Волны

           AlreadyatfiftyyardsdistanceIfeeltheorderofmybeingchanged.Thetugofthemagnetoftheirsocietytellsuponme.Icomenearer.Theydonotseeme.NowRhodaseesme,butshepretends,withherhorroroftheshockofmeeting,thatIamastranger.NowNevilleturns.Suddenly,raisingmyhand,salutingNevilleIcry,"ItoohavepressedflowersbetweenthepagesofShakespeare’ssonnets,"andamchurnedup.Mylittleboatbobsunsteadilyuponthechoppedandtossingwaves.Thereisnopanacea(letmenote)againsttheshockofmeeting.

           ’Itisuncomfortabletoo,joiningraggededges,rawedges;onlygradually,asweshuffleandtrampleintotheInn,takingcoatsandhatsoff,doesmeetingbecomeagreeable.Nowweassembleinthelong,baredining-roomthatoverlookssomepark,somegreenspacestillfantasticallylitbythesettingsunsothatthereisagoldbarbetweenthetrees,andsitourselvesdown.’

           ’Nowsittingsidebyside,’saidNeville,’atthisnarrowtable,nowbeforethefirstemotioniswornsmooth,whatdowefeel?Honestlynow,openlyanddirectlyasbefitsoldfriendsmeetingwithdifficulty,whatdowefeelonmeeting?Sorrow.Thedoorwillnotopen;hewillnotcome.Andweareladen.Beingnowallofusmiddle-aged,loadsareonus.Letusputdownourloads.Whathaveyoumadeoflife,weask,andI?You,Bernard;you,Susan;you,Jinny;andRhodaandLouis?Thelistshavebeenpostedonthedoors.Beforewebreaktheserolls,andhelpourselvestofishandsalad,Ifeelinmyprivatepocketandfindmycredentials--whatIcarrytoprovemysuperiority.Ihavepassed.