Chapters 34-37 Summary
Aunt Juley is gravely ill. She has been sick for a long time with a series of colds and coughs. She has grown weaker and is now fighting a serious case of pneumonia. She is not expected to live. Margaret, Tibby, and Helen are called in. Helen was still in Germany but has wired that she is on her way back to London. Margaret and Tibby go immediately to their aunt’s home in Swanage.
Although the doctors had assumed that Aunt Juley would not recuperate, she does. She is weak but will eventually recover. Margaret and Tibby are thankful, but when they receive another telegram from Helen, Margaret must face another quandary. Helen is in London and asks about Aunt Juley’s health. If her aunt is feeling better, she will complete some business in London and return to Germany. If her aunt is not well, she will come out to Swanage. Margaret asks Tibby how she should respond. Both Tibby and Margaret want to see Helen. Margaret considers lying to Helen that Aunt Juley is still ill, but her sense of honor will not allow her to lie. She telegrams Helen the truth. Aunt Juley is better and is expected to fully recover.
Helen responds, telling her sister that she does not intend to visit but would like to know where their possessions have been stored. There are a few books she would like to take with her back to Germany. In an attempt to see their sister, Tibby and Margaret arrange to meet Helen. Helen agrees but then does not show up as planned.
Tibby and Margaret take the problem to Henry; they hope that his objective and rational way of thinking might help them understand what is going on with Helen. Tibby and Margaret fear that Helen might be sick. Henry suggests that they write a letter to Helen, telling her that her books are being stored at Howards End. She must go there if she wants them. Margaret and Tibby can be there to surprise her, but they must not tell Helen of their plans. At first Margaret refuses to go along with this scheme, but in the end she gives in.
Henry and Margaret are staying at Charles’s house, which is near Howards End. They have just finished lunch when because Henry is told that a woman got off the train in the village and has rented a car. Henry assumes this to be Helen. They prepare to leave and Henry tells Margaret to tidy up. As she does, Henry goes out to the car to go to Howards End by himself. He believes Margaret is not up to the task. Margaret realizes Henry’s plan and runs out and catches up with the car. She is angry at Henry’s deceit but realizes she has no right to judge him. She, too, is being deceitful with Helen.
On their way to Howards End, they stop to pick up a young doctor because they fear Helen is ill. As they continue on their way, the doctor asks questions about Helen. Margaret becomes angrier still when she listens to how Henry describes her sister. He makes Helen sound mad. Margaret quietly defends her sister. If Helen is mad, Margaret concludes, then she is mad too.
The car stops right before it reaches the house. Margaret jumps out when she sees her sister sitting on the porch, waiting for someone to come unlock the door. Helen stands awkwardly, and Margaret sees at once what the problem is. She hugs her sister and quickly pushes her into the house and closes...
(This entire section contains 960 words.)
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the door. Helen is pregnant.
After closing the door behind Helen, Margaret turns to face Henry and the doctor. She is ready to fight for what she believes to be her sister’s rights as a woman. Although Henry insists that she allow the doctor to go in, Margaret does not give way. When Henry asks for the keys, Margaret does not hand them over to him. She tells them that this is not a matter of rational business. This is all about affection. She is the only one there who has affection for her sister. They might need the doctor in the near future, but they do not need him now. The doctor, who has learned that Helen is with child, finally turns away and climbs back into the car. Margaret next apologizes to Henry for being so cross but demands that Henry leave. Then she stands outside and watches the car drive down the road before she finally goes inside the house to confront her sister.
At first the conversation between Margaret and Helen is strained. Helen tells Margaret that she cannot live in England. She would not be accepted, especially not in Henry’s society. She must, therefore, return to Germany. She has been living with a woman named Monica, an Italian writer who has been very supportive. There is no mention of the father of Helen’s child.
As they look around them, the furnishings in the house bring up childhood memories, and before long, the sisters are laughing and feeling more affection for one another. There is a knock on the door. They find a young boy has brought a can of fresh milk from Miss Avery. In the morning he will return with some eggs, he tells them. This inspires an idea. Helen suggests that she and Margaret spend the night at Howards End. For this one night, the house will be theirs. Margaret is not so easily swayed, but she finally accepts the idea. However, she must first acquire Henry’s approval. She must go talk to Henry. She tells Helen she will return before nightfall.