Chapter 4

           ConniealwayshadaforebodingofthehopelessnessofheraffairwithMick,aspeoplecalledhim.Yetothermenseemedtomeannothingtoher.ShewasattachedtoClifford.Hewantedagooddealofherlifeandshegaveittohim.Butshewantedagooddealfromthelifeofaman,andthisClifforddidnotgiveher;couldnot.TherewereoccasionalspasmsofMichaelis.But,assheknewbyforeboding,thatwouldcometoanend.Mickcouldn’tkeepanythingup.Itwaspartofhisverybeingthathemustbreakoffanyconnexion,andbeloose,isolated,absolutelylonedogagain.Itwashismajornecessity,eventhoughhealwayssaid:Sheturnedmedown!

           Theworldissupposedtobefullofpossibilities,buttheynarrowdowntoprettyfewinmostpersonalexperience.There’slotsofgoodfishinthesea...maybe...butthevastmassesseemtobemackerelorherring,andifyou’renotmackerelorherringyourselfyouarelikelytofindveryfewgoodfishinthesea.

           Cliffordwasmakingstridesintofame,andevenmoney.Peoplecametoseehim.ConnienearlyalwayshadsomebodyatWragby.Butiftheyweren’tmackereltheywereherring,withanoccasionalcat-fish,orconger-eel.

           Therewereafewregularmen,constants;menwhohadbeenatCambridgewithClifford.TherewasTommyDukes,whohadremainedinthearmy,andwasaBrigadier-General.’Thearmyleavesmetimetothink,andsavesmefromhavingtofacethebattleoflife,’hesaid.

           TherewasCharlesMay,anIrishman,whowrotescientificallyaboutstars.TherewasHammond,anotherwriter.