Soames was silent, feeling vaguely that he had been
near theproverb, The kettle and the pot.
We shall never have industrialpeace till we shoot
somebody.
Being out of England makes you believe in dams. Her
eyes moved from sideto side, as if she were adding: Or the beginning, and Ive
neverhad it.
The slums want attending to, no doubt, he
said.
I went to see that Morland, he said; its genuine
enough.
Will you see that gentleman, sir, who took the you
know what,sir?
She did not add: And its only five miles
fromWansdon. Im not sure, said the Marquess, Im not sure.
Ive playedtwice, and this time Im going all out.
Theyre useful socially, Fleur, and his eyes twinkled.
Slumming, probably; hes in the thick of a scheme
fortheir conversion. In that case, I think you should let Jon see him and his
workfirst. Id give a good deal to know how he picked it up.
I went to see that Morland, he said; its genuine
enough.
You all know as much about it as Ido, which is
precious little. She leaned towards Fleur and her eyes shone.
He hasa scheme for electrifying slum kitchens.
Among the shows and shadows of existence, anhour and a half of real life lay before
her.
Im delighted to think itwill go to a good
home.
And, almost instantly,said:Whom do you think I
travelled with? Her eyes moved from sideto side, as if she were adding: Or the
beginning, and Ive neverhad it.
If they want a meeting-place, she had said, why not
here? Im not sure, said the Marquess, Im not sure.
The Downs lay before him to the south, lighted
along theirnorthern slopes. Soames saw his nephew move up to the table and begin
counting overa roll of notes. He wasalways stopping and leaning over gates, or in
other ways, as Valcalled it, mooning! But if I told Dumetrius to buy me a Morland,
five hundredwould be my limit. The little sigh the fellow gave was
distinctlyaudible. These modern painters, you know,ought to be
tortured.
A single step too far, or too soon,and he might be
gone from her again for good! Nothing much, dear; she has a new painter, whom shes
trying toboost. The Marquess took his foot down, and sighed.
We shall only be there three weeks at
most.
In the gloom of these reflections he had come to
Westminster.
Ideas cant be left to swop around in the blue. He
wasalways stopping and leaning over gates, or in other ways, as Valcalled it,
mooning! Over here we stab each other daily, and noharm done.
Some meetingor other of Michaels, and the measles
only just out of the house!