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But I never considered that she hadthe mind of a canary. Sandhurst was easier,
for there he had enteredmanhood and begun the life which had now
shipwrecked.
Lets send for thelast evening paper, said the lawyer. The housewas
the thing, for I had never met in inanimate stone such an airof gentle
masterfulness. Outside was a dark November day, yetthe little house seemed to
be transfused with sunshine.
I thoughtof drink or drugs, and promptly discarded
the notion. They cant have got the verdict yet, said the last.
Its delicious to
be busy over things one really cares for.
The thing fascinated and partly
frightened me.
It left them in the eighteenth century, and the Applebys got it.
Sound as the Bank of England, was the answer. It gives them a regular ritual
for their lives. Theres just time for apipe, Giffen, and then we must be off.
Perhaps you didnt know, but somemonths ago my wife became a Catholic. I suppose
theres no chance of an acquittal. Giffen would have had us change into dry
things, but Leithenpleaded a waiting dinner at Borrowby.
After that he went
straight ahead, as you know, and left usall behind. I got ratherto like them,
and Ive been to see them at their house inHampstead.
The funny thing was that
he did not seem tobe ashamed of it.
I could imagine neat Horatian tagscoming
ripely from his lips. If you dont derive profits, no royalty is due. The wrack
was lifting before the wind and a shaft of late waterysun fell on the grey
walls. No, he continued in reply to a question, I never heard anysuggestion of
scandal.
Its the motive I cant get at, said the lawyer. I thoughtof drink or
drugs, and promptly discarded the notion.
It is a curiously happy place to live
in.
It was all in miniature, but it had a spaciousness whichno mere size could
give. It had always been there in the days ofthe Carterons and the
Applebys.
Well, it wasin that connection that I fell in with the Giffens.
Perhaps you didnt know, but somemonths ago my wife became a Catholic.
Short-sighted, of course, and wore glasses.
I gave it up because it didnt seem
worth while.
With him it was easy to come to terms,and presently the water was
parcelled out between us.
The facts were not in doubt, and he made no attemptto
dispute them.
There weretwo, indeed, separated by a staircase of a wood that
looked likeolive.
Oh, we dont go much to London now, was his answer.
The house
was too well-bred anddisdainful to seek to captivate.
I said something about
that being an odd milieu for him.
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