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Who was it who had so joyouslyteased her so?
She tried to remember what she had
been bidden, but shecould not. Herhands, quiet though they lay, were strangely
warm, and the blood in themseemed to beat. She did notdare leave Lester, though
she did not like Lester any the better forthat.
That shop had for a
momentseemed less like a facade and more like a shop.
Shesaid in a high
strained voice: Dont be silly, Lester. If her mother hadnot wished to have a
painting of Father Simon, they would have met lessoften.
By the timeshe had
come into the street, she had moved again through receding time. She spoke
almost tothe City itself, not in defence or excuse, but as a fact.
She was very
pale, her eyes were almost shut, she drooped with theheaviness of her fatigue.
Far below Betty, as she came down theHill, Lester and Evelyn walked. She knew
what would happen; it had happened before. In a moment you will not fight; then
you will be inpeace. It always seemed to her at firststrange and then not
strange.
Evelyn, she said to herself, clasping her knees,Evelyns dead. Let him
make his profit of it; her salvation was his peril. But it was fame and
domination that he desired, as they did.
At the time of the wedding shehad been
in Yorkshire; not that she would have been asked anyhow.
Hewished his visitor
would go away, before he said the wrong thing.
They were literally dragging,
each was pulledalong the path. Of course,she had to, because Evelyn sat, eyeing
her and talking. Helping herself was almost like helping another, and
helpinganother was much like helping yourself.
It had been two thousand years
before anyone haddared to risk the attempt again. But he felt the City
lessen-not onlyLondon, but all bodies and souls of men. They tookher to her
room and laid her on her bed. Till at last there rose in Europe something which
was neither, andset itself to destroy both.
I cant-after thisafternoon-Mother,
I cant.
Herepeated, in a voice harder than was usual with him, what she said. I
can send you; I can bring you back; only take the peace. You could be at peace
now if youdid not fight. She stamped one small foot on the pavement. She had
wished to protest; she had wished to ringup Jonathan. Ridiculous names these
girls have nowadays!
But for herself she neitherunderstood nor remembered them.
Far below Betty, as she came down theHill, Lester and Evelyn walked.
I want to
marry her daughter, Jonathan said.
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