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coloured yellow。 On the wall opposite William some one had painted a
young man； over life…size； with very wobbly legs； offering a wide…eyed
daisy to a young woman who had one very short arm and one very long；
thin one。 Over the chairs and sofa there hung strips of black material；
covered with big splashes like broken eggs； and everywhere one looked
there seemed to be an ash…tray full of cigarette ends。 William sat down in
one of the arm… chairs。 Nowadays； when one felt with one hand down
the sides； it wasn't to come upon a sheep with three legs or a cow that had
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lost one horn； or a very fat dove out of the Noah's Ark。 One fished up yet
another little paper…covered book of smudged…looking poems。。。He thought
of the wad of papers in his pocket； but he was too hungry and tired to read。
The door was open； sounds came from the kitchen。 The servants were
talking as if they were alone in the house。 Suddenly there came a loud
screech of laughter and an equally loud 〃Sh！〃 They had remembered him。
William got up and went through the French windows into the garden； and
as he stood there in the shadow he heard the bathers coming up the sandy
road； their voices rang through the quiet。
〃I think its up to Moira to use her little arts and wiles。〃
A tragic moan from Moira。
〃We ought to have a gramophone for the weekends that played 'The
Maid of the Mountains。'〃
〃Oh no！ Oh no！〃 cried Isabel's voice。 〃That's not fair to William。
Be nice to him； my children！ He's only staying until to…morrow
evening。〃
〃Leave him to me；〃 cried Bobby Kane。 〃I'm awfully good at looking
after people。〃
The gate swung open and shut。 William moved on the terrace； they
had seen him。 〃Hallo； William！〃 And Bobby Kane； flapping his towel；
began to leap and pirouette on the parched lawn。 〃Pity you didn't come；
William。 The water was divine。 And we all went to a little pub
afterwards and had sloe gin。〃
The others had reached the house。 〃I say； Isabel；〃 called Bobby；
〃would you like me to wear my Nijinsky dress to…night？〃
〃No；〃 said Isabel； 〃nobody's going to dress。 We're all starving。
William's starving； too。 Come along； mes amis； let's begin with
sardines。〃
〃I've found the sardines；〃 said Moira； and she ran into the hall； holding
a box high in the air。
〃A Lady with a Box of Sardines；〃 said Dennis gravely。
〃Well； William； and how's London？〃 asked Bill Hunt； drawing the
cork out of a bottle of whisky。
〃Oh； London's not much changed；〃 answered William。
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〃Good old London；〃 said Bobby； very hearty； spearing a sardine。
But a moment later William was forgotten。 Moira Morrison began
wondering what colour one's legs really were under water。
〃Mine are the palest； palest mushroom colour。〃
Bill and Dennis ate enormously。 And Isabel filled glasses； and
changed plates； and found matches； smiling blissfully。 At one moment；
she said； 〃I do wish； Bill； you'd paint it。〃
〃Paint what？〃 said Bill loudly； stuffing his mouth with bread。
〃Us；〃 said Isabel； 〃round the table。 It would be so fascinating in
twenty years' time。〃
Bill screwed up his eyes and chewed。 〃Light's wrong；〃 he said rudely；
〃far too much yellow〃； and went on eating。 And that seemed to charm
Isabel； too。
But after supper they were all so tired they could do nothing but yawn
until it was late enough to go to bed。。。
It was not until William was waiting for his taxi the next afternoon that
he found himself alone with Isabel。 When he brought his suit…case down
into the hall； Isabel left the others and went over to him。 She stooped
down and picked up the suit…case。 〃What a weight！〃 she said； and she
gave a little awkward laugh。 〃Let me carry it！ To the gate。〃
〃No； why should you？〃 said William。 〃Of course； not。 Give it to
me。〃
〃Oh； please； do let me；〃 said Isabel。 〃I want to； really。〃 They
walked together silently。 William felt there was nothing to say now。
〃There；〃 said Isabel triumphantly； setting the suit…case down； and she
looked anxiously along the sandy road。 〃I hardly seem to have seen you
this time；〃 she said breathlessly。 〃It's so short； isn't it？ I feel you've
only just come。 Next time〃 The taxi came into sight。 〃I hope they
look after you properly in London。 I'm so sorry the babies have been out
all day； but Miss Neil had arranged it。 They'll hate missing you。 Poor
William； going back to London。〃 The taxi turned。 〃Good…bye！〃 She
gave him a little hurried kiss； she was gone。
Fields； trees； hedges streamed by。 They shook through the empty；
blind… looking little town； ground up the steep pull to the station。
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The train was in。 William made straight for a first…class smoker；
flung back into the corner； but this time he let the papers alone。 He
folded his arms against the dull； persistent gnawing； and began in his mind
to write a letter to Isabel。
。。。
The post was late as usual。 They sat outside the house in long chairs
under coloured parasols。 Only Bobby Kane lay on the turf at Isabel's feet。
It was dull； stifling； the day drooped like a flag。
〃Do you think there will be Mondays in Heaven？〃 asked Bobby
childishly。
And Dennis murmured； 〃Heaven will be one long Monday。〃
But Isabel couldn't help wondering what had happened to the salmon
they had for supper last night。 She had meant to have fish mayonnaise
for lunch and now。。。
Moira was asleep。 Sleeping was her latest discovery。 〃It's so
wonderful。 One simply shuts one's eyes； that's all。 It's so delicious。〃
When the old ruddy postman came beating along the san