Howards End

Several days pass, and Margaret has not heard anything from Mrs. Wilcox. She is eager to make Mrs. Wilcox her friend and is frustrated that Mrs. Wilcox is not responding to her overtures. Finally, Margaret is invited by Mrs. Wilcox to go Christmas shopping with her.

The two of them go from shop to shop. Margaret tells Mrs. Wilcox of the Schlegels’ Christmas traditions and makes a comment about what she hopes is in their “next house.” This mention of a “next house” gets Mrs. Wilcox’s attention, and she expresses that she is sad to hear that they will have to move. 

Mrs. Wilcox spontaneously invites Margaret to Howards End, but Margaret declines, saying that the weather is bad. Margaret notices that her refusal has made Mrs. Wilcox annoyed. Margaret realizes how meaningful Mrs. Wilcox’s invitation was and is sorry to have dismissed it. Upon returning home, Margaret goes over the Wilcoxes’ house and learns that Mrs. Wilcox has left. She rushes to the train station and Mrs. Wilcox kindly greets her as she is buying a ticket. Reconciled, they begin talking about Howards End until Evie and Mr. Wilcox run into them, having arrived early from their trip. Mrs. Wilcox says that they will have to postpone the visit to Howards End, after all, and they part to return home.

The chapter opens with the end of a funeral; the narrator reveals that it is that of Mrs. Wilcox. The last mourners, a group of poor people, are leaving. Back at Howards End, Charles, his wife Dolly, and Evie eat breakfast in the kitchen, while Mr. Wilcox leaves his breakfast untouched. Mrs. Wilcox did not tell anybody that she was sick, and Mr. Wilcox only found out from a doctor.

Evie drops off letters for Mr. Wilcox, and Charles presses him to eat. Dolly feels bored and uncomfortable, feeling compelled to act as if she is mourning someone whom she barely knew. Charles intends to leave soon to go back to the city, and he goes to the garage to tell the chauffeur to get the car ready. He is interrupted by Dolly, who tells him that Mrs. Wilcox left Howards End to Margaret. At first, Charles brushes her aside, but he later follows her inside when Mr. Wilcox calls them in.

Mr. Wilcox passes Charles the letter that Mrs. Wilcox left, and the four of them discuss the affair. Charles suspects Margaret of influencing Mrs. Wilcox when she was ill, but Mr. Wilcox says that she is innocent. The narrator interjects that the Wilcoxes would be wrong to offer Howards End to Margaret, as it was an impulsive decision of Mrs. Wilcox, and they are in no position to appreciate the mystical importance of the house to her. The family grows resentful toward Mrs. Wilcox. Charles and Evie make disparaging comments about Margaret, but Mr. Wilcox defends her.

The narrator says that Margaret will not hear of Mrs. Wilcox’s letter until years later. Meanwhile, Margaret admires the equanimity with which her friend faced death. Margaret continues to take an interest in the other Wilcoxes. She admires their practical nature, even if they are somewhat deficient in dealing with emotion. She thinks that they and the Schlegels could benefit one another. 

Helen returns to Wickham Place. Tibby enjoys a visit to Oxford to try for a scholarship. Margaret tells Helen that Charles, who works in the Wilcox family rubber business, had asked her if Mrs. Wilcox said anything about leaving something to her in the will. He sends her a silver vinaigrette that belonged to Mrs. Wilcox.

Two years later things remain much the same with the Schlegels, while London is changing around them. New buildings rise, the city expands, and cars become more prevalent upon the streets. 

Margaret is not sensitive to these transformations until the expiration of the lease for Wickham Place, which fills her with sadness and indignation. She considers herself fortunate that she has money.

Tibby is in his second year at Oxford. Margaret asks if he knows what he wants to do in the future, and Tibby answers that he prefers not to work, only to live on his yearly income from his inheritance. Margaret speaks with admiration of the Wilcoxes’ working habits, and this annoys Tibby, who dismisses the Wilcoxes and Margaret’s ideas about the benefits of work.

They talk about where they will want to live when Helen rushes in and says that a woman has come around asking for her husband. She finds this idea very amusing, and she recounts the funny replies she provided the woman to her questions. Margaret and Tibby are in disbelief, and Margaret finds the idea more disturbing than comical. She fears that with their departure from the safety of Wickham Place into the world they may come into contact with more trouble of this nature.

The next day, the husband of the woman comes, and the three Schlegels rush down to see him. They are surprised to see that he is a poor and unfortunate-looking man. 

Margaret is surprised when he gives her a visiting card from her, and he explains that he met them at the concert when Helen took his umbrella. It is Leonard Bast. They do not remember him, and he says that he has come to apologize for the misunderstanding. His wife saw the card and sought him at the Schlegels’ house. They ask questions, and he is evasive in his answers. Margaret, disturbed, tries to politely end the conversation, but Leonard begins asking them about books. They find this tiresome. Margaret and Helen warm to him when he talks about the overnight walk he had taken when his wife missed him, and he opens up in turn. Leonard asks if they think him foolish for going out on this long walk. They admire him for it, but he says that his wife would not understand.

The sisters must leave to go out for dinner. They invite him to return some time, but he says it is better if he does not. Leonard walks home, and the narrator comments on his propensity for suddenly opening up to strangers. He continues to treasure the fact that the Schlegels did not think him foolish for his long walk, and he begins to cherish his sense of wonder and adventure.

The dinner party the sisters attend is part of an informal women’s discussion club in which they take part. After speaking of Leonard during the dinner, the women begin to debate the topic of how a rich person is supposed to disburse their inheritance to best help someone like “Mr. Bast.” 

After the debate, the sisters stop by the river to enjoy the view on their way home. They agree that it is better not to see Leonard again. When they mention Howards End and the Wilcoxes, Mr. Wilcox, who happens to be seated near them, walks over and greets them. After catching up, the sisters tell Mr. Wilcox, who has become very rich himself, about their debate at the discussion club. They tell him about Leonard, and Mr. Wilcox says that the fire insurance company that employs Leonard as a clerk will soon go bankrupt. The topic of conversation changes to Howards End, and Mr. Wilcox says that they are renting it out at the moment since it is not suitable for any of the Wilcoxes’ living preferences. After they part, Margaret and Helen agree that they should write to Leonard to try to warn him about the insurance company.

Leonard accepts the sisters’ invitation to tea, but things do not go smoothly, as Leonard is offended by the prodding nature of the sisters’ questions about his work. When Helen finally says that they have heard that the insurance company is to go bankrupt, Leonard, out of embarrassment, says that their information is wrong, although he is in no position to know. Leonard tries to change the subject to books, when Mr. Wilcox and Evie enter. Leonard announces that he will leave and not return, calling the meeting a “failure.” Helen responds by saying that he is rude, and an argument erupts. Leonard says that he does not need the sisters’ “patronage.” Margaret tries to explain to him the sisters’ admiration for him in regard to his love of nature, but he storms out.

Margaret and Mr. Wilcox discuss the situation. Mr. Wilcox says that Margaret is too kind and that the sisters should not associate with “that type of man” (132). Mr. Wilcox, becoming attracted to Margaret, starts to become jealous of the way she talks of Leonard. Helen believes that they should continue to see Leonard. After the Wilcoxes leave, Mr. Wilcox tells Evie that since the sisters are single and have nobody to look after them, the two of them should check in on the sisters more often.