PART THREE 6 страница

She said aloud:

“Oh, but even you, general, said you were sick of your companions! ”

She said to herself:

“Hang it! … I will have the courage of my convictions… No man shall say I am a coward…”

She said:

“Isn't it saying the same thing as you, general, to say that I'd rather be made love to by a well-set-up man in blue and silver—or anything else! —than by most of the people one sees here! …”

The general said:

“Of course, if you put it that way, madam…” She said:

“What other way should a woman put it? …” She reached to the table and filled herself a lot of brandy. The old general was leering towards her:

“Bless me, ” he said, “a lady who takes liquor like that…”

She said:

“You're a Papist, aren't you? With the name of O'Hara and the touch of the brogue you have… And the devil you no doubt are with… You know what… Well, then… It's with a special intention! … As you say your Hail Marks…”

With the liquor burning inside her she saw Tietjens loom in the dim light.

The general, to her bitter amusement, said to him: “Your friend was more than a bit on… Not the society surely for madam! ”

Tietjens said:

“I never expected to have the pleasure of dining with Mrs Tietjens to-night… That officer was celebrating his commission and I could not put him off…” The general said: “Oh, ah! Of course not… I dare say…” and settled himself again in his chair…

Tietjens was overwhelming her with his great bulk. She had still lost her breath… He stooped over and said: it was the luck of the half-drunk; he said:

“They're dancing in the lounge…”

She coiled herself passionately into her wickerwork. It had dull blue cushions. She said:

“Not with anyone else… I don't want any introductions…” Fiercely! … He said:

“There's no one there that I could introduce you to…”

She said:

“Not if it's a charity! ”

He said:

“I thought it might be rather dull… It's six months since I danced…” She felt beauty flowing over all her limbs. She had a gown of gold tissue. Her matchless hair was coiled over her ears… She was humming Venusberg music: she knew music if she knew nothing else…

She said: “You call the compounds where you keep the W. A. A. C. 's Venusbergs, don't you? Isn't it queer that Venus should be your own? … Think of poor Elisabeth! ”

The room where they were dancing was very dark… It was queer to be in his arms… She had known better dancers… He had looked ill… Perhaps he was… Oh, poor Valentine-Elisabeth… What a funny position! … The good gramophone played… Destiny! … You see, father! … In his arms! … Of course, dancing is not really… But so near the real thing! So near! “Good luck to the special intention! …” She had almost kissed him on the lips… All but! Effleurer, the French call it… But she was not as humble… He had pressed her tighter… All these months without… My lord did me honour… Good for Malbrouck s'en va-t-en guerre… He knew she had almost kissed him on the lips… And that his lips had almost responded… The civilian, the novelist, had turned out the last light… Tietjens said, “Hadn't we better talk? …” She said: “In my room, then! I'm dog-tired… I haven't slept for six nights: … In spite of drugs…” He said: “Yes. Of course! Where else? …” Astonishingly… Her gown of gold tissue was like the colobium sindonis the King wore at the coronation… As they mounted the stairs she thought what a fat tenor Tannhä user always was! … The Venusberg music was dinning in her ears… She said: “Sixty-six inexpressibles! I'm as sober as a judge… I need to be! ”

PART THREE

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