Волны

           ’

           ’I,however,’saidLouis,’losingsightofyou,satinmyofficeandtorethedatefromthecalendar,andannouncedtotheworldofship-brokers,corn-chandlersandactuariesthatFridaythetenth,orTuesdaytheeighteenth,haddawnedonthecityofLondon.’

           ’Then,’saidJinny,’RhodaandI,exposedinbrightdresses,withafewpreciousstonesnestlingonacoldringroundourthroats,bowed,shookhandsandtookasandwichfromaplatewithasmile.’

           ’Thetigerleapt,andtheswallowdippedherwingsindarkpoolsontheothersideoftheworld,’saidRhoda.

           ’Buthereandnowwearetogether,’saidBernard.’Wehavecometogether,ataparticulartime,tothisparticularspot.Wearedrawnintothiscommunionbysomedeep,somecommonemotion.Shallwecallit,conveniently,"love"?Shallwesay"loveofPercival"becausePercivalisgoingtoIndia?

           ’No,thatistoosmall,tooparticularaname.Wecannotattachthewidthandspreadofourfeelingstososmallamark.Wehavecometogether(fromtheNorth,fromtheSouth,fromSusan’sfarm,fromLouis’houseofbusiness)tomakeonething,notenduring--forwhatendures?--butseenbymanyeyessimultaneously.Thereisaredcarnationinthatvase.Asinglefloweraswesatherewaiting,butnowaseven-sidedflower,many-petalled,red,puce,purple-shaded,stiffwithsilver-tintedleaves--awholeflowertowhicheveryeyebringsitsowncontribution.

           ’Afterthecapriciousfires,theabysmaldullnessofyouth,’saidNeville,’thelightfallsuponrealobjectsnow.Hereareknivesandforks.