardfollowed，allofwhichsheansweredunfalteringly。

ThenbacktoCharlesagain。“NodoubtMr。Wilcoxmayhaveinduceddeath，“shesaid；“butifitwasn\'tonethingitwouldhavebeenanother，asyouyourselvesknow。“Atlasttheythankedher，andtooktheswordandthebodydowntoHilton。Shebegantopickupthebooksfromthefloor。

Helenhadgonetothefarm。Itwasthebestplaceforher，sinceshehadtowaitfortheinquest。Though，asifthingswerenothardenough，Madgeandherhusbandhadraisedtrouble；

theydidnotseewhytheyshouldreceivetheoffscouringsofHowardsEnd。

And，ofcourse，theywereright。Thewholeworldwasgoingtoberight，andamplyavengeanybravetalkagainsttheconventions。“Nothingmatters，“theSchlegelshadsaidinthepast，“exceptone\'sself-respectandthatofone\'sfriends。“Whenthetimecame，otherthingsmatteredterribly。

However，Madgehadyielded，andHelenwasassuredofpeaceforonedayandnight，andtomorrowshewouldreturntoGermany。

Asforherself，shedeterminedtogotoo。

NomessagecamefromHenry；perhapsheexpectedhertoapologize。

Nowthatshehadtimetothinkoverherowntragedy，shewasunrepentant。

Sheneitherforgavehimforhisbehaviournorwishedtoforgivehim。

Herspeechtohimseemedperfect。Shewouldnothavealteredaword。

Ithadtobeutteredonceinalife，toadjustthelopsidednessoftheworld。Itwasspokennotonlytoherhusband，buttothousandsofmenlikehim——aprotestagainsttheinnerdarknessinhighplacesthatcomeswithacommercialage。Thoughhewouldbuilduphislifewithouthers，shecouldnotapologize。Hehadrefusedtoconnect，ontheclearestissuethatcanbelaidbeforeaman，andtheirlovemusttaketheconsequences。

No，therewasnothingmoretobedone。Theyhadtriednottogoovertheprecipicebutperhapsthefallwasinevitable。

Anditcomfortedhertothinkthatthefuturewascertainlyinevitable:

causeandeffectwouldgojanglingforwardtosomegoaldoubtless，buttononethatshecouldimagine。Atsuchmomentsthesoulretireswithin，tofloatuponthebosomofadeeperstream，andhascommunionwiththedead，andseestheworld\'sglorynotdiminished，butdifferentinkindtowhatshehassupposed。Shealtersherfocusuntiltrivialthingsareblurred。Margarethadbeentendingthiswayallthewinter。

Leonard\'sdeathbroughthertothegoal。Alas！thatHenryshouldfade，awayasrealityemerged，andonlyherloveforhimshouldremainclear，stampedwithhisimagelikethecameoswerescueoutofdreams。

Withunfalteringeyeshetracedhisfuture。

Hewouldsoonpresentahealthymindtotheworldagain，andwhatdidheortheworldcareifhewasrottenatthecore？Hewouldgrowintoarich，jollyoldman，attimesalittlesentimentalaboutwomen，butemptyinghisglasswithanyone。Tenaciousofpower，hewouldkeepCharlesandtherestdependent，andretirefrombusinessreluctantlyandatanadvancedage。Hewouldsettledown——thoughshecouldnotrealizethis。InhereyesHenrywasalwaysmovingandcausingotherstomove，untiltheendsoftheearthmet。Butintimehemustgettootiredtomove，andsettledown。Whatnext？Theinevitableword。

ThereleaseofthesoultoitsappropriateHeaven。

Wouldtheymeetinit？Margaretbelievedinimmortalityforherself。Aneternalfuturehadalwaysseemednaturaltoher。AndHenrybelievedinitforhimself。Yet，wouldtheymeetagain？Aretherenotratherendlesslevelsbeyondthegrave，asthetheorythathehadcensuredteaches？Andhislevel，whetherhigherorlower，coulditpossiblybethesameashers？

Thusgravelymeditating，shewassummonedbyhim。

HesentupCraneinthemotor。Otherservantspassedlikewater，butthechauffeurremained，thoughimpertinentanddisloyal。MargaretdislikedCrane，andheknewit。

“IsitthekeysthatMr。Wilcoxwants？“sheasked。

“Hedidn\'tsay，madam。“

“Youhaven\'tanynoteforme？“

“Hedidn\'tsay，madam。“

Afteramoment\'sthoughtshelockedupHowardsEnd。

Itwaspitiabletoseeinitthestirringsofwarmththatwouldbequenchedforever。Sherakedoutthefirethatwasblazinginthekitchen，andspreadthecoalsinthegravelledyard。Sheclosedthewindowsanddrewthecurtains。Henrywouldprobablyselltheplacenow。

Shewasdeterminednottosparehim，fornothingnewhadhappenedasfarastheywereconcerned。Hermoodmightneverhavealteredfromyesterdayevening。HewasstandingalittleoutsideCharles\'sgate，andmotionedthecartostop。Whenhiswifegotouthesaidhoarsely:“Iprefertodiscussthingswithyououtside。“

“Itwillbemoreappropriateintheroad，Iamafraid，“

saidMargaret。“Didyougetmymessage？“

“Whatabout？“

“IamgoingtoGermanywithmysister。ImusttellyounowthatIshallmakeitmypermanenthome。Ourtalklastnightwasmoreimportantthanyouhaverealized。Iamunabletoforgiveyouandamleavingyou。“

“Iamextremelytired，“saidHenry，ininjuredtones。

“Ihavebeenwalkingaboutallthemorning，andwishtositdown。“

“Certainly，ifyouwillconsenttositonthegrass。“

TheGreatNorthRoadshouldhavebeenborderedallitslengthwithglebe。Henry\'skindhadfilchedmostofit。

Shemovedtothescrapopposite，whereinweretheSixHills。Theysatdownonthefartherside，sothattheycouldnotbeseenbyCharlesorDolly。

“Hereareyourkeys，“saidMargaret。Shetossedthemtowardshim。Theyfellonthesunlitslopeofgrass，andhedidnotpickthemup。

“Ihavesomethingtotellyou，“hesaidgently。

Sheknewthissuperficialgentleness，thisconfessionofhastiness，thatwasonlyintendedtoenhanceheradmirationofthemale。

“Idon\'twanttohearit，“shereplied。“Mysisterisgoingtobeill。Mylifeisgoingtobewithhernow。

Wemustmanagetobuildupsomething，sheandIandherchild。“

“Whereareyougoing？“

“Munich。Westartaftertheinquest，ifsheisnottooill。“

“Aftertheinquest？“

“Yes。“

“Haveyourealizedwhattheverdictattheinquestwillbe？“

“Yes，heartdisease。“

“No，mydear；manslaughter。“

Margaretdroveherfingersthroughthegrass。

Thehillbeneathhermovedasifitwasalive。

“Manslaughter，“repeatedMr。Wilcox。“Charlesmaygotoprison。Idarenottellhim。Idon\'tknowwhattodo——whattodo。I\'mbroken——I\'mended。“

Nosuddenwarmtharoseinher。Shedidnotseethattobreakhimwasheronlyhope。Shedidnotenfoldthesuffererinherarms。Butallthroughthatdayandthenextanewlifebegantomove。Theverdictwasbroughtin。Charleswascommittedfortrial。Itwasagainstallreasonthatheshouldbepunished，butthelaw，beingmadeinhisimage，sentencedhimtothreeyears\'imprisonment。

ThenHenry\'sfortressgaveway。Hecouldbearnoonebuthiswife，heshambleduptoMargaretafterwardsandaskedhertodowhatshecouldwithhim。Shedidwhatseemedeasiest——shetookhimdowntorecruitatHowardsEnd。Chapter44Tom\'sfatherwascuttingthebigmeadow。Hepassedagainandagainamidwhirringbladesandsweetodoursofgrass，encompassingwithnarrowingcirclesthesacredcentreofthefield。TomwasnegotiatingwithHelen。

“Ihaven\'tanyidea，“shereplied。“Doyousupposebabymay，Meg？“

Margaretputdownherworkandregardedthemabsently。

“Whatwasthat？“sheasked。

“Tomwantstoknowwhetherbabyisoldenoughtoplaywithhay？“

“Ihaven\'ttheleastnotion，“answeredMargaret，andtookupherworkagain。

“Now，Tom，babyisnottostand；heisnottolieonhisface；heisnottoliesothathisheadwags；heisnottobeteasedortickled；andheisnottobecutintotwoormorepiecesbythecutter。

Willyoubeascarefulasallthat？“

Tomheldouthisarms。

“Thatchildisawonderfulnursemaid，“remarkedMargaret。

“Heisfondofbaby。That\'swhyhedoesit！“

wasHelen\'sanswer。They\'regoingtobelifelongfriends。“

“Startingattheagesofsixandone？“

“Ofcourse。ItwillbeagreatthingforTom。“

“Itmaybeagreaterthingforbaby。“

Fourteenmonthshadpassed，butMargaretstillstoppedatHowardsEnd。Nobetterplanhadoccurredtoher。Themeadowwasbeingrecut，thegreatredpoppieswerereopeninginthegarden。

Julywouldfollowwiththelittleredpoppiesamongthewheat，Augustwiththecuttingofthewheat。Theselittleeventswouldbecomepartofheryearafteryear。Everysummershewouldfearlestthewellshouldgiveout，everywinterlestthepipesshouldfreeze；everywesterlygalemightblowthewych-elmdownandbringtheendofallthings，andsoshecouldnotreadortalkduringawesterlygale。Theairwastranquilnow。SheandhersisterweresittingontheremainsofEvie\'smockery，wherethelawnmergedintothefield。

“Whatatimetheyallare！“saidHelen。“Whatcantheybedoinginside？“Margaret，whowasgrowinglesstalkative，madenoanswer。Thenoiseofthecuttercameintermittently，likethebreakingofwaves。Closebythemamanwaspreparingtoscytheoutoneofthedell-holes。

“IwishHenrywasouttoenjoythis，“saidHelen。

“Thislovelyweatherandtobeshutupinthehouse！It\'sveryhard。“

“Ithastobe，“saidMargaret。“Thehay-feverishischiefobjectionagainstlivinghere，buthethinksitworthwhile。“

“Meg，isorisn\'theill？Ican\'tmakeout。“

“Notill。Eternallytired。Hehasworkedveryhardallhislife，andnoticednothing。Thosearethepeoplewhocollapsewhentheydonoticeathing。“

“Isupposeheworriesdreadfullyabouthispartofthetangle。“

“Dreadfully。ThatiswhyIwishDollyhadnotcome，too，today。Still，hewantedthemalltocome。Ithastobe。“

“Whydoeshewantthem？“

Margaretdidnotanswer。

“Meg，mayItellyousomething？IlikeHenry。“

“You\'dbeoddifyoudidn\'t，“saidMargaret。

“Iusen\'tto。“

“Usen\'t！“Sheloweredhereyesamomenttotheblackabyssofthepast。Theyhadcrossedit，alwaysexceptingLeonardandCharles。Theywerebuildingupanewlife，obscure，yetgildedwithtranquillity。Leonardwasdead；Charleshadtwoyearsmoreinprison。Oneusen\'talwaystoseeclearlybeforethattime。

Itwasdifferentnow。

“IlikeHenrybecausehedoesworry。“

“Andhelikesyoubecauseyoudon\'t。“

Helensighed。Sheseemedhumiliated，andburiedherfaceinherhands。Afteratimeshesaid:“Abovelove，“atransitionlessabruptthanitappeared。

Margaretneverstoppedworking。

“Imeanawoman\'sloveforaman。IsupposedIshouldhangmylifeontothatonce，andwasdrivenupanddownandaboutasifsomethingwasworryingthroughme。Buteverythingispeacefulnow；Iseemcured。ThatHerrFö；rstmeister，whomFriedakeepswritingabout，mustbeanoblecharacter，buthedoesn\'tseethatIshallnevermarryhimoranyone。Itisn\'tshameormistrustofmyself。

Isimplycouldn\'t。I\'mended。Iusedtobesodreamyaboutaman\'sloveasagirl，andthinkthatforgoodorevillovemustbethegreatthing。Butithasn\'tbeen；ithasbeenitselfadream。

Doyouagree？“

“Idonotagree。Idonot。“

“IoughttorememberLeonardasmylover，“saidHelen，steppingdownintothefield。“Itemptedhim，andkilledhimanditissurelytheleastIcando。IwouldliketothrowoutallmyhearttoLeonardonsuchanafternoonasthis。ButIcannot。

Itisnogoodpretending。Iamforgettinghim。“Hereyesfilledwithtears。“Hownothingseemstomatch——how，mydarling，myprecious——“

Shebrokeoff。“Tommy！“

“Yes，please？“

“Baby\'snottotryandstand——There\'ssomethingwantinginme。IseeyoulovingHenry，andunderstandinghimbetterdaily，andIknowthatdeathwouldn\'tpartyouintheleast。ButI——Isitsomeawfulappalling，criminaldefect？“

Margaretsilencedher。Shesaid:“Itisonlythatpeoplearefarmoredifferentthanispretended。Allovertheworldmenandwomenareworryingbecausetheycannotdevelopastheyaresupposedtodevelop。Hereandtheretheyhavethematterout，anditcomfortsthem。Don\'tfretyourself，Helen。Developwhatyouhave；loveyourchild。Idonotlovechildren。Iamthankfultohavenone。Icanplaywiththeirbeautyandcharm，butthatisall——nothingreal，notonescrapofwhatthereoughttobe。Andothers——othersgofartherstill，andmoveoutsidehumanityaltogether。Aplace，aswellasaperson，maycatchtheglow。Don\'tyouseethatallthisleadstocomfortintheend？Itispartofthebattleagainstsameness。

Differences——eternaldifferences，plantedbyGodinasinglefamily，sothattheremayalwaysbecolour；sorrowperhaps，butcolourinthedailygrey。ThenIcan\'thaveyouworryingaboutLeonard。Don\'tdraginthepersonalwhenitwillnotcome。Forgethim。“

“Yes，yes，butwhathasLeonardgotoutoflife？“

“Perhapsanadventure。“

“Isthatenough？“

“Notforus。Butforhim。“

Helentookupabunchofgrass。Shelookedatthesorrel，andtheredandwhiteandyellowclover，andthequakergrass，andthedaisies，andthebentsthatcomposedit。Sheraisedittoherface。

“Isitsweeteningyet？“askedMargaret。

“No，onlywithered。“

“Itwillsweetentomorrow。“

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——Iwantedyou；hewantedyou；andeveryonesaiditwasimpossible，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。Itmaybefollowedbyacivilizationthatwon\'tbeamovement，becauseitwillrestontheearth。Allthesignsareagainstitnow，butIcan\'thelphoping，andveryearlyinthemorninginthegardenIfeelthatourhouseisthefutureaswellasthepast。“

Theyturnedandlookedatit。Theirownmemoriescoloureditnow，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。Shedidnotlikeanythingscratched；shestoppedinthehalltotakeDolly\'sboaandglovesoutofavase。

Herhusbandwaslyinginagreatleatherchairinthedining-room，andbyhisside，holdinghishandratherostentatiously，wasEvie。Dolly，dressedinpurple，satnearthewindow。Theroomwasalittledarkandairless；theywereobligedtokeepitlikethisuntilthecartingofthehay。Margaretjoinedthefamilywithoutspeaking；thefiveofthemhadmetalreadyattea，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。“Andleteveryoneunderstandthat；andafterIamdeadlettherebenojealousyandnosurprise。“

Margaretdidnotanswer。Therewassomethinguncannyinhertriumph。She，whohadneverexpectedtoconqueranyone，hadchargedstraightthroughtheseWilcoxesandbrokenuptheirlives。

“Inconsequence，Ileavemywifenomoney，“saidHenry。“Thatisherownwish。Allthatshewouldhavehadwillbedividedamongyou。Iamalsogivingyouagreatdealinmylifetime，sothatyoumaybeindependentofme。Thatisherwish，too。

Shealsoisgivingawayagreatdealofmoney。Sheintendstodiminishherincomebyhalfduringthenexttenyears；sheintendswhenshediestoleavethehousetoher——tohernephew，downinthefield。Isallthatclear？Doeseveryoneunderstand？“

Paulrosetohisfeet。Hewasaccustomedtonatives，andaverylittleshookhimoutoftheEnglishman。Feelingmanlyandcynical，hesaid:“Downinthefield？Oh，come！I

thinkwemighthavehadthewholeestablishment，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。“Good-bye，“

shesaidtoMargaret，andkissedher。

Andagainandagainfelltheword，liketheebbofadyingsea。

“Good-bye。“

“Good-bye，Dolly。“

“Solong，Father。“

“Good-bye，myboy；alwaystakecareofyourself。“

“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。

TheEnd