HOWARDS END
Chapter 36
"Margaret, you look upset!" said Henry. Mansbridge had followed.
Crane was at the gate, and the flyman had stood up on the box. Margaret
shook her head at them; she could not speak any more. She remained
clutching the keys, as if all their future depended on them. Henry was
asking more questions. She shook her head again. His words had no
sense. She heard him wonder why she had let Helen in. "You might
have given me a knock with the gate," was another of his remarks.
Presently she heard herself speaking. She, or someone for her, said "Go
away." Henry came nearer. He repeated, "Margaret, you look upset
again. My dear, give me the keys. What are you doing with
Helen?"
"Oh, dearest, do go away, and I will manage
it all."
"Manage what?"
He
stretched out his hand for the keys. She might have obeyed if it had not
been for the doctor.
"Stop that at least," she said
piteously; the doctor had turned back, and was questioning the driver of Helen's
cab. A new feeling came over her; she was fighting for women against
men. She did not care about rights, but if men came into Howards End, it
should be over her body.
"Come, this is an odd
beginning," said her husband.
The doctor came forward
now, and whispered two words to Mr. Wilcox--the scandal was out. Sincerely
horrified, Henry stood gazing at the earth.
"I cannot
help it," said Margaret. "Do wait. It's not my fault. Please
all four of you to go away now."
Now the flyman was
whispering to Crane.
"We are relying on you to help
us, Mrs. Wilcox," said the young doctor. "Could you go in and persuade
your sister to come out?"
"On what grounds?" said
Margaret, suddenly looking him straight in the
eyes.
Thinking it professional to prevaricate, he
murmured something about a nervous breakdown.
"I beg
your pardon, but it is nothing of the sort. You are not qualified to
attend my sister, Mr. Mansbridge. If we require your services, we will let
you know."
"I can diagnose the case more bluntly if
you wish," he retorted.
"You could, but you have
not. You are, therefore, not qualified to attend my
sister."
"Come, come, Margaret!" said Henry, never
raising his eyes. "This is a terrible business, an appalling
business. It's doctor's orders. Open the
door."
"Forgive me, but I will
not."
"I don't
agree."
Margaret was
silent.
"This business is as broad as it's long,"
contributed the doctor. "We had better all work together. You need
us, Mrs. Wilcox, and we need you."
"Quite so," said
Henry.
"I do not need you in the least," said
Margaret.
The two men looked at each other
anxiously.
"No more does my sister, who is still many
weeks from her confinement."
"Margaret,
Margaret!"
"Well, Henry, send your doctor away.
What possible use is he now?"
Mr. Wilcox ran his eye
over the house. He had a vague feeling that he must stand firm and support
the doctor. He himself might need support, for there was trouble
ahead.
"It all turns on affection now," said
Margaret. "Affection. Don't you see?" Resuming her usual
methods, she wrote the word on the house with her finger. "Surely you
see. I like Helen very much, you not so much. Mr. Mansbridge doesn't
know her. That's all. And affection, when reciprocated, gives
rights. Put that down in your notebook, Mr. Mansbridge. It's a
useful formula."
Henry told her to be
calm.
"You don't know what you want yourselves," said
Margaret, folding her arms. "For one sensible remark I will let you
in. But you cannot make it. You would trouble my sister for no
reason. I will not permit it. I'll stand here all the day
sooner."
"Mansbridge," said Henry in a low voice,
"perhaps not now."
The pack was breaking up. At
a sign from his master, Crane also went back into the
car.
"Now, Henry, you," she said gently. None
of her bitterness had been directed at him. "Go away now, dear. I
shall want your advice later, no doubt. Forgive me if I have been
cross. But, seriously, you must go."
He was too
stupid to leave her. Now it was Mr. Mansbridge who called in a low voice
to him.
"I shall soon find you down at Dolly's," she
called, as the gate at last clanged between them. The fly moved out of the
way, the motor backed, turned a little, backed again, and turned in the narrow
road. A string of farm carts came up in the middle; but she waited through
all, for there was no hurry. When all was over and the car had started,
she opened the door. "Oh, my darling!" she said. "My darling,
forgive me." Helen was standing in the hall.