Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXI

           Shetalkedofthelatenessofhertrain,ofanimpendingcrisisininternationalpolitics,ofthedifficultyofbuyingEnglishteainParisandoftheenormitiesofwhichFrenchservantswerecapable;andherviewsonthesesubjectswereenunciatedwithauniformityofemphasisimplyingcompleteunconsciousnessofanydifferenceintheirinterestandimportance.ShealwaysappliedtotheFrenchracethedistantepithetof“thosepeople”,butshebetrayedanintimateacquaintancewithmanyofitsmembers,andanencyclopaedicknowledgeofthedomestichabits,financialdifficultiesandprivatecomplicationsofvariouspersonsofsocialimportance.Yet,assheevidentlyfeltnoincongruityinherattitude,sosherevealednodesiretoparadeherfamiliaritywiththefashionable,orindeedanysenseofitasafacttobeparaded.ItwasevidentthatthetitledladieswhomshespokeofasMimiorSimoneorOdettewereasmuch“thosepeople”toherasthebonnewhotamperedwithherteaandsteamedthestampsoffherletters(“when,byamiracle,Idon’tputthemintheboxmyself.”)Herwholeattitudewasofavastgrimtoleranceofthings-as-they-came,asthoughshehadbeensomewonderfulautomaticmachinewhichrecordedfactsbuthadnotyetbeenperfectedtothepointofsortingorlabellingthem.

           Allthis,asDarrowwasaware,stillfellshortofaccountingfortheinfluencesheobviouslyexertedonthepersonsincontactwithher.Itbroughtaslightrelieftohisstateoftensiontogoonwondering,whilehewatchedandlistened,justwherethemysterylurked.

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