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broken.’
‘IsawFlorrieinthekitchengarden,’saidSusan,‘as
wecamebackfromourwalk,withthewashingblown
outroundher,thepyjamas,thedrawers,thenight-
gownsblowntight.AndErnestkissedher.Hewas
inhisgreenbaizeapron,cleaningsilver;andhismouth
wassuckedlikeapurseinwrinklesandheseizedher
withthepyjamasblownouthardbetweenthem.
Hewasblindasabull,andsheswoonedinanguish,
onlylittleveinsstreakingherwhitecheeksred.Now
thoughtheypassplatesofbreadandbutterandcups
ofmilkattea-timeIseeacrackintheearthandhot
steamhissesup;andtheurnroarsasErnestroared,
andIamblownouthardlikethepyjamas,evenwhile
myteethmeetinthesoftbreadandbutter,andIlap
thesweetmilk.Iamnotafraidofheat,norofthe
frozenwinter.Rhodadreams,suckingacrustsoaked
inmilk;Louisregardsthewalloppositewithsnail-
greeneyes;Bernardmouldshisbreadintopelletsand
callsthem“people”.Nevillewithhiscleananddecisive
wayshasfinished.Hehasrolledhisnapkinandslipped
itthroughthesilverring.Jinnyspinsherfingersonthe
table-cloth,asiftheyweredancinginthesunshine,
pirouetting.ButIamnotafraidoftheheatorofthe
frozenwinter.’
‘Now,’saidLouis,‘weallrise;weallstandup.Miss
Curryspreadswidetheblackbookontheharmonium.
Itisdifficultnottoweepaswesing,aswepraythat
Godmaykeepussafewhilewesleep,callingourselves
littlechildren.Whenwearesadandtremblingwith
apprehensionitissweettosingtogether,leaning
slightly,ItowardsSusan,SusantowardsBernard,
claspinghands,afraidofmuch,Iofmyaccent,Rhoda
offigures;yetresolutetoconquer.’
‘Wetroopupstairslikeponies,’saidBernard,
‘stamping,clatteringonebehindanothertotakeour
turnsinthebathroom.Webuffet,wetussle,wespring
upanddownonthehard,whitebeds.Myturnhas
come.Icomenow.
