Not in the mornings, when we areworking together;
then I feel quite like myself. He hadnt met with just that kind ofdelicacy before,
in man or woman. She was looking at his white,freckled hands, lying on the red
velvet arms of the chair. Yes, off and on, a long while, he said
carelessly.
At about twelve shegot into the elevator and
dropped down into Chicago again. Surely a mancouldnt congratulate himself upon a
career which had led to suchresults.
The dark, stormy mornings made the warmthand quiet
toward which she hurried seem all the richer.
Let me have a look at you, and tell me whetheryou
have been a good girl all this while. His watchsaid five oclock; he must have been
on his feet for nearly anhour.
One thingwas clear; he was uncomfortable in her
company, and certainly shewas in his.
When she got upat four oclock to go to Auerbachs
studio she was quite herselfagain.
She could only murmur that she was sorry he had had
bad news. This time Lucy thought Sebastian spoke rather frigidly. Hecould sweep her
existence blank with one word.
Hesmiled, and when she had finished he knocked
gently.
We had drifted apart, and for no good reason. The
piano and the book-shelves were far away, out of reach; and she was far away
fromherself. There was a light, familiar knock at the door.
Afterwards her body would besent back to France.
She fiercely resented his having any opinions about her or herconnection with
Sebastian. The difficulty isthat Clement can never work with anyone who isnt
personallysympathetic to him. Then he brought out his bottle of port and they sat
downbefore the fire. A little later Lucy put on her high overshoes and hurried to
thebank to cash her cheque.
There was something impertinent about the way
heentered the room. This time Lucy thought Sebastian spoke rather frigidly. Yearsago
if I had seen that thing in brutal type, I would have lain downand cried like a boy.
It seemed complete in itself, not putting out tentacles all thewhile.
As soon as he was gone, Lucy rose and said she
couldnt wait. There was something impertinent about the way heentered the
room.
He showed it plainly, and I was disappointed
andpiqued. The lid once off, he began remembering everything, and everythingseemed
to have gone wrong. The dispatch said hedied in a sanatorium in the mountains above
Sallanches.
What did he know about her life, after
all?
When they were seated in the cab he came to the
point at once.
Hes all right at bottom, but hes not
well.
I cant helpwondering why he didnt wish to see me
again.
There is no way to define thatring of truth in a
voice, he was thinking, and no mistaking it.
He must have recalled those days, whenhe was ill up
there. She was about to rise when she heard a fumbling at thedoor.
What adifference you have made in my life here!