Margaret bolted the door on the inside.Then she would have kissed her sister,but Helen,in a dignified voice,that came strangely from her,said:
"Convenient!You did not tell me that the books were unpacked.I have found nearly everything that I want.
"I told you nothing that was true."
"It has been a great surprise,certainly.
Has Aunt Juley been ill?"
"Helen,you wouldn't think I'd invent that?"
"I suppose not,"said Helen,turning away,and crying a very little."But one loses faith in everything after this.""We thought it was illness,but even then--I haven't behaved worthily."Helen selected another book.
"I ought not to have consulted anyone.What would our father have thought of me?"She did not think of questioning her sister,nor of rebuking her.Both might be necessary in the future,but she had first to purge a greater crime than any that Helen could have committed--that want of confidence that is the work of the devil.
"Yes,I am annoyed,"replied Helen."My wishes should have been respected.I would have gone through this meeting if it was necessary,but after Aunt Juley recovered,it was not necessary.
Planning my life,as I now have to do--"
"Come away from those books,"called Margaret.
"Helen,do talk to me."
"I was just saying that I have stopped living haphazard.
One can't go through a great deal of"--she missed out the noun--"without planning one's actions in advance.I am going to have a child in June,and in the first place conversations,discussions,excitement,are not good for me.I will go through them if necessary,but only then.
In the second place I have no right to trouble people.I cannot fit in with England as I know it.I have done something that the English never pardon.It would not be right for them to pardon it.
So I must live where I am not known."
"But why didn't you tell me,dearest?"
"Yes,"replied Helen judicially."I might have,but decided to wait.""I believe you would never have told me."
"Oh yes,I should.We have taken a flat in Munich."Margaret glanced out of window.
"By 'we'I mean myself and Monica.But for her,I am and have been and always wish to be alone.""I have not heard of Monica."
"You wouldn't have.She's an Italian--by birth at least.She makes her living by journalism.I met her originally on Garda.Monica is much the best person to see me through.""You are very fond of her,then."
"She has been extraordinarily sensible with me."Margaret guessed at Monica's type--"Italiano Inglesiato"they had named it:the crude feminist of the South,whom one respects but avoids.And Helen had turned to it in her need!
"You must not think that we shall never meet,"said Helen,with a measured kindness."I shall always have a room for you when you can be spared,and the longer you can be with me the better.
But you haven't understood yet,Meg,and of course it is very difficult for you.This is a shock to you.It isn't to me,who have been thinking over our futures for many months,and they won't be changed by a slight contretemps,such as this.I cannot live in England.""Helen,you've not forgiven me for my treachery.
You couldn't talk like this to me if you had.""Oh,Meg dear,why do we talk at all?"She dropped a book and sighed wearily.Then,recovering herself,she said:"Tell me,how is it that all the books are down here?""Series of mistakes."
"And a great deal of the furniture has been unpacked.""All."
"Who lives here,then?"
"No one."
"I suppose you are letting it though--"
"The house is dead,"said Margaret with a frown.
"Why worry on about it?"
"But I am interested.You talk as if I had lost all my interest in life.I am still Helen,I hope.Now this hasn't the feel of a dead house.The hall seems more alive even than in the old days,when it held the Wilcoxes'own things.""Interested,are you?Very well,I must tell you,I suppose.My husband lent it on condition we--but by a mistake all our things were unpacked,and Miss Avery,instead of--"She stopped.
"Look here,I can't go on like this.I warn you I won't.Helen,why should you be so miserably unkind to me,simply because you hate Henry?""I don't hate him now,"said Helen."I have stopped being a schoolgirl,and,Meg,once again,I'm not being unkind.
But as for fitting in with your English life--no,put it out of your head at once.Imagine a visit from me at Ducie Street!It's unthinkable."Margaret could not contradict her.It was appalling to see her quietly moving forward with her plans,not bitter or excitable,neither asserting innocence nor confessing guilt,merely desiring freedom and the company of those who would not blame her.
She had been through--how much?Margaret did not know.But it was enough to part her from old habits as well as old friends.
"Tell me about yourself,"said Helen,who had chosen her books,and was lingering over the furniture.
"There's nothing to tell."
"But your marriage has been happy,Meg?"
"Yes,but I don't feel inclined to talk."
"You feel as I do."
"Not that,but I can't."
"No more can I.It is a nuisance,but no good trying."Something had come between them.Perhaps it was Society,which henceforward would exclude Helen.Perhaps it was a third life,already potent as a spirit.They could find no meeting-place.
Both suffered acutely,and were not comforted by the knowledge that affection survived.
"Look here,Meg,is the coast clear?"
"You mean that you want to go away from me?"
"I suppose so--dear old lady!it isn't any use.I knew we should have nothing to say.Give my love to Aunt Juley and Tibby,and take more yourself than I can say.Promise to come and see me in Munich later.""Certainly,dearest."
"For that is all we can do."
It seemed so.Most ghastly of all was Helen's common sense:Monica had been extraordinarily good for her.
"I am glad to have seen you and the things."
She looked at the bookcase lovingly,as if she was saying farewell to the past.
Margaret unbolted the door.She remarked:
"The car has gone,and here's your cab."
