第64章

"Charles being the elder son,some day Charles will have Howards End;but I am anxious,in my own happiness,not to be unjust to others.""Of course not,"she began,and then gave a little cry."You mean money.How stupid I am!Of course not!"Oddly enough,he winced a little at the word.

"Yes.Money,since you put it so frankly.I am determined to be just to all--just to you,just to them.I am determined that my children shall have no case against me.""Be generous to them,"she said sharply."Bother justice!""I am determined--and have already written to Charles to that effect--""But how much have you got?"

"What?"

"How much have you a year?I've six hundred.""My income?"

"Yes.We must begin with how much you have,before we can settle how much you can give Charles.Justice,and even generosity,depend on that.""I must say you're a downright young woman,"he observed,patting her arm and laughing a little."What a question to spring on a fellow!""Don't you know your income?Or don't you want to tell it me?""I--"

"That's all right"--now she patted him--"don't tell me.I don't want to know.I can do the sum just as well by proportion.Divide your income into ten parts.How many parts would you give to Evie,how many to Charles,how many to Paul?""The fact is,my dear,I hadn't any intention of bothering you with details.I only wanted to let you know that--well,that something must be done for the others,and you've understood me perfectly,so let's pass on to the next point.""Yes,we've settled that,"said Margaret,undisturbed by his strategic blunderings."Go ahead;give away all you can,bearing in mind I've a clear six hundred.What a mercy it is to have all this money about one!""We've none too much,I assure you;you're marrying a poor man.

"Helen wouldn't agree with me here,"she continued.

"Helen daren't slang the rich,being rich herself,but she would like to.

There's an odd notion,that I haven't yet got hold of,running about at the back of her brain,that poverty is somehow 'real.'She dislikes all organization,and probably confuses wealth with the technique of wealth.

Sovereigns in a stocking wouldn't bother her;cheques do.Helen is too relentless.One can't deal in her high-handed manner with the world.""There's this other point,and then I must go back to my hotel and write some letters.What's to be done now about the house in Ducie Street?""Keep it on--at least,it depends.When do you want to marry me?"She raised her voice,as too often,and some youths,who were also taking the evening air,overheard her."Getting a bit hot,eh?"said one.Mr.Wilcox turned on them,and said sharply,"I say!"There was silence."Take care I don't report you to the police."They moved away quietly enough,but were only biding their time,and the rest of the conversation was punctuated by peals of ungovernable laughter.

Lowering his voice and infusing a hint of reproof into it,he said:"Evie will probably be married in September.We could scarcely think of anything before then.""The earlier the nicer,Henry.Females are not supposed to say such things,but the earlier the nicer.""How about September for us too?"he asked,rather dryly.

"Right.Shall we go into Ducie Street ourselves in September?Or shall we try to bounce Helen and Tibby into it?

That's rather an idea.They are so unbusinesslike,we could make them do anything by judicious management.Look here--yes.We'll do that.And we ourselves could live at Howards End or Shropshire."He blew out his cheeks."Heavens!how you women do fly round!My head's in a whirl.Point by point,Margaret.Howards End's impossible.I let it to Hamar Bryce on a three years'agreement last March.Don't you remember?

Oniton.Well,that is much,much too far away to rely on entirely.