Chapter 38 Summary

When Meg approaches Henry, he has only two questions for her: Is Helen wearing a wedding ring? In addition, did Helen tell Meg who had seduced her? Meg replies negatively to each and Henry says that they need more information to come to Helen's defense and possibly to save her name and reputation. Meg sees no future in pursuing this line of activity and proceeds to ask him if the two sisters could sleep at Howards End for just this one time. Henry thinks Helen would be more comfortable at the hotel and can't understand why Meg feels so attached to the house, even though Meg tries to explain to him that the furnishings had been the Schlegel's and it comforts Helen to be near them.

Henry flatly denies the request and it finally surfaces that he has the reputation of his family...