think of the Wilcoxes? Are they our sort? Are they likely
people? Could they appreciate Helen, who is to my mind a
very special sort of person? Do they care about Literature
and Art? That is most important when you come to think of
it. Literature and Art. Most important. How old would the
son be? She says 'younger son.' Would he be in a position
to marry? Is he likely to make Helen happy? Did you gather--"

"I gathered nothing."

They began to talk at once.

"Then in that case--"

"In that case I can make no plans, don't you see."

"On the contrary--"

"I hate plans. I hate lines of action. Helen isn't a baby."

"Then in that case, my dear, why go down?"

Margaret was silent. If her aunt could not see why she
must go down, she was not going to tell her. She was not
going to say "I love my dear sister; I must be near her at
this crisis of her life." The affections are more reticent
than the passions, and their expression more subtle. If she
herself should ever fall in love with a man, she, like
Helen, would proclaim it from the house-tops, but as she
only loved a sister she used the voiceless language of sympathy.