Хвилі

           And,half-waythroughdinner,wefeltenlargeitselfroundusthehugeblacknessofwhatisoutsideus,ofwhatwearenot.Thewind,therushofwheelsbecametheroaroftime,andwerushed--where?Andwhowerewe?Wewereextinguishedforamoment,wentoutlikesparksinburntpaperandtheblacknessroared.Pasttime,pasthistorywewent.Formethislastsbutonesecond.Itisendedbymyownpugnacity.Istrikethetablewithaspoon.IfIcouldmeasurethingswithcompassesIwould,butsincemyonlymeasureisaphrase,Imakephrases--Iforgetwhat,onthisoccasion.WebecamesixpeopleatatableinHamptonCourt.Weroseandwalkedtogetherdowntheavenue.Inthethin,theunrealtwilight,fitfullyliketheechoofvoiceslaughingdownsomealley,genialityreturnedtomeandflesh.Againstthegateway,againstsomecedartreeIsawblazebright,Neville,Jinny,Rhoda,Louis,Susan,andmyself,ourlife,ouridentity.StillKingWilliamseemedanunrealmonarchandhiscrownmeretinsel.Butwe--againstthebrick,againstthebranches,wesix,outofhowmanymillionmillions,foronemomentoutofwhatmeasurelessabundanceofpasttimeandtimetocome,burnttheretriumphant.Themomentwasall;themomentwasenough.AndthenNeville,Jinny,SusanandI,asawavebreaks,burstasunder,surrendered--tothenextleaf,totheprecisebird,toachildwithahoop,toaprancingdog,tothewarmththatishoardedinwoodsafterahotday,tothelightstwistedlikewhiteribbononrippledwaters.