Волны

           ’

           ’AndMissLambert,MissCuttingandMissBard,’saidJinny,’monumentalladies,white-ruffed,stone-coloured,enigmatic,withamethystringsmovinglikevirginaltapers,dimglow-wormsoverthepagesofFrench,geographyandarithmetic,presided;andthereweremaps,green-baizeboards,androwsofshoesonashelf.’

           ’Bellsrangpunctually,’saidSusan,’maidsscuffledandgiggled.Therewasadrawinginofchairsandadrawingoutofchairsonthelinoleum.Butfromoneattictherewasablueview,adistantviewofafieldunstainedbythecorruptionofthisregimented,unrealexistence.’

           ’Downfromourheadsveilsfell,’saidRhoda.’Weclaspedtheflowerswiththeirgreenleavesrustlingingarlands.’

           ’Wechanged,webecameunrecognizable,’saidLouis.’Exposedtoallthesedifferentlights,whatwehadinus(forweareallsodifferent)cameintermittently,inviolentpatches,spacedbyblankvoids,tothesurfaceasifsomeacidhaddroppedunequallyontheplate.Iwasthis,Nevillethat,Rhodadifferentagain,andBernardtoo.’

           ’Thencanoesslippedthroughpalelytintedyellowbranches,’saidNeville,’andBernard,advancinginhiscasualwayagainstbreadthsofgreen,againsthousesofveryancientfoundation,tumbledinaheaponthegroundbesideme.Inanaccessofemotion--windsarenotmoreraving,norlightningmoresudden--Itookmypoem,Iflungmypoem,Islammedthedoorbehindme.