VI

           Theweekintownhadbeensultry,andthemen,intheSundayemancipationofwhiteflannelandduck,filledthedeck-chairsoftheyachtwiththeiroutstretchedapathy,following,throughamistofcigarette-smoke,theflittinginconsequencesofthewomen.Thepartywasasmallone—Flamelhadfewintimatefriends—butcomposedofmoreheterogeneousatomsthanthelittlepoolsintowhichsocietyusuallyruns.ThereactionfromthechiefepisodeofhisearlierlifehadbredinGlennardanuneasydistasteforanykindofpersonalsaliency.Clevernesswasusefulinbusiness;butinsocietyitseemedtohimasfutileastheshamcascadesformedbyastreamthatmighthavebeenusedtodriveamill.Helikedthecollectivepointofviewthatgoeswiththecivilizeduniformityofdress-clothes,andhiswife’sattitudeimpliedthesamepreference;yettheyfoundthemselvesslippingmoreandmoreintoFlamel’sintimacy.Alexahadonceortwicesaidthatsheenjoyedmeetingcleverpeople;butherenjoymenttookthenegativeformofasmilingreceptivity;andGlennardfeltagrowingpreferenceforthekindofpeoplewhohavetheirthinkingdoneforthembythecommunity.

           Still,thedeckoftheyachtwasapleasantrefugefromtheheatonshore,andhiswife’sprofile,serenelyprojectedagainstthechangingblue,layonhisretinalikeacoolhandonthenerves.Hehadneverbeenmoreimpressedbythekindofabsolutenessthatliftedherbeautyabovethetransienteffectsofotherwomen,makingthemostharmoniousfaceseemanaccidentalcollocationoffeatures.