the garden party(园会)-第43节
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their backs； their breasts and their arms； they feel their bodies expanding；
coming alive。。。so that they make large embracing gestures； lift up their
arms； for nothing； swoop down on a girl； blurt into laughter。
Lemonade！ A whole tank of it stands on a table covered with a cloth；
and lemons like blunted fishes blob in the yellow water。 It looks solid；
like a jelly； in the thick glasses。 Why can't they drink it without spilling
it？ Everybody spills it； and before the glass is handed back the last drops
are thrown in a ring。
Round the ice…cream cart； with its striped awning and bright brass
cover； the children cluster。 Little tongues lick； lick round the cream
trumpets； round the squares。 The cover is lifted； the wooden spoon
plunges in； one shuts one's eyes to feel it； silently scrunching。
〃Let these little birds tell you your future！〃 She stands beside the
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cage； a shrivelled ageless Italian； clasping and unclasping her dark claws。
Her face； a treasure of delicate carving； is tied in a green…and…gold scarf。
And inside their prison the love…birds flutter towards the papers in the
seed…tray。
〃You have great strength of character。 You will marry a red…haired
man and have three children。 Beware of a blonde woman。〃 Look out！
Look out！ A motor…car driven by a fat chauffeur comes rushing down the
hill。 Inside there a blonde woman； pouting； leaning forwardrushing
through your life beware！ beware！
〃Ladies and gentlemen； I am an auctioneer by profession； and if what I
tell you is not the truth I am liable to have my licence taken away from me
and a heavy imprisonment。〃 He holds the licence across his chest； the
sweat pours down his face into his paper collar； his eyes look glazed。
When he takes off his hat there is a deep pucker of angry flesh on his
forehead。 Nobody buys a watch。
Look out again！ A huge barouche comes swinging down the hill with
two old； old babies inside。 She holds up a lace parasol； he sucks the
knob of his cane； and the fat old bodies roll together as the cradle rocks；
and the steaming horse leaves a trail of manure as it ambles down the hill。
Under a tree； Professor Leonard； in cap and gown； stands beside his
banner。 He is here 〃for one day；〃 from the London； Paris and Brussels
Exhibition； to tell your fortune from your face。 And he stands； smiling
encouragement； like a clumsy dentist。 When the big men； romping and
swearing a moment before； hand across their sixpence； and stand before
him； they are suddenly serious； dumb； timid； almost blushing as the
Professor's quick hand notches the printed card。 They are like little
children caught playing in a forbidden garden by the owner； stepping from
behind a tree。
The top of the hill is reached。 How hot it is！ How fine it is！ The
public…house is open； and the crowd presses in。 The mother sits on the
pavement edge with her baby； and the father brings her out a glass of dark；
brownish stuff； and then savagely elbows his way in again。 A reek of
beer floats from the public…house； and a loud clatter and rattle of voices。
The wind has dropped； and the sun burns more fiercely than ever。
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Outside the two swing…doors there is a thick mass of children like flies at
the mouth of a sweet…jar。
And up； up the hill come the people； with ticklers and golliwogs； and
roses and feathers。 Up； up they thrust into the light and heat； shouting；
laughing； squealing； as though they were being pushed by something； far
below； and by the sun； far ahead of themdrawn up into the full； bright；
dazzling radiance to。。。what？
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14。 AN IDEAL FAMILY。
That evening for the first time in his life； as he pressed through the
swing door and descended the three broad steps to the pavement； old Mr。
Neave felt he was too old for the spring。 Springwarm； eager； restless
was there； waiting for him in the golden light； ready in front of everybody
to run up； to blow in his white beard； to drag sweetly on his arm。 And he
couldn't meet her； no； he couldn't square up once more and stride off；
jaunty as a young man。 He was tired and； although the late sun was still
shining； curiously cold； with a numbed feeling all over。 Quite suddenly
he hadn't the energy； he hadn't the heart to stand this gaiety and bright
movement any longer； it confused him。 He wanted to stand still； to wave
it away with his stick； to say； 〃Be off with you！〃 Suddenly it was a
terrible effort to greet as usualtipping his wide…awake with his stickall
the people whom he knew； the friends； acquaintances； shopkeepers；
postmen； drivers。 But the gay glance that went with the gesture； the
kindly twinkle that seemed to say； 〃I'm a match and more for any of you〃
that old Mr。 Neave could not manage at all。 He stumped along； lifting his
knees high as if he were walking through air that had somehow grown
heavy and solid like water。 And the homeward…looking crowd hurried by；
the trams clanked； the light carts clattered； the big swinging cabs bowled
along with that reckless； defiant indifference that one knows only in
dreams。。。
It had been a day like other days at the office。 Nothing special had
happened。 Harold hadn't come back from lunch until close on four。
Where had he been？ What had he been up to？ He wasn't going to let
his father know。 Old Mr。 Neave had happened to be in the vestibule；
saying good…bye to a caller； when Harold sauntered in； perfectly turned out
as usual； cool； suave； smiling that peculiar little half…smile that women
found so fascinating。
Ah； Harold was too handsome； too handsome by far； that had been the
trouble all along。 No man had a right to such eyes； such lashes； and such
lips； it was uncanny。 As for his mother； his sisters； and the servants； it
was not too much to say they made a young god of him； they worshipped
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Harold； they forgave him everything； and he had needed some forgiving
ever since the time when he was thirteen and he had stolen his mother's
purse； taken the money； and hidden the purse in the cook's bedroom。 Old
Mr。 Neave struck sharply with his stick upon the pavement edge。 But it
wasn't only his family who spoiled Harold； he reflected； it was everybody；
he had only to look and to smile； and down they went before him。 So
perhaps it wasn't to be wondered at that he expected the office to carry on
the tradition。 H'm； h'm！ But it couldn't be done。 No businessnot
even a successful； established； big paying concerncould be played with。
A man had either to put his whole heart and soul into it； or it went all to
pieces before his eyes。。。
And then Charlotte and the girls were always at him to make the whole
thing over to Harold； to retire； and to spend his time enjoying himself。
Enjoying himself！ Old Mr。 Neave stopped dead under a group of ancient
cabbage palms outside the Government buildings！ Enjoying himself！
The wind of evening shook the dark leaves to a thin airy cackle。 Sitting
at home； twiddling his thumbs； conscious all the while that his life's work
was slipping away； dissolving； disappearing through Harold's fine fingers；
while Harold smiled。。。
〃Why will you be so unreasonable； father？ There's absolutely no
need for you to go to the office。
