霍华德庄园 英文版 Howards End
爱德华.摩根.福斯特 Edward Morgan Forster
Chapter 21
Charles had just been scolding his Dolly. She deserved thescolding, and had bent before it, but her head, thoughbloody, was unsubdued, and her chirrupings began to minglewith his retreating thunder.
"You've woken the baby. I knew you would. (Rum-ti-foo,Rackety-tackety Tompkin!) I'm not responsible for what UnclePercy does, nor for anybody else or anything, so there!"
"Who asked him while I was away? Who asked my sisterdown to meet him? Who sent them out in the motor day after day?"
"Charles, that reminds me of some poem."
"Does it indeed? We shall all be dancing to a verydifferent music presently. Miss Schlegel has fairly got uson toast."
"I could simply scratch that woman's eyes out, and tosay it's my fault is most unfair."
"It's your fault, and five months ago you admitted it."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Tootle, tootle, playing on the pootle!" exclaimedDolly, suddenly devoting herself to the child.
"It's all very well to turn the conversation, but Fatherwould never have dreamt of marrying as long as Evie wasthere to make him comfortable. But you must needs startmatch-making. Besides, Cahill's too old."
"Of course, if you're going to be rude to Uncle Percy--"
"Miss Schlegel always meant to get hold of Howards End,and, thanks to you, she's got it."
"I call the way you twist things round and make themhang together most unfair. You couldn't have been nastierif you'd caught me flirting. Could he, diddums?"
"We're in a bad hole, and must make the best of it. Ishall answer the pater's letter civilly. He's evidentlyanxious to do the decent thing. But I do not intend toforget these Schlegels in a hurry. As long as they're ontheir best behaviour--Dolly, are you listening? --we'llbehave, too. But if I find them giving themselves airs, ormonopolizing my father, or at all ill-treating him, orworrying him with their artistic beastliness, I intend toput my foot down, yes, firmly. Taking my mother's place!Heaven knows what poor old Paul will say when the newsreaches him."
The interlude closes. It has taken place in Charles'sgarden at Hilton. He and Dolly are sitting in deck-chairs,and their motor is regarding them placidly from its garageacross the lawn. A short-frocked edition of Charles alsoregards them placidly; a perambulator edition is squeaking;a third edition is expected shortly. Nature is turning outWilcoxes in this peaceful abode, so that they may inheritthe earth.