Волны

           ’Nowthestrictureandrigidityareover;andIwillcontinuetomakemysurveyofthepurlieusofthehouseinthelateafternoon,inthesunset,whenthesunmakesoleaginousspotsonthelinoleum,andacrackoflightkneelsonthewall,makingthechairlegslookbroken.’

           ’IsawFlorrieinthekitchengarden,’saidSusan,’aswecamebackfromourwalk,withthewashingblownoutroundher,thepyjamas,thedrawers,thenight-gownsblowntight.AndErnestkissedher.Hewasinhisgreenbaizeapron,cleaningsilver;andhismouthwassuckedlikeapurseinwrinklesandheseizedherwiththepyjamasblownouthardbetweenthem.Hewasblindasabull,andsheswoonedinanguish,onlylittleveinsstreakingherwhitecheeksred.Nowthoughtheypassplatesofbreadandbutterandcupsofmilkattea-timeIseeacrackintheearthandhotsteamhissesup;andtheurnroarsasErnestroared,andIamblownouthardlikethepyjamas,evenwhilemyteethmeetinthesoftbreadandbutter,andIlapthesweetmilk.Iamnotafraidofheat,norofthefrozenwinter.Rhodadreams,suckingacrustsoakedinmilk;Louisregardsthewalloppositewithsnail-greeneyes;Bernardmouldshisbreadintopelletsandcallsthem"people".Nevillewithhiscleananddecisivewayshasfinished.Hehasrolledhisnapkinandslippeditthroughthesilverring.Jinnyspinsherfingersonthetable-cloth,asiftheyweredancinginthesunshine,pirouetting.ButIamnotafraidoftheheatorofthefrozenwinter.’

           ’Now,’saidLouis,’weallrise;weallstandup.MissCurryspreadswidetheblackbookontheharmonium.