Chapter1
OnemayaswellbeginwithHelen\'sletterstohersister。HowardsEnd，Tuesday。DearestMeg，Itisn\'tgoingtobewhatweexpected。
Itisoldandlittle，andaltogetherdelightful——redbrick。Wecanscarcelypackinasitis，andthedearknowswhatwillhappenwhenPaulyoungersonarrivestomorrow。Fromhallyougorightorleftintodining-roomordrawing-room。Hallitselfispracticallyaroom。
Youopenanotherdoorinit，andtherearethestairsgoingupinasortoftunneltothefirst-floor。Threebedroomsinarowthere，andthreeatticsinarowabove。Thatisn\'tallthehousereally，butit\'sallthatonenotices——ninewindowsasyoulookupfromthefrontgarden。
Thenthere\'saverybigwych-elm——totheleftasyoulookup——leaningalittleoverthehouse，andstandingontheboundarybetweenthegardenandmeadow。Iquitelovethattreealready。
Alsoordinaryelms，oaks——nonastierthanordinaryoaks——pear-trees，apple-trees，andavine。Nosilverbirches，though。However，Imustgetontomyhostandhostess。Ionlywantedtoshowthatitisn\'ttheleastwhatweexpected。Whydidwesettlethattheirhousewouldbeallgablesandwiggles，andtheirgardenallgamboge-colouredpaths？
Ibelievesimplybecauseweassociatethemwithexpensivehotels——Mrs。
Wilcoxtrailinginbeautifuldressesdownlongcorridors，Mr。Wilcoxbullyingporters，etc。Wefemalesarethatunjust。
IshallbebackSaturday；willletyouknowtrainlater。TheyareasangryasIamthatyoudidnotcometoo；
reallyTibbyistootiresome，hestartsanewmortaldiseaseeverymonth。
HowcouldhehavegothayfeverinLondon？andevenifhecould，itseemshardthatyoushouldgiveupavisittohearaschoolboysneeze。
TellhimthatCharlesWilcoxthesonwhoisherehashayfevertoo，buthe\'sbrave，andgetsquitecrosswhenweinquireafterit。MenliketheWilcoxeswoulddoTibbyapowerofgood。Butyouwon\'tagree，andI\'dbetterchangethesubject。
ThislongletterisbecauseI\'mwritingbeforebreakfast。Oh，thebeautifulvineleaves！Thehouseiscoveredwithavine。Ilookedoutearlier，andMrs。Wilcoxwasalreadyinthegarden。Sheevidentlylovesit。Nowondershesometimeslookstired。Shewaswatchingthelargeredpoppiescomeout。
Thenshewalkedoffthelawntothemeadow，whosecornertotherightI
canjustsee。Trail，trail，wentherlongdressoverthesoppinggrass，andshecamebackwithherhandsfullofthehaythatwascutyesterday——I
supposeforrabbitsorsomething，asshekeptonsmellingit。Theairhereisdelicious。LateronIheardthenoiseofcroquetballs，andlookedoutagain，anditwasCharlesWilcoxpractising；theyarekeenonallgames。Presentlyhestartedsneezingandhadtostop。
ThenIhearmoreclicketing，anditisMr。Wilcoxpractising，andthen，\'a-tissue，a-tissue\':hehastostoptoo。ThenEviecomesout，anddoessomecalisthenicexercisesonamachinethatistackedontoagreengage-tree——theyputeverythingtouse——andthenshesays\'a-tissue，\'andinshegoes。
AndfinallyMrs。Wilcoxreappears，trail，trail，stillsmellinghayandlookingattheflowers。Iinflictallthisonyoubecauseonceyousaidthatlifeissometimeslifeandsometimesonlyadrama，andonemustlearntodistinguisht\'otherfromwhich，anduptonowIhavealwaysputthatdownas\'Meg\'sclevernonsense。\'Butthismorning，itreallydoesseemnotlifebutaplay，anditdidamusemeenormouslytowatchtheW\'s。
NowMrs。Wilcoxhascomein。
Iamgoingtowear[omission]。LastnightMrs。Wilcoxworean[omission]，andEvie[omission]。Soitisn\'texactlyago-as-you-pleaseplace，andifyoushutyoureyesitstillseemsthewigglyhotelthatweexpected。Notifyouopenthem。
Thedog-rosesaretoosweet。Thereisagreathedgeofthemoverthelawn——magnificentlytall，sothattheyfalldowningarlands，andniceandthinatthebottom，sothatyoucanseeducksthroughitandacow。
Thesebelongtothefarm，whichistheonlyhousenearus。Theregoesthebreakfastgong。Muchlove。ModifiedlovetoTibby。
LovetoAuntJuley；howgoodofhertocomeandkeepyoucompany，butwhatabore。Burnthis。WillwriteagainThursday。HelenHowardsEnd，Friday。DearestMeg，Iamhavingaglorioustime。Ilikethemall。Mrs。Wilcox，ifquieterthaninGermany，issweeterthanever，andIneversawanythinglikehersteadyunselfishness，andthebestofitisthattheothersdonottakeadvantageofher。Theyaretheveryhappiest，jolliestfamilythatyoucanimagine。Idoreallyfeelthatwearemakingfriends。Thefunofitisthattheythinkmeanoodle，andsayso——atleastMr。Wilcoxdoes——andwhenthathappens，andonedoesn\'tmind，it\'saprettysuretest，isn\'tit？Hesaysthemosthorridthingsaboutwomen\'ssuffragesonicely，andwhenIsaidIbelievedinequalityhejustfoldedhisarmsandgavemesuchasettingdownasI\'veneverhad。Meg，shallweeverlearntotalkless？
Ineverfeltsoashamedofmyselfinmylife。Icouldn\'tpointtoatimewhenmenhadbeenequal，noreventoatimewhenthewishtobeequalhadmadethemhappierinotherways。Icouldn\'tsayaword。
Ihadjustpickedupthenotionthatequalityisgoodfromsomebook——probablyfrompoetry，oryou。Anyhow，it\'sbeenknockedintopieces，and，likeallpeoplewhoarereallystrong，Mr。Wilcoxdiditwithouthurtingme。Ontheotherhand，Ilaughatthemforcatchinghayfever。
Welivelikefighting-cocks，andCharlestakesusouteverydayinthemotor——atombwithtreesinit，ahermit\'shouse，awonderfulroadthatwasmadebytheKingsofMercia——tennis——acricketmatch——bridge——andatnightwesqueezeupinthislovelyhouse。Thewholeclan\'sherenow——it\'slikearabbitwarren。Evieisadear。TheywantmetostopoverSunday——Isupposeitwon\'tmatterifIdo。Marvellousweatherandtheview\'smarvellous——viewswestwardtothehighground。Thankyouforyourletter。Burnthis。YouraffectionateHelenHowardsEnd，Sunday。Dearest，dearestMeg，——Idonotknowwhatyouwillsay:PaulandIareinlove——theyoungersonwhoonlycamehereWednesday。Chapter2Margaretglancedathersister\'snoteandpusheditoverthebreakfast-tabletoheraunt。Therewasamoment\'shush，andthentheflood-gatesopened。
“Icantellyounothing，AuntJuley。Iknownomorethanyoudo。Wemet——weonlymetthefatherandmotherabroadlastspring。IknowsolittlethatIdidn\'tevenknowtheirson\'sname。It\'sallso——“Shewavedherhandandlaughedalittle。
“Inthatcaseitisfartoosudden。“
“Whoknows，AuntJuley，whoknows？“
“But，Margaretdear，Imeanwemustn\'tbeunpracticalnowthatwe\'vecometofacts。Itistoosudden，surely。“
“Whoknows！“
“ButMargaretdear——“
“I\'llgoforherotherletters，“saidMargaret。
“No，Iwon\'t，I\'llfinishmybreakfast。Infact，Ihaven\'tthem。
WemettheWilcoxesonanawfulexpeditionthatwemadefromHeidelbergtoSpeyer。HelenandIhadgotitintoourheadsthattherewasagrandoldcathedralatSpeyer——theArchbishopofSpeyerwasoneofthesevenelectors——youknow——\'Speyer，Maintz，andKö；ln。\'ThosethreeseesoncecommandedtheRhineValleyandgotitthenameofPriestStreet。“
“Istillfeelquiteuneasyaboutthisbusiness，Margaret。“
“Thetraincrossedbyabridgeofboats，andatfirstsightitlookedquitefine。Butoh，infiveminuteswehadseenthewholething。Thecathedralhadbeenruined，absolutelyruined，byrestoration；notaninchleftoftheoriginalstructure。Wewastedawholeday，andcameacrosstheWilcoxesaswewereeatingoursandwichesinthepublicgardens。Theytoo，poorthings，hadbeentakenin——theywereactuallystoppingatSpeyer——andtheyratherlikedHeleninsistingthattheymustflywithustoHeidelberg。Asamatteroffact，theydidcomeonnextday。Wealltooksomedrivestogether。TheyknewuswellenoughtoaskHelentocomeandseethem——atleast，Iwasaskedtoo，butTibby\'sillnesspreventedme，solastMondayshewentalone。
That\'sall。YouknowasmuchasIdonow。It\'sayoungmanouttheunknown。ShewastohavecomebackSaturday，butputofftillMonday，perhapsonaccountof——Idon\'tknow。
Shebrokeoff，andlistenedtothesoundsofaLondonmorning。TheirhousewasinWickhamPlace，andfairlyquiet，foraloftypromontoryofbuildingsseparateditfromthemainthoroughfare。
Onehadthesenseofabackwater，orratherofanestuary，whosewatersflowedinfromtheinvisiblesea，andebbedintoaprofoundsilencewhilethewaveswithoutwerestillbeating。Thoughthepromontoryconsistedofflats——expensive，withcavernousentrancehalls，fullofconciergesandpalms——itfulfilleditspurpose，andgainedfortheolderhousesoppositeacertainmeasureofpeace。These，too，wouldbesweptawayintime，andanotherpromontorywouldriseupontheirsite，ashumanitypileditselfhigherandhigherontheprecioussoilofLondon。
Mrs。Munthadherownmethodofinterpretinghernieces。ShedecidedthatMargaretwasalittlehysterical，andwastryingtogaintimebyatorrentoftalk。Feelingverydiplomatic，shelamentedthefateofSpeyer，anddeclaredthatnever，nevershouldshebesomisguidedastovisitit，andaddedofherownaccordthattheprinciplesofrestorationwereillunderstoodinGermany。“TheGermans，“
shesaid，“aretoothorough，andthisisallverywellsometimes，butatothertimesitdoesnotdo。“
“Exactly，“saidMargaret；“Germansaretoothorough。“
Andhereyesbegantoshine。
“OfcourseIregardyouSchlegelsasEnglish，“saidMrs。Munthastily——“Englishtothebackbone。“
Margaretleanedforwardandstrokedherhand。
“Andthatremindsme——Helen\'sletter——“
“Oh，yes，AuntJuley，IamthinkingallrightaboutHelen\'sletter。Iknow——Imustgodownandseeher。Iamthinkingaboutherallright。Iammeaningtogodown“
“Butgowithsomeplan，“saidMrs。Munt，admittingintoherkindlyvoiceanoteofexasperation。“Margaret，ifImayinterfere，don\'tbetakenbysurprise。WhatdoyouthinkoftheWilcoxes？
Aretheyoursort？Aretheylikelypeople？CouldtheyappreciateHelen，whoistomymindaveryspecialsortofperson？DotheycareaboutLiteratureandArt？Thatismostimportantwhenyoucometothinkofit。LiteratureandArt。Mostimportant。Howoldwouldthesonbe？Shesays\'youngerson。\'Wouldhebeinapositiontomarry？IshelikelytomakeHelenhappy？Didyougather——“
“Igatherednothing。“
Theybegantotalkatonce。
“Theninthatcase——“
“InthatcaseIcanmakenoplans，don\'tyousee。“
“Onthecontrary——“
“Ihateplans。Ihatelinesofaction。
Helenisn\'tababy。“
“Theninthatcase，mydear，whygodown？“
Margaretwassilent。Ifherauntcouldnotseewhyshemustgodown，shewasnotgoingtotellher。Shewasnotgoingtosay“Ilovemydearsister；Imustbenearheratthiscrisisofherlife。“Theaffectionsaremorereticentthanthepassions，andtheirexpressionmoresubtle。Ifsheherselfshouldeverfallinlovewithaman，she，likeHelen，wouldproclaimitfromthehouse-tops，butassheonlylovedasistersheusedthevoicelesslanguageofsympathy。
“Iconsideryouoddgirls，“continuedMrs。Munt，“andverywonderfulgirls，andinmanywaysfarolderthanyouryears。
But——youwon\'tbeoffended？——franklyIfeelyouarenotuptothisbusiness。
Itrequiresanolderperson。Dear，IhavenothingtocallmebacktoSwanage。“Shespreadoutherplumparms。“Iamallatyourdisposal。
LetmegodowntothishousewhosenameIforgetinsteadofyou。“
“AuntJuley“——shejumpedupandkissedher——“Imust，mustgotoHowardsEndmyself。Youdon\'texactlyunderstand，thoughIcanneverthankyouproperlyforoffering。“
“Idounderstand，“retortedMrs。Munt，withimmenseconfidence。“Igodowninnospiritofinterference，buttomakeinquiries。Inquiriesarenecessary。Now，Iamgoingtoberude。
Youwouldsaythewrongthing；toacertaintyyouwould。InyouranxietyforHelen\'shappinessyouwouldoffendthewholeoftheseWilcoxesbyaskingoneofyourimpetuousquestions——notthatonemindsoffendingthem。“
“Ishallasknoquestions。IhaveitinHelen\'swritingthatsheandamanareinlove。Thereisnoquestiontoaskaslongasshekeepstothat。Alltherestisn\'tworthastraw。
Alongengagementifyoulike，butinquiries，questions，plans，linesofaction——no，AuntJuley，no。“
Awayshehurried，notbeautiful，notsupremelybrilliant，butfilledwithsomethingthattooktheplaceofbothqualities——somethingbestdescribedasaprofoundvivacity，acontinualandsincereresponsetoallthatsheencounteredinherpaththroughlife。
“IfHelenhadwrittenthesametomeaboutashop-assistantorapennilessclerk——“
“DearMargaret，docomeintothelibraryandshutthedoor。Yourgoodmaidsaredustingthebanisters。“
“——orifshehadwantedtomarrythemanwhocallsforCarterPaterson，Ishouldhavesaidthesame。“Then，withoneofthoseturnsthatconvincedherauntthatshewasnotmadreallyandconvincedobserversofanothertypethatshewasnotabarrentheorist，sheadded:
“ThoughinthecaseofCarterPatersonIshouldwantittobeaverylongengagementindeed，Imustsay。“
“Ishouldthinkso，“saidMrs。Munt；“and，indeed，Icanscarcelyfollowyou。Now，justimagineifyousaidanythingofthatsorttotheWilcoxes。Iunderstandit，butmostgoodpeoplewouldthinkyoumad。ImaginehowdisconcertingforHelen！Whatiswantedisapersonwhowillgoslowly，slowlyinthisbusiness，andseehowthingsareandwheretheyarelikelytoleadto。“
Margaretwasdownonthis。
“Butyouimpliedjustnowthattheengagementmustbebrokenoff。“
“Ithinkprobablyitmust；butslowly。“
“Canyoubreakanengagementoffslowly？“
Hereyeslitup。“What\'sanengagementmadeof，doyousuppose？
Ithinkit\'smadeofsomehardstuff，thatmaysnap，butcan\'tbreak。
Itisdifferenttotheothertiesoflife。Theystretchorbend。
Theyadmitofdegree。They\'redifferent。“
“Exactlyso。Butwon\'tyouletmejustrundowntoHowardsHouse，andsaveyouallthediscomfort？Iwillreallynotinterfere，butIdosothoroughlyunderstandthekindofthingyouSchlegelswantthatonequietlookroundwillbeenoughforme。“
Margaretagainthankedher，againkissedher，andthenranupstairstoseeherbrother。
Hewasnotsowell。
Thehayfeverhadworriedhimagooddealallnight。
Hisheadached，hiseyeswerewet，hismucousmembrane，heinformedher，wasinamostunsatisfactorycondition。TheonlythingthatmadelifeworthlivingwasthethoughtofWalterSavageLandor，fromwhoseImaginaryConversationsshehadpromisedtoreadatfrequentintervalsduringtheday。
Itwasratherdifficult。SomethingmustbedoneaboutHelen。Shemustbeassuredthatitisnotacriminaloffencetoloveatfirstsight。Atelegramtothiseffectwouldbecoldandcryptic，apersonalvisitseemedeachmomentmoreimpossible。Nowthedoctorarrived，andsaidthatTibbywasquitebad。MightitreallybebesttoacceptAuntJuley\'skindoffer，andtosendherdowntoHowardsEndwithanote？
CertainlyMargaretwasimpulsive。Shedidswingrapidlyfromonedecisiontoanother。Runningdownstairsintothelibrary，shecried——“Yes，Ihavechangedmymind；Idowishthatyouwouldgo。“
TherewasatrainfromKing\'sCrossateleven。
Athalf-pasttenTibby，withrareself-effacement，fellasleep，andMargaretwasabletodriveheraunttothestation。
“Youwillremember，AuntJuley，nottobedrawnintodiscussingtheengagement。GivemylettertoHelen，andsaywhateveryoufeelyourself，butdokeepclearoftherelatives。Wehavescarcelygottheirnamesstraightyet，andbesides，thatsortofthingissouncivilizedandwrong。
“Souncivilized？“queriedMrs。Munt，fearingthatshewaslosingthepointofsomebrilliantremark。
“Oh，Iusedanaffectedword。IonlymeantwouldyoupleaseonlytalkthethingoverwithHelen。“
“OnlywithHelen。“
“Because——“Butitwasnomomenttoexpoundthepersonalnatureoflove。EvenMargaretshrankfromit，andcontentedherselfwithstrokinghergoodaunt\'shand，andwithmeditating，halfsensiblyandhalfpoetically，onthejourneythatwasabouttobeginfromKing\'sCross。
Likemanyotherswhohavelivedlonginagreatcapital，shehadstrongfeelingsaboutthevariousrailwaytermini。
Theyareourgatestothegloriousandtheunknown。Throughthemwepassoutintoadventureandsunshine，tothemalas！wereturn。
InPaddingtonallCornwallislatentandtheremoterwest；downtheinclinesofLiverpoolStreetliefenlandsandtheillimitableBroads；ScotlandisthroughthepylonsofEuston；WessexbehindthepoisedchaosofWaterloo。
Italiansrealizethis，asisnatural；thoseofthemwhoaresounfortunateastoserveaswaitersinBerlincalltheAnhaltBahnhoftheStazioned\'Italia，becausebyittheymustreturntotheirhomes。AndheisachillyLondonerwhodoesnotendowhisstationswithsomepersonality，andextendtothem，howevershyly，theemotionsoffearandlove。
ToMargaret——Ihopethatitwillnotsetthereaderagainsther——thestationofKing\'sCrosshadalwayssuggestedInfinity。
Itsverysituation——withdrawnalittlebehindthefacilesplendoursofSt。Pancras——impliedacommentonthematerialismoflife。Thosetwogreatarches，colourless，indifferent，shoulderingbetweenthemanunlovelyclock，werefitportalsforsomeeternaladventure，whoseissuemightbeprosperous，butwouldcertainlynotbeexpressedintheordinarylanguageofprosperity。Ifyouthinkthisridiculous，rememberthatitisnotMargaretwhoistellingyouaboutit；andletmehastentoaddthattheywereinplentyoftimeforthetrain；thatMrs。Munt，thoughshetookasecond-classticket，wasputbytheguardintoafirstonlytwosecondsonthetrain，onesmokingandtheotherbabies——onecannotbeexpectedtotravelwithbabies；andthatMargaret，onherreturntoWickhamPlace，wasconfrontedwiththefollowingtelegram:Allover。WishIhadneverwritten。Tellnoone——HelenButAuntJuleywasgone——goneirrevocably，andnopoweronearthcouldstopher。Chapter3MostcomplacentlydidMrs。Muntrehearsehermission。Hernieceswereindependentyoungwomen，anditwasnotoftenthatshewasabletohelpthem。Emily\'sdaughtershadneverbeenquitelikeothergirls。
TheyhadbeenleftmotherlesswhenTibbywasborn，whenHelenwasfiveandMargaretherselfbutthirteen。ItwasbeforethepassingoftheDeceasedWife\'sSisterBill，soMrs。MuntcouldwithoutimproprietyoffertogoandkeephouseatWickhamPlace。Butherbrother-in-law，whowaspeculiarandaGerman，hadreferredthequestiontoMargaret，whowiththecrudityofyouthhadanswered，“No，theycouldmanagemuchbetteralone。“
FiveyearslaterMr。Schlegelhaddiedtoo，andMrs。Munthadrepeatedheroffer。Margaret，crudenolonger，hadbeengratefulandextremelynice，butthesubstanceofheranswerhadbeenthesame。“Imustnotinterfereathirdtime，“thoughtMrs。Munt。However，ofcourseshedid。Shelearnt，toherhorror，thatMargaret，nowofage，wastakinghermoneyoutoftheoldsafeinvestmentsandputtingitintoForeignThings，whichalwayssmash。Silencewouldhavebeencriminal。
HerownfortunewasinvestedinHomeRails，andmostardentlydidshebegherniecetoimitateher。“Thenweshouldbetogether，dear。“Margaret，outofpoliteness，investedafewhundredsintheNottinghamandDerbyRailway，andthoughtheForeignThingsdidadmirablyandtheNottinghamandDerbydeclinedwiththesteadydignityofwhichonlyHomeRailsarecapable，Mrs。Muntneverceasedtorejoice，andtosay，“Ididmanagethat，atallevents。WhenthesmashcomespoorMargaretwillhaveanest-eggtofallbackupon。“ThisyearHelencameofage，andexactlythesamethinghappenedinHelen\'scase；shealsowouldshifthermoneyoutofConsols，butshe，too，almostwithoutbeingpressed，consecratedafractionofittotheNottinghamandDerbyRailway。Sofarsogood，butinsocialmatterstheiraunthadaccomplishednothing。Soonerorlaterthegirlswouldenterontheprocessknownasthrowingthemselvesaway，andiftheyhaddelayedhitherto，itwasonlythattheymightthrowthemselvesmorevehementlyinthefuture。TheysawtoomanypeopleatWickhamPlace——unshavenmusicians，anactresseven，Germancousinsoneknowswhatforeignersare，acquaintancespickedupatContinentalhotelsoneknowswhattheyaretoo。Itwasinteresting，anddownatSwanagenooneappreciatedculturemorethanMrs。Munt；butitwasdangerous，anddisasterwasboundtocome。Howrightshewas，andhowluckytobeonthespotwhenthedisastercame！
Thetrainspednorthward，underinnumerabletunnels。
Itwasonlyanhour\'sjourney，butMrs。Munthadtoraiseandlowerthewindowagainandagain。ShepassedthroughtheSouthWelwynTunnel，sawlightforamoment，andenteredtheNorthWelwynTunnel，oftragicfame。Shetraversedtheimmenseviaduct，whosearchesspanuntroubledmeadowsandthedreamyflowofTewinWater。Sheskirtedtheparksofpoliticians。AttimestheGreatNorthRoadaccompaniedher，moresuggestiveofinfinitythananyrailway，awakening，afteranapofahundredyears，tosuchlifeasisconferredbythestenchofmotor-cars，andtosuchcultureasisimpliedbytheadvertisementsofantibiliouspills。
Tohistory，totragedy，tothepast，tothefuture，Mrs。Muntremainedequallyindifferent；hersbuttoconcentrateontheendofherjourney，andtorescuepoorHelenfromthisdreadfulmess。
ThestationforHowardsEndwasatHilton，oneofthelargevillagesthatarestrungsofrequentlyalongtheNorthRoad，andthatowetheirsizetothetrafficofcoachingandpre-coachingdays。
BeingnearLondon，ithadnotsharedintheruraldecay，anditslongHighStreethadbuddedoutrightandleftintoresidentialestates。ForaboutamileaseriesoftiledandslatedhousespassedbeforeMrs。Munt\'sinattentiveeyes，aseriesbrokenatonepointbysixDanishtumulithatstoodshouldertoshoulderalongthehighroad，tombsofsoldiers。
Beyondthesetumulihabitationsthickened，andthetraincametoastandstillinatanglethatwasalmostatown。
Thestation，likethescenery，likeHelen\'sletters，struckanindeterminatenote。Intowhichcountrywillitlead，EnglandorSuburbia？Itwasnew，ithadislandplatformsandasubway，andthesuperficialcomfortexactedbybusinessmen。Butitheldhintsoflocallife，personalintercourse，asevenMrs。Muntwastodiscover。
“Iwantahouse，“sheconfidedtotheticketboy。
“ItsnameisHowardsLodge。Doyouknowwhereitis？“
“Mr。Wilcox！“theboycalled。
Ayoungmaninfrontofthemturnedround。
“She\'swantingHowardsEnd。“
Therewasnothingforitbuttogoforward，thoughMrs。Muntwastoomuchagitatedeventostareatthestranger。Butrememberingthatthereweretwobrothers，shehadthesensetosaytohim，“Excusemeasking，butareyoutheyoungerMr。Wilcoxortheelder？“
“Theyounger。CanIdoanythingforyou？“
“Oh，well“——shecontrolledherselfwithdifficulty。
“Really。Areyou？I——“Shemovedawayfromtheticketboyandloweredhervoice。“IamMissSchlegelsaunt。Ioughttointroducemyself，oughtn\'tI？MynameisMrs。Munt。“
Shewasconsciousthatheraisedhiscapandsaidquitecoolly，“Oh，rather；MissSchlegelisstoppingwithus。Didyouwanttoseeher？“
“Possibly——“
“I\'llcallyouacab。No；waitamo——“Hethought。“Ourmotor\'shere。I\'llrunyouupinit。“
“Thatisverykind——“
“Notatall，ifyou\'lljustwaittilltheybringoutaparcelfromtheoffice。Thisway。“
“Mynieceisnotwithyoubyanychance？“
“No；Icameoverwithmyfather。Hehasgoneonnorthinyourtrain。You\'llseeMissSchlegelatlunch。
You\'recominguptolunch，Ihope？“
“Ishouldliketocomeup，“saidMrs。Munt，notcommittingherselftonourishmentuntilshehadstudiedHelen\'sloveralittlemore。Heseemedagentleman，buthadsorattledherroundthatherpowersofobservationwerenumbed。Sheglancedathimstealthily。
Toafeminineeyetherewasnothingamissinthesharpdepressionsatthecornersofhismouth，norintheratherbox-likeconstructionofhisforehead。
Hewasdark，clean-shavenandseemedaccustomedtocommand。
“Infrontorbehind？Whichdoyouprefer？
Itmaybewindyinfront。“
“InfrontifImay；thenwecantalk。“
“Butexcusemeonemoment——Ican\'tthinkwhatthey\'redoingwiththatparcel。“Hestrodeintothebooking-officeandcalledwithanewvoice:“Hi！hi，youthere！Areyougoingtokeepmewaitingallday？ParcelforWilcox，HowardsEnd。Justlooksharp！“
Emerging，hesaidinquietertones:“Thisstation\'sabominablyorganized；
ifIhadmyway，thewholelotof\'emshouldgetthesack。MayI
helpyouin？“
“Thisisverygoodofyou，“saidMrs。Munt，asshesettledherselfintoaluxuriouscavernofredleather，andsufferedherpersontobepaddedwithrugsandshawls。Shewasmorecivilthanshehadintended，butreallythisyoungmanwasverykind。Moreover，shewasalittleafraidofhim:hisself-possessionwasextraordinary。
“Verygoodindeed，“sherepeated，adding:“ItisjustwhatIshouldhavewished。“
“Verygoodofyoutosayso，“hereplied，withaslightlookofsurprise，which，likemostslightlooks，escapedMrs。Munt\'sattention。“Iwasjusttoolingmyfatherovertocatchthedowntrain。“
“Yousee，weheardfromHelenthismorning。“
YoungWilcoxwaspouringinpetrol，startinghisengine，andperformingotheractionswithwhichthisstoryhasnoconcern。
Thegreatcarbegantorock，andtheformofMrs。Munt，tryingtoexplainthings，sprangagreeablyupanddownamongtheredcushions。“Thematerwillbeverygladtoseeyou，“hemumbled。“Hi！Isay。
ParcelforHowardsEnd。Bringitout。Hi！“
Abeardedporteremergedwiththeparcelinonehandandanentrybookintheother。Withthegatheringwhirofthemotortheseejaculationsmingled:“Sign，mustI？Whythe——shouldIsignafterallthisbother？Notevengotapencilonyou？
RemembernexttimeIreportyoutothestation-master。Mytime\'sofvalue，thoughyoursmayn\'tbe。Here“——herebeingatip。
“Extremelysorry，Mrs。Munt。“
“Notatall，Mr。Wilcox。“
“Anddoyouobjecttogoingthroughthevillage？
Itisratheralongerspin，butIhaveoneortwocommissions。“
“Ishouldlovegoingthroughthevillage。
NaturallyIamveryanxioustotalkthingsoverwithyou。“
Asshesaidthisshefeltashamed，forshewasdisobeyingMargaret\'sinstructions。Onlydisobeyingthemintheletter，surely。
Margarethadonlywarnedheragainstdiscussingtheincidentwithoutsiders。
Surelyitwasnot“uncivilizedorwrong“todiscussitwiththeyoungmanhimself，sincechancehadthrownthemtogether。
Areticentfellow，hemadenoreply。Mountingbyherside，heputonglovesandspectacles，andofftheydrove，thebeardedporter——lifeisamysteriousbusiness——lookingafterthemwithadmiration。
Thewindwasintheirfacesdownthestationroad，blowingthedustintoMrs。Munt\'seyes。ButassoonastheyturnedintotheGreatNorthRoadsheopenedfire。“Youcanwellimagine，“
shesaid，“thatthenewswasagreatshocktous。“
“Whatnews？“
“Mr。Wilcox，“shesaidfrankly。“Margarethastoldmeeverything——everything。IhaveseenHelen\'sletter。“
Hecouldnotlookherintheface，ashiseyeswerefixedonhiswork；hewastravellingasquicklyashedareddowntheHighStreet。Butheinclinedhisheadinherdirection，andsaid，“Ibegyourpardon；Ididn\'tcatch。“
“AboutHelen。Helen，ofcourse。Helenisaveryexceptionalperson——Iamsureyouwillletmesaythis，feelingtowardsherasyoudo——indeed，alltheSchlegelsareexceptional。
Icomeinnospiritofinterference，butitwasagreatshock。“
Theydrewupoppositeadraper\'s。Withoutreplying，heturnedroundinhisseat，andcontemplatedthecloudofdustthattheyhadraisedintheirpassagethroughthevillage。Itwassettlingagain，butnotallintotheroadfromwhichhehadtakenit。
Someofithadpercolatedthroughtheopenwindows，somehadwhitenedtherosesandgooseberriesofthewaysidegardens，whileacertainproportionhadenteredthelungsofthevillagers。“Iwonderwhenthey\'lllearnwisdomandtartheroads，“washiscomment。Thenamanranoutofthedraper\'switharollofoilcloth，andofftheywentagain。
“Margaretcouldnotcomeherself，onaccountofpoorTibby，soIamheretorepresentherandtohaveagoodtalk。“
“I\'msorrytobesodense，“saidtheyoungman，againdrawingupoutsideashop。“ButIstillhaven\'tquiteunderstood。“
“Helen，Mr。Wilcox——mynieceandyou。“
Hepusheduphisgogglesandgazedather，absolutelybewildered。Horrorsmotehertotheheart，forevenshebegantosuspectthattheywereatcross-purposes，andthatshehadcommencedhermissionbysomehideousblunder。
“MissSchlegelandmyself。“heasked，compressinghislips。
“Itrusttherehasbeennomisunderstanding，“quaveredMrs。Munt。“Herlettercertainlyreadthatway。“
“Whatway？“
“Thatyouandshe——“Shepaused，thendroopedhereyelids。
“IthinkIcatchyourmeaning，“hesaidstickily。
“Whatanextraordinarymistake！“
“Thenyoudidn\'ttheleast——“shestammered，gettingblood-redintheface，andwishingshehadneverbeenborn。
“Scarcely，asIamalreadyengagedtoanotherlady。“
Therewasamoment\'ssilence，andthenhecaughthisbreathandexplodedwith，“Oh，goodGod！Don\'ttellmeit\'ssomesillinessofPaul\'s。“
“ButyouarePaul。“
“I\'mnot。“
“Thenwhydidyousaysoatthestation？“
“Isaidnothingofthesort。“
“Ibegyourpardon，youdid。“
“Ibegyourpardon，Ididnot。MynameisCharles。“
“Younger“maymeansonasopposedtofather，orsecondbrotherasopposedtofirst。Thereismuchtobesaidforeitherview，andlaterontheysaidit。Buttheyhadotherquestionsbeforethemnow。
“DoyoumeantotellmethatPaul——“
Butshedidnotlikehisvoice。Hesoundedasifhewastalkingtoaporter，and，certainthathehaddeceivedheratthestation，shetoogrewangry。
“DoyoumeantotellmethatPaulandyourniece——“
Mrs。Munt——suchishumannature——determinedthatshewouldchampionthelovers。Shewasnotgoingtobebulliedbyasevereyoungman。“Yes，theycareforoneanotherverymuchindeed，“
shesaid。“Idaresaytheywilltellyouaboutitby-and-by。
Weheardthismorning。“
AndCharlesclenchedhisfistandcried，“Theidiot，theidiot，thelittlefool！“
Mrs。Munttriedtodivestherselfofherrugs。
“Ifthatisyourattitude，Mr。Wilcox，Iprefertowalk。“
“Ibegyouwilldonosuchthing。I\'lltakeyouupthismomenttothehouse。Letmetellyouthething\'simpossible，andmustbestopped。“
Mrs。Muntdidnotoftenlosehertemper，andwhenshediditwasonlytoprotectthosewhomsheloved。Onthisoccasionsheblazedout。“Iquiteagree，sir。Thethingisimpossible，andIwillcomeupandstopit。Mynieceisaveryexceptionalperson，andIamnotinclinedtositstillwhileshethrowsherselfawayonthosewhowillnotappreciateher。“
Charlesworkedhisjaws。
“ConsideringshehasonlyknownyourbrothersinceWednesday，andonlymetyourfatherandmotheratastrayhotel——“
“Couldyoupossiblyloweryourvoice？Theshopmanwilloverhear。“
“Espritdeclasse“——ifonemaycointhephrase——wasstronginMrs。Munt。Shesatquiveringwhileamemberofthelowerordersdepositedametalfunnel，asaucepan，andagardensquirtbesidetherollofoilcloth。
“Rightbehind？“
“Yes，sir。“Andthelowerordersvanishedinacloudofdust。
“Iwarnyou:Paulhasn\'tapenny；it\'suseless。“
“Noneedtowarnus，Mr。Wilcox，Iassureyou。
Thewarningisalltheotherway。Myniecehasbeenveryfoolish，andIshallgiveheragoodscoldingandtakeherbacktoLondonwithme。“
“HehastomakehiswayoutinNigeria。Hecouldn\'tthinkofmarryingforyearsandwhenhedoesitmustbeawomanwhocanstandtheclimate，andisinotherways——Whyhasn\'thetoldus？
Ofcoursehe\'sashamed。Heknowshe\'sbeenafool。Andsohehas——adamnedfool。“
Shegrewfurious。
“WhereasMissSchlegelhaslostnotimeinpublishingthenews。“
“IfIwereaman，Mr。Wilcox，forthatlastremarkI\'dboxyourears。You\'renotfittocleanmyniece\'sboots，tositinthesameroomwithher，andyoudare——youactuallydare——Ideclinetoarguewithsuchaperson。“
“AllIknowis，she\'sspreadthethingandhehasn\'t，andmyfather\'sawayandI——“
“AndallthatIknowis——“
“MightIfinishmysentence，please？“
“No。“
Charlesclenchedhisteethandsentthemotorswervingalloverthelane。
Shescreamed。
SotheyplayedthegameofCappingFamilies，aroundofwhichisalwaysplayedwhenlovewouldunitetwomembersofourrace。
Buttheyplayeditwithunusualvigour，statinginsomanywordsthatSchlegelswerebetterthanWilcoxes，WilcoxesbetterthanSchlegels。Theyflungdecencyaside。Themanwasyoung，thewomandeeplystirred；inbothaveinofcoarsenesswaslatent。Theirquarrelwasnomoresurprisingthanaremostquarrels——inevitableatthetime，incredibleafterwards。
Butitwasmorethanusuallyfutile。Afewminutes，andtheywereenlightened。ThemotordrewupatHowardsEnd，andHelen，lookingverypale，ranouttomeetheraunt。
“AuntJuley，IhavejusthadatelegramfromMargaret；
I——Imeanttostopyourcoming。Itisn\'t——it\'sover。“
TheclimaxwastoomuchforMrs。Munt。Sheburstintotears。
“AuntJuleydear，don\'t。Don\'tletthemknowI\'vebeensosilly。Itwasn\'tanything。Dobearupformysake。“
“Paul，“criedCharlesWilcox，pullinghisglovesoff。
“Don\'tletthemknow。Theyarenevertoknow。“
“Oh，mydarlingHelen——“
“Paul！Paul！“
Averyyoungmancameoutofthehouse。
“Paul，isthereanytruthinthis？“
“Ididn\'t——Idon\'t——“
“Yesorno，man；plainquestion，plainanswer。
Didordidn\'tMissSchlegel——“
“Charlesdear，“saidavoicefromthegarden。
“Charles，dearCharles，onedoesn\'taskplainquestions。Therearen\'tsuchthings。“
Theywereallsilent。ItwasMrs。Wilcox。
SheapproachedjustasHelen\'sletterhaddescribedher，trailingnoiselesslyoverthelawn，andtherewasactuallyawispofhayinherhands。Sheseemedtobelongnottotheyoungpeopleandtheirmotor，buttothehouse，andtothetreethatovershadowedit。
Oneknewthatsheworshippedthepast，andthattheinstinctivewisdomthepastcanalonebestowhaddescendeduponher——thatwisdomtowhichwegivetheclumsynameofaristocracy。Highbornshemightnotbe。
Butassuredlyshecaredaboutherancestors，andletthemhelpher。
WhenshesawCharlesangry，Paulfrightened，andMrs。Muntintears，sheheardherancestorssay，“Separatethosehumanbeingswhowillhurteachothermost。Therestcanwait。“Soshedidnotaskquestions。
Stilllessdidshepretendthatnothinghadhappened，asacompetentsocietyhostesswouldhavedone。Shesaid，“MissSchlegel，wouldyoutakeyourauntuptoyourroomortomyroom，whicheveryouthinkbest。
Paul，dofindEvie，andtellherlunchforsix，butI\'mnotsurewhetherweshallallbedownstairsforit。“Andwhentheyhadobeyedher，sheturnedtoherelderson，whostillstoodinthethrobbingstinkingcar，andsmiledathimwithtenderness，andwithoutaword，turnedawayfromhimtowardsherflowers。
“Mother，“hecalled，“areyouawarethatPaulhasbeenplayingthefoolagain？“
“It\'sallright，dear。Theyhavebrokenofftheengagement。“
“Engagement——！“
“Theydonotloveanylonger，ifyoupreferitputthatway，“saidMrs。Wilcox，stoopingdowntosmellarose。Chapter4HelenandherauntreturnedtoWickhamPlaceinastateofcollapse，andforalittletimeMargarethadthreeinvalidsonherhands。Mrs。
Muntsoonrecovered。Shepossessedtoaremarkabledegreethepowerofdistortingthepast，andbeforemanydayswereovershehadforgottenthepartplayedbyherownimprudenceinthecatastrophe。Evenatthecrisisshehadcried，“Thankgoodness，poorMargaretissavedthis！“
whichduringthejourneytoLondonevolvedinto，“Ithadtobegonethroughbysomeone，“whichinitsturnripenedintothepermanentformof“TheonetimeIreallydidhelpEmily\'sgirlswasovertheWilcoxbusiness。“
ButHelenwasamoreseriouspatient。Newideashadburstuponherlikeathunderclap，andbythemandbyherreverberationsshehadbeenstunned。
Thetruthwasthatshehadfalleninlove，notwithanindividual，butwithafamily。
BeforePaularrivedshehad，asitwere，beentunedupintohiskey。TheenergyoftheWilcoxeshadfascinatedher，hadcreatednewimagesofbeautyinherresponsivemind。Tobealldaywiththemintheopenair，tosleepatnightundertheirroof，hadseemedthesupremejoyoflife，andhadledtothatabandonmentofpersonalitythatisapossiblepreludetolove。ShehadlikedgivingintoMr。
Wilcox，orEvie，orCharles；shehadlikedbeingtoldthathernotionsoflifewereshelteredoracademic；thatEqualitywasnonsense，VotesforWomennonsense，Socialismnonsense，ArtandLiterature，exceptwhenconducivetostrengtheningthecharacter，nonsense。OnebyonetheSchlegelfeticheshadbeenoverthrown，and，thoughprofessingtodefendthem，shehadrejoiced。WhenMr。Wilcoxsaidthatonesoundmanofbusinessdidmoregoodtotheworldthanadozenofyoursocialreformers，shehadswallowedthecuriousassertionwithoutagasp，andhadleantbackluxuriouslyamongthecushionsofhismotor-car。WhenCharlessaid，“Whybesopolitetoservants？theydon\'tunderstandit，“shehadnotgiventheSchlegelretortof，“Iftheydon\'tunderstandit，Ido。“No；shehadvowedtobelesspolitetoservantsinthefuture。“Iamswathedincant，“shethought，“anditisgoodformetobestrippedofit。“AndallthatshethoughtordidorbreathedwasaquietpreparationforPaul。
Paulwasinevitable。Charleswastakenupwithanothergirl，Mr。
Wilcoxwassoold，Eviesoyoung，Mrs。Wilcoxsodifferent。RoundtheabsentbrothershebegantothrowthehaloofRomance，toirradiatehimwithallthesplendourofthosehappydays，tofeelthatinhimsheshoulddrawnearesttotherobustideal。Heandshewereaboutthesameage，Eviesaid。MostpeoplethoughtPaulhandsomerthanhisbrother。Hewascertainlyabettershot，thoughnotsogoodatgolf。
AndwhenPaulappeared，flushedwiththetriumphofgettingthroughanexamination，andreadytoflirtwithanyprettygirl，Helenmethimhalfway，ormorethanhalfway，andturnedtowardshimontheSundayevening。
HehadbeentalkingofhisapproachingexileinNigeria，andheshouldhavecontinuedtotalkofit，andallowedtheirguesttorecover。Buttheheaveofherbosomflatteredhim。
Passionwaspossible，andhebecamepassionate。Deepdowninhimsomethingwhispered，“Thisgirlwouldletyoukissher；youmightnothavesuchachanceagain。“
Thatwas“howithappened，“or，rather，howHelendescribedittohersister，usingwordsevenmoreunsympatheticthanmyown。Butthepoetryofthatkiss，thewonderofit，themagicthattherewasinlifeforhoursafterit——whocandescribethat？ItissoeasyforanEnglishmantosneeratthesechancecollisionsofhumanbeings。Totheinsularcynicandtheinsularmoralisttheyofferanequalopportunity。Itissoeasytotalkof“passingemotion，“
andhowtoforgethowvividtheemotionwasereitpassed。Ourimpulsetosneer，toforget，isatrootagoodone。Werecognizethatemotionisnotenough，andthatmenandwomenarepersonalitiescapableofsustainedrelations，notmereopportunitiesforanelectricaldischarge。Yetweratetheimpulsetoohighly。Wedonotadmitthatbycollisionsofthistrivialsortthedoorsofheavenmaybeshakenopen。ToHelen，atallevents，herlifewastobringnothingmoreintensethantheembraceofthisboywhoplayednopartinit。Hehaddrawnheroutofthehouse，wheretherewasdangerofsurpriseandlight；hehadledherbyapathheknew，untiltheystoodunderthecolumnofthevastwych-elm。
Amaninthedarkness，hehadwhispered“Iloveyou“whenshewasdesiringlove。Intimehisslenderpersonalityfaded，thescenethathehadevokedendured。Inallthevariableyearsthatfollowedsheneversawthelikeofitagain。
“Iunderstand，“saidMargaret——“atleast，Iunderstandasmuchaseverisunderstoodofthesethings。TellmenowwhathappenedontheMondaymorning。“
“Itwasoveratonce。“
“How，Helen？“
“IwasstillhappywhileIdressed，butasIcamedownstairsIgotnervous，andwhenIwentintothedining-roomIknewitwasnogood。TherewasEvie——Ican\'texplain——managingthetea-urn，andMr。WilcoxreadingtheTimes。“
“WasPaulthere？“
“Yes；andCharleswastalkingtohimaboutStocksandShares，andhelookedfrightened。“
Byslightindicationsthesisterscouldconveymuchtoeachother。Margaretsawhorrorlatentinthescene，andHelen\'snextremarkdidnotsurpriseher。
“Somehow，whenthatkindofmanlooksfrighteneditistooawful。Itisallrightforustobefrightened，orformenofanothersort——father，forinstance；butformenlikethat！
WhenIsawalltheotherssoplacid，andPaulmadwithterrorincaseI
saidthewrongthing，IfeltforamomentthatthewholeWilcoxfamilywasafraud，justawallofnewspapersandmotor-carsandgolf-clubs，andthatifitfellIshouldfindnothingbehinditbutpanicandemptiness。
“
“Idon\'tthinkthat。TheWilcoxesstruckmeasbeinggenuinepeople，particularlythewife。“
“No，Idon\'treallythinkthat。ButPaulwassobroad-shouldered；allkindsofextraordinarythingsmadeitworse，andIknewthatitwouldneverdo——never。Isaidtohimafterbreakfast，whentheotherswerepractisingstrokes，\'Weratherlostourheads，\'andhelookedbetteratonce，thoughfrightfullyashamed。Hebeganaspeechabouthavingnomoneytomarryon，butithurthimtomakeit，andI——stoppedhim。Thenhesaid，\'Imustbegyourpardonoverthis，MissSchlegel；Ican\'tthinkwhatcameovermelastnight。\'AndIsaid，\'Norwhatoverme；nevermind。\'Andthenweparted——atleast，untilIrememberedthatIhadwrittenstraightofftotellyouthenightbefore，andthatfrightenedhimagain。Iaskedhimtosendatelegramforme，forheknewyouwouldbecomingorsomething；andhetriedtogetholdofthemotor，butCharlesandMr。Wilcoxwantedittogotothestation；andCharlesofferedtosendthetelegramforme，andthenIhadtosaythatthetelegramwasofnoconsequence，forPaulsaidCharlesmightreadit，andthoughIwroteitoutseveraltimes，healwayssaidpeoplewouldsuspectsomething。
Hetookithimselfatlast，pretendingthathemustwalkdowntogetcartridges，and，whatwithonethingandtheother，itwasnothandedinatthePostOfficeuntiltoolate。Itwasthemostterriblemorning。Pauldislikedmemoreandmore，andEvietalkedcricketaveragestillInearlyscreamed。IcannotthinkhowIstoodheralltheotherdays。
AtlastCharlesandhisfatherstartedforthestation，andthencameyourtelegramwarningmethatAuntJuleywascomingbythattrain，andPaul——oh，ratherhorrible——saidthatIhadmuddledit。ButMrs。Wilcoxknew。“
“Knewwhat？“
“Everything；thoughweneitherofustoldheraword，andhadknownallalong，Ithink。“
“Oh，shemusthaveoverheardyou。“
“Isupposeso，butitseemedwonderful。WhenCharlesandAuntJuleydroveup，callingeachothernames，Mrs。Wilcoxsteppedinfromthegardenandmadeeverythinglessterrible。Ugh！
butithasbeenadisgustingbusiness。Tothinkthat——“Shesighed。
“Tothinkthatbecauseyouandayoungmanmeetforamoment，theremustbeallthesetelegramsandanger，“suppliedMargaret。
Helennodded。
“I\'veoftenthoughtaboutit，Helen。It\'soneofthemostinterestingthingsintheworld。ThetruthisthatthereisagreatouterlifethatyouandIhavenevertouched——alifeinwhichtelegramsandangercount。Personalrelations，thatwethinksupreme，arenotsupremethere。Therelovemeansmarriagesettlements，death，deathduties。SofarI\'mclear。Butheremydifficulty。
Thisouterlife，thoughobviouslyhorrid，oftenseemstherealone——there\'sgritinit。Itdoesbreedcharacter。Dopersonalrelationsleadtosloppinessintheend？“
“Oh，Meg，that\'swhatIfelt，onlynotsoclearly，whentheWilcoxesweresocompetent，andseemedtohavetheirhandsonalltheropes。“
“Don\'tyoufeelitnow？“
“IrememberPaulatbreakfast，“saidHelenquietly。
“Ishallneverforgethim。Hehadnothingtofallbackupon。
Iknowthatpersonalrelationsarethereallife，foreverandever。
“Amen！“
SotheWilcoxepisodefellintothebackground，leavingbehinditmemoriesofsweetnessandhorrorthatmingled，andthesisterspursuedthelifethatHelenhadcommended。Theytalkedtoeachotherandtootherpeople，theyfilledthetallthinhouseatWickhamPlacewiththosewhomtheylikedorcouldbefriend。Theyevenattendedpublicmeetings。Intheirownfashiontheycareddeeplyaboutpolitics，thoughnotaspoliticianswouldhaveuscare；theydesiredthatpubliclifeshouldmirrorwhateverisgoodinthelifewithin。Temperance，tolerance，andsexualequalitywereintelligiblecriestothem；whereastheydidnotfollowourForwardPolicyinThibetwiththekeenattentionthatitmerits，andwouldattimesdismissthewholeBritishEmpirewithapuzzled，ifreverent，sigh。Notoutofthemaretheshowsofhistoryerected:theworldwouldbeagrey，bloodlessplacewereitentirelycomposedofMissSchlegels。Buttheworldbeingwhatitis，perhapstheyshineoutinitlikestars。
Awordontheirorigin。Theywerenot“Englishtothebackbone，“astheiraunthadpiouslyasserted。But，ontheotherband，theywerenot“Germansofthedreadfulsort。“TheirfatherhadbelongedtoatypethatwasmoreprominentinGermanyfiftyyearsagothannow。HewasnottheaggressiveGerman，sodeartotheEnglishjournalist，northedomesticGerman，sodeartotheEnglishwit。
IfoneclassedhimatallitwouldbeasthecountrymanofHegelandKant，astheidealist，inclinedtobedreamy，whoseImperialismwastheImperialismoftheair。Notthathislifehadbeeninactive。HehadfoughtlikeblazesagainstDenmark，Austria，France。Buthehadfoughtwithoutvisualizingtheresultsofvictory。AhintofthetruthbrokeonhimafterSedan，whenhesawthedyedmoustachesofNapoleongoinggrey；
anotherwhenheenteredParis，andsawthesmashedwindowsoftheTuileries。
Peacecame——itwasallveryimmense，onehadturnedintoanEmpire——butheknewthatsomequalityhadvanishedforwhichnotallAlsace-Lorrainecouldcompensatehim。GermanyacommercialPower，GermanyanavalPower，GermanywithcolonieshereandaForwardPolicythere，andlegitimateaspirationsintheotherplace，mightappealtoothers，andbefitlyservedbythem；forhisownpart，heabstainedfromthefruitsofvictory，andnaturalizedhimselfinEngland。Themoreearnestmembersofhisfamilyneverforgavehim，andknewthathischildren，thoughscarcelyEnglishofthedreadfulsort，wouldneverbeGermantothebackbone。HehadobtainedworkinoneofourprovincialUniversities，andtheremarriedPoorEmilyorDieEnglä；nderinasthecasemaybe，andasshehadmoney，theyproceededtoLondon，andcametoknowagoodmanypeople。
Buthisgazewasalwaysfixedbeyondthesea。ItwashishopethatthecloudsofmaterialismobscuringtheFatherlandwouldpartintime，andthemildintellectuallightre-emerge。“DoyouimplythatweGermansarestupid，UncleErnst？“exclaimedahaughtyandmagnificentnephew。
UncleErnstreplied，“Tomymind。Youusetheintellect，butyounolongercareaboutit。ThatIcallstupidity。“Asthehaughtynephewdidnotfollow，hecontinued，“Youonlycareaboutthe\'thingsthatyoucanuse，andthereforearrangetheminthefollowingorder:Money，supremelyuseful；intellect，ratheruseful；imagination，ofnouseatall。
No“——fortheotherhadprotested——“yourPan-GermanismisnomoreimaginativethanisourImperialismoverhere。Itistheviceofavulgarmindtobethrilledbybigness，tothinkthatathousandsquaremilesareathousandtimesmorewonderfulthanonesquaremile，andthatamillionsquaremilesarealmostthesameasheaven。Thatisnotimagination。
No，itkillsit。Whentheirpoetsoverheretrytocelebratebignesstheyaredeadatonce，andnaturally。Yourpoetstooaredying，yourphilosophers，yourmusicians，towhomEuropehaslistenedfortwohundredyears。Gone。Gonewiththelittlecourtsthatnurturedthem——gonewithEsterhazandWeimar。What？What\'sthat？YourUniversities？
Oh，yes，youhavelearnedmen，whocollectmorefactsthandothelearnedmenofEngland。Theycollectfacts，andfacts，andempiresoffacts。
Butwhichofthemwillrekindlethelightwithin？“
ToallthisMargaretlistened，sittingonthehaughtynephew\'sknee。
Itwasauniqueeducationforthelittlegirls。
ThehaughtynephewwouldbeatWickhamPlaceoneday，bringingwithhimanevenhaughtierwife，bothconvincedthatGermanywasappointedbyGodtogoverntheworld。AuntJuleywouldcomethenextday，convincedthatGreatBritainhadbeenappointedtothesamepostbythesameauthority。
Wereboththeseloud-voicedpartiesright？Ononeoccasiontheyhadmet，andMargaretwithclaspedhandshadimploredthemtoarguethesubjectoutinherpresence。Whereattheyblushed，andbegantotalkabouttheweather。“Papa“shecried——shewasamostoffensivechild——“whywilltheynotdiscussthismostclearquestion？“Herfather，surveyingthepartiesgrimly，repliedthathedidnotknow。Puttingherheadononeside，Margaretthenremarked，“Tomeoneoftwothingsisveryclear；
eitherGoddoesnotknowhisownmindaboutEnglandandGermany，orelsethesedonotknowthemindofGod。“Ahatefullittlegirl，butatthirteenshehadgraspedadilemmathatmostpeopletravelthroughlifewithoutperceiving。Herbraindartedupanddown；itgrewpliantandstrong。
Herconclusionwas，thatanyhumanbeingliesnearertotheunseenthananyorganization，andfromthisshenevervaried。
Helenadvancedalongthesamelines，thoughwithamoreirresponsibletread。Incharactersheresembledhersister，butshewaspretty，andsoapttohaveamoreamusingtime。Peoplegatheredroundhermorereadily，especiallywhentheywerenewacquaintances，andshedidenjoyalittlehomageverymuch。WhentheirfatherdiedandtheyruledaloneatWickhamPlace，sheoftenabsorbedthewholeofthecompany，whileMargaret——bothweretremendoustalkers——fellflat。
Neithersisterbotheredaboutthis。Helenneverapologizedafterwards，Margaretdidnotfeeltheslightestrancour。Butlookshavetheirinfluenceuponcharacter。Thesisterswerealikeaslittlegirls，butatthetimeoftheWilcoxepisodetheirmethodswerebeginningtodiverge；
theyoungerwasratherapttoenticepeople，and，inenticingthem，tobeherselfenticed；theelderwentstraightahead，andacceptedanoccasionalfailureaspartofthegame。
LittleneedbepremisedaboutTibby。Hewasnowanintelligentmanofsixteen，butdyspepticanddifficile。Chapter5ItwillbegenerallyadmittedthatBeethoven\'sFifthSymphonyisthemostsublimenoisethathaseverpenetratedintotheearofman。Allsortsandconditionsaresatisfiedbyit。WhetheryouarelikeMrs。Munt，andtapsurreptitiouslywhenthetunescome——ofcourse，notsoastodisturbtheothers——；orlikeHelen，whocanseeheroesandshipwrecksinthemusic\'sflood；orlikeMargaret，whocanonlyseethemusic；orlikeTibby，whoisprofoundlyversedincounterpoint，andholdsthefullscoreopenonhisknee；orliketheircousin，Frä；uleinMosebach，whoremembersallthetimethatBeethovenis“echtDeutsch“；orlikeFrä；uleinMosebach\'syoungman，whocanremembernothingbutFrä；uleinMosebach:inanycase，thepassionofyourlifebecomesmorevivid，andyouareboundtoadmitthatsuchanoiseischeapattwoshillings。Itischeap，evenifyouhearitintheQueen\'sHall，dreariestmusic-roominLondon，thoughnotasdrearyastheFreeTradeHall，Manchester；andevenifyousitontheextremeleftofthathall，sothatthebrassbumpsatyoubeforetherestoftheorchestraarrives，itisstillcheap。
“WhoisMargarettalkingto？“saidMrs。Munt，attheconclusionofthefirstmovement。ShewasagaininLondononavisittoWickhamPlace。
Helenlookeddownthelonglineoftheirparty，andsaidthatshedidnotknow。
“Woulditbesomeyoungmanorotherwhomshetakesaninterestin？“
“Iexpectso，“Helenreplied。Musicenwrappedher，andshecouldnotenterintothedistinctionthatdividesyoungmenwhomonetakesaninterestinfromyoungmenwhomoneknows。
“Yougirlsaresowonderfulinalwayshaving——Ohdear！onemustn\'ttalk。“
FortheAndantehadbegun——verybeautiful，butbearingafamilylikenesstoalltheotherbeautifulAndantesthatBeethovenhadwritten，and，toHelen\'smind，ratherdisconnectingtheheroesandshipwrecksofthefirstmovementfromtheheroesandgoblinsofthethird。Sheheardthetunethroughonce，andthenherattentionwandered，andshegazedattheaudience，ortheorgan，orthearchitecture。MuchdidshecensuretheattenuatedCupidswhoencircletheceilingoftheQueen\'sHall，incliningeachtoeachwithvapidgesture，andcladinsallowpantaloons，onwhichtheOctobersunlightstruck。“HowawfultomarryamanlikethoseCupids！“thoughtHelen。HereBeethovenstarteddecoratinghistune，sosheheardhimthroughoncemore，andthenshesmiledathercousinFrieda。ButFrieda，listeningtoClassicalMusic，couldnotrespond。
HerrLiesecke，too，lookedasifwildhorsescouldnotmakehiminattentive；
therewerelinesacrosshisforehead，hislipswereparted，hispince-nezatrightanglestohisnose，andhehadlaidathick，whitehandoneitherknee。AndnexttoherwasAuntJuley，soBritish，andwantingtotap。Howinterestingthatrowofpeoplewas！Whatdiverseinfluenceshadgonetothemaking！HereBeethoven，afterhummingandhawingwithgreatsweetness，said“Heigho，“andtheAndantecametoanend。
Applause，andaroundof“wunderschö；ning“and“prachtvolleying“fromtheGermancontingent。Margaretstartedtalkingtohernewyoungman；Helensaidtoheraunt:“Nowcomesthewonderfulmovement:firstofallthegoblins，andthenatrioofelephantsdancing；“andTibbyimploredthecompanygenerallytolookoutforthetransitionalpassageonthedrum。
“Onthewhat，dear？“
“Onthedrum，AuntJuley。“
“No；lookoutforthepartwhereyouthinkyouhavedonewiththegoblinsandtheycomeback，“breathedHelen，asthemusicstartedwithagoblinwalkingquietlyovertheuniverse，fromendtoend。
Othersfollowedhim。Theywerenotaggressivecreatures；itwasthatthatmadethemsoterribletoHelen。Theymerelyobservedinpassingthattherewasnosuchthingassplendourorheroismintheworld。
Aftertheinterludeofelephantsdancing，theyreturnedandmadetheobservationforthesecondtime。Helencouldnotcontradictthem，for，onceatallevents，shehadfeltthesame，andhadseenthereliablewallsofyouthcollapse。Panicandemptiness！Panicandemptiness！Thegoblinswereright。
Herbrotherraisedhisfinger:itwasthetransitionalpassageonthedrum。
For，asifthingsweregoingtoofar，Beethoventookholdofthegoblinsandmadethemdowhathewanted。Heappearedinperson。Hegavethemalittlepush，andtheybegantowalkinmajorkeyinsteadofinaminor，andthen——heblewwithhismouthandtheywerescattered！Gustsofsplendour，godsanddemigodscontendingwithvastswords，colourandfragrancebroadcastonthefieldofbattle，magnificentvictory，magnificentdeath！Oh，itallburstbeforethegirl，andsheevenstretchedoutherglovedhandsasifitwastangible。
Anyfatewastitanic；anycontestdesirable；conquerorandconqueredwouldalikebeapplaudedbytheangelsoftheutmoststars。
Andthegoblins——theyhadnotreallybeenthereatall？Theywereonlythephantomsofcowardiceandunbelief？
Onehealthyhumanimpulsewoulddispelthem？MenliketheWilcoxes，orPresidentRoosevelt，wouldsayyes。Beethovenknewbetter。
Thegoblinsreallyhadbeenthere。Theymightreturn——andtheydid。
Itwasasifthesplendouroflifemightboilover——andwastetosteamandfroth。Initsdissolutiononeheardtheterrible，ominousnote，andagoblin，withincreasedmalignity，walkedquietlyovertheuniversefromendtoend。Panicandemptiness！Panicandemptiness！
Eventheflamingrampartsoftheworldmightfall。
Beethovenchosetomakeallrightintheend。
Hebuilttherampartsup。Heblewwithhismouthforthesecondtime，andagainthegoblinswerescattered。Hebroughtbackthegustsofsplendour，theheroism，theyouth，themagnificenceoflifeandofdeath，and，amidvastroaringsofasuperhumanjoy，heledhisFifthSymphonytoitsconclusion。
Butthegoblinswerethere。Theycouldreturn。Hehadsaidsobravely，andthatiswhyonecantrustBeethovenwhenhesaysotherthings。
Helenpushedherwayoutduringtheapplause。
Shedesiredtobealone。Themusicsummeduptoherallthathadhappenedorcouldhappeninhercareer。Shereaditasatangiblestatement，whichcouldneverbesuperseded。Thenotesmeantthisandthattoher，andtheycouldhavenoothermeaning，andlifecouldhavenoothermeaning。Shepushedrightoutofthebuilding，andwalkedslowlydowntheoutsidestaircase，breathingtheautumnalair，andthenshestrolledhome。
“Margaret，“calledMrs。Munt，“isHelenallright？“
“Ohyes。“
“Sheisalwaysgoingawayinthemiddleofaprogramme，“
saidTibby。
“Themusichasevidentlymovedherdeeply，“saidFrä；uleinMosebach。
“Excuseme，“saidMargaret\'syoungman，whohadforsometimebeenpreparingasentence，“butthatladyhas，quiteinadvertently，takenmyumbrella。“
“Oh，goodgraciousme！——Iamsosorry。Tibby，runafterHelen。“
“IshallmisstheFourSeriousSongsifIdo。“
“Tibbylove，youmustgo。“
“Itisn\'tofanyconsequence，“saidtheyoungman，intruthalittleuneasyabouthisumbrella。
“Butofcourseitis。Tibby！Tibby！“
Tibbyrosetohisfeet，andwilfullycaughthispersononthebacksofthechairs。Bythetimehehadtippeduptheseatandhadfoundhishat，andhaddepositedhisfullscoreinsafety，itwas“toolate“togoafterHelen。TheFourSeriousSongshadbegun，andonecouldnotmoveduringtheirperformance。
“Mysisterissocareless，“whisperedMargaret。
“Notatall，“repliedtheyoungman；buthisvoicewasdeadandcold。
“Ifyouwouldgivemeyouraddress——“
“Oh，notatall，notatall；“andhewrappedhisgreatcoatoverhisknees。