Літо
IX
Heretheylunchedonqueerlyflavouredthings,whileHarney,leaningbackinacrippledrocking-chair,smokedcigarettesbetweenthecoursesandpouredintoCharity’sglassapaleyellowwinewhichhesaidwastheverysameonedrankinjustsuchjollyplacesinFrance.
Charitydidnotthinkthewineasgoodassarsaparilla,butshesippedamouthfulforthepleasureofdoingwhathedid,andoffancyingherselfalonewithhiminforeigncountries.Theillusionwasincreasedbytheirbeingservedbyadeep-bosomedwomanwithsmoothhairandapleasantlaugh,whotalkedtoHarneyinunintelligiblewords,andseemedamazedandoverjoyedathisansweringherinkind.Attheothertablesotherpeoplesat,mill-handsprobably,homelybutpleasantlooking,whospokethesameshrilljargon,andlookedatHarneyandCharitywithfriendlyeyes;andbetweenthetable-legsapoodlewithbaldpatchesandpinkeyesnosedaboutforscraps,andsatuponhishindlegsabsurdly.
Harneyshowednoinclinationtomove,forhotastheircornerwas,itwasatleastshadedandquiet;and,fromthemainthoroughfarescametheclangingoftrolleys,theincessantpoppingoftorpedoes,thejingleofstreet-organs,thebawlingofmegaphonemenandtheloudmurmurofincreasingcrowds.Heleanedback,smokinghiscigar,pattingthedog,andstirringthecoffeethatsteamedintheirchippedcups.“It’stherealthing,youknow,”heexplained;andCharityhastilyrevisedherpreviousconceptionofthebeverage.
