CHAPTER IXIMRS RAFFERTYS revel was destined to
become famous in the social annalsof the lake. I always wade and pull the boat in
when I come here; its so rocky. The words were uttered with a sort of lazy
indifference. The hand that held the cigarette inits wooden holder was by her
side.
In the ensuing days there was much talk about the
revel, and Richard gotheartily sick of it.
Whichever the cause, the effect was that the couple
gradually foundthemselves on the old terms. Shecame into our box at the Opera with
that Portuguese, Santa Rosa.
And, where social aspirants wereconcerned, his was
by no means a negligible authority. So the familiar atmosphere of the past enveloped
Richard once more. Richard followed her example in more sober fashion. Lady
Wensleydale was full of well-bredadmiration. Richard followed her example in more
sober fashion.
Its to be a comedy in threeacts, with a prologue
and a pantomime thrown in.
For Elinor Aquafontiwas less a means to an end than
an end in itself. Suddenly, for no reason that he couldunderstand, his heart began
beating violently, painfully.
Genealogical detailshad little interest for
Richard, and he had had much of them. Richard began givingdirections to
Pietro.
Affecting to ignore the boys allusion, Elinor
invited her guests toview the belvedere.
She was determined that the occasion should be
historic. He will ride up very slowly on a white horse.
Richardwondered how long he would be allowed to
accompany her. She dried her face with the other handkerchief and watched
him.
I say, if you drop me at Terno I can walk or get a
man to row me toAquafonti. Therewas no longer any excuse, as it were, for other than
perfunctoryintercourse. Atpresent he is, I know, doing Friedbergs villa at Cannes.
His heart was beating convulsively, hisbrain seemed on fire. Each went his or her
way,sometimes meeting at meals, quite as often not.
Tell him, I should like him to build one for me
just like yours, withthose high rowlocks. Shecame into our box at the Opera with
that Portuguese, Santa Rosa.
All the beauty oflife, of the world, came back to
me on the water. Reggie, who had been lying at the bottomof the motor-boat on a pile
of cushions, got up lazily. For her husband, whether for good or for evil,
thatmoment would never come. The girl stopped an instant and pointed atwhat seemed
to be the top of the mountain. Forked at its edge, their path had led through a
wood, from which theyhad just emerged.
She would not show Reggie the reception-rooms that
evening.
When I have that dream it means something bad is
coming.
And in thisself-bestowal she was reaping the
immediate reward of the artist.
Iasked it whether it was going to your villa, and
it emitted anotherstrange sound, like this, Naw. Lady Wensleydale knew no Italian,
but Richard quickly unravelled themystery. He tore himselfaway and threw himself on
the sacks.