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office on Monday；〃 said Jonathan； 〃as it always has done and always will
do。 To spend all the best years of one's life sitting on a stool from nine to
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five； scratching in somebody's ledger！ It's a queer use to make of
one's。。。one and only life； isn't it？ Or do I fondly dream？〃 He rolled
over on the grass and looked up at Linda。 〃Tell me； what is the
difference between my life and that of an ordinary prisoner。 The only
difference I can see is that I put myself in jail and nobody's ever going to
let me out。 That's a more intolerable situation than the other。 For if I'd
been pushed in； against my willkicking； evenonce the door was
locked； or at any rate in five years or so； I might have accepted the fact
and begun to take an interest in the flight of flies or counting the warder's
steps along the passage with particular attention to variations of tread and
so on。 But as it is； I'm like an insect that's flown into a room of its own
accord。 I dash against the walls； dash against the windows； flop against
the ceiling； do everything on God's earth； in fact； except fly out again。
And all the while I'm thinking； like that moth； or that butterfly； or
whatever it is； 'The shortness of life！ The shortness of life！' I've only
one night or one day； and there's this vast dangerous garden； waiting out
there； undiscovered； unexplored。〃
〃But； if you feel like that； why〃 began Linda quickly。
〃Ah！〃 cried Jonathan。 And that 〃ah！〃 was somehow almost exultant。
〃There you have me。 Why？ Why indeed？ There's the maddening；
mysterious question。 Why don't I fly out again？ There's the window or
the door or whatever it was I came in by。 It's not hopelessly shutis it？
Why don't I find it and be off？ Answer me that； little sister。〃 But he
gave her no time to answer。
〃I'm exactly like that insect again。 For some reason〃Jonathan
paused between the words〃it's not allowed； it's forbidden； it's against the
insect law； to stop banging and flopping and crawling up the pane even for
an instant。 Why don't I leave the office？ Why don't I seriously consider；
this moment； for instance； what it is that prevents me leaving？ It's not as
though I'm tremendously tied。 I've two boys to provide for； but； after all；
they're boys。 I could cut off to sea； or get a job up…country； or〃
Suddenly he smiled at Linda and said in a changed voice； as if he were
confiding a secret； 〃Weak。。。weak。 No stamina。 No anchor。 No
guiding principle； let us call it。〃 But then the dark velvety voice rolled
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The Garden Party
out：〃
〃Would ye hear the story How it unfolds itself。。。〃
and they were silent。
The sun had set。 In the western sky there were great masses of
crushed…up rose…coloured clouds。 Broad beams of light shone through
the clouds and beyond them as if they would cover the whole sky。
Overhead the blue faded； it turned a pale gold； and the bush outlined
against it gleamed dark and brilliant like metal。 Sometimes when those
beams of light show in the sky they are very awful。 They remind you
that up there sits Jehovah； the jealous God； the Almighty； Whose eye is
upon you； ever watchful； never weary。 You remember that at His coming
the whole earth will shake into one ruined graveyard； the cold； bright
angels will drive you this way and that； and there will be no time to
explain what could be explained so simply。。。But to…night it seemed to
Linda there was something infinitely joyful and loving in those silver
beams。 And now no sound came from the sea。 It breathed softly as if it
would draw that tender； joyful beauty into its own bosom。
〃It's all wrong； it's all wrong；〃 came the shadowy voice of Jonathan。
〃It's not the scene； it's not the setting for。。。three stools； three desks； three
inkpots and a wire blind。〃
Linda knew that he would never change； but she said； 〃Is it too late；
even now？〃
〃I'm oldI'm old；〃 intoned Jonathan。 He bent towards her； he passed
his hand over his head。 〃Look！〃 His black hair was speckled all over
with silver； like the breast plumage of a black fowl。
Linda was surprised。 She had no idea that he was grey。 And yet； as
he stood up beside her and sighed and stretched； she saw him； for the first
time； not resolute； not gallant； not careless； but touched already with age。
He looked very tall on the darkening grass； and the thought crossed her
mind； 〃He is like a weed。〃
Jonathan stooped again and kissed her fingers。
〃Heaven reward thy sweet patience； lady mine；〃 he murmured。 〃I
must go seek those heirs to my fame and fortune。。。〃 He was gone。
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Chapter 1。XI。
Light shone in the windows of the bungalow。 Two square patches of
gold fell upon the pinks and the peaked marigolds。 Florrie； the cat； came
out on to the veranda； and sat on the top step； her white paws close
together； her tail curled round。 She looked content； as though she had
been waiting for this moment all day。
〃Thank goodness； it's getting late；〃 said Florrie。 〃Thank goodness；
the long day is over。〃 Her greengage eyes opened。
Presently there sounded the rumble of the coach； the crack of Kelly's
whip。 It came near enough for one to hear the voices of the men from
town； talking loudly together。 It stopped at the Burnells' gate。
Stanley was half…way up the path before he saw Linda。 〃Is that you；
darling？〃
〃Yes； Stanley。〃
He leapt across the flower…bed and seized her in his arms。 She was
enfolded in that familiar； eager； strong embrace。
〃Forgive me； darling； forgive me；〃 stammered Stanley； and he pu