Волны

           Weshallnotenjoycertainpleasuresagain,whenwearefreetogotobed,ortositup,whenIneednolongersmuggleinbitsofcandle-endsandimmoralliterature.ThebeenowhumsroundtheheadofthegreatDoctor.Larpent,John,Archie,Percival,BakerandSmith--Ihavelikedthemenormously.Ihaveknownonemadboyonly.Ihavehatedonemeanboyonly.IenjoyinretrospectmyterriblyawkwardbreakfastsattheHeadmaster’stablewithtoastandmarmalade.Healonedoesnotnoticethebee.Ifitweretosettleonhisnosehewouldflickitoffwithonemagnificentgesture.Nowhehasmadehisjoke;nowhisvoicehasalmostbrokenbutnotquite.Nowwearedismissed--Louis,NevilleandIforever.Wetakeourhighlypolishedbooks,scholasticallyinscribedinalittlecrabbedhand.Werise,wedisperse;thepressureisremoved.Thebeehasbecomeaninsignificant,adisregardedinsect,flownthroughtheopenwindowintoobscurity.Tomorrowwego.’

           ’Weareabouttopart,’saidNeville.’Herearetheboxes;herearethecabs.ThereisPercivalinhisbillycockhat.Hewillforgetme.Hewillleavemyletterslyingaboutamonggunsanddogsunanswered.Ishallsendhimpoemsandhewillperhapsreplywithapicturepostcard.ButitisforthatthatIlovehim.Ishallproposemeeting--underaclock,bysomeCross;andshallwait,andhewillnotcome.ItisforthatthatIlovehim.Oblivious,almostentirelyignorant,hewillpassfrommylife.AndIshallpass,incredibleasitseems,intootherlives;thisisonlyanescapadeperhaps,apreludeonly.