"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 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 note-book, 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.
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