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umba； St Aloysius； St Mary's； Pusey House； Blackfriars； and heaven knows where besides； to restored Norman and revived Gothic； to travesties of；Venice and Athens； all in the summer sunshine going to the temples of their race。 Four proud infidels alone proclaimed their dissent； four Indians from the gates of Balliol； in freshly…laundered white flannels and neatly pressed blazers with snow…white turbans on their； heads； and in their plump； brown hands bright cushions； a picnic basket and the Plays Unpleasant of Bernard Shaw； making for the river。
In the Cornmarket a party of tourists stood on the steps of the Clarendon Hotel discussing a road map with their chauffeur； while opposite； through the venerable arch of the Golden Cross； I greeted a group of undergraduates from my college who had breakfasted there and now lingered with their pipes in the creeper…hung courtyard。 A troop of boy scouts； church…bound； too； bright with Coloured ribbons and badges； loped past in unmilitary array； and at Carfax I met the Mayor and corporation； in scarlet gowns and gold chains； preceded by wand…bearers and followed by no curious glances； in procession to the preaching at the City Church。 In St Aldates I passed a crocodile of choir boys； in starched collars and peculiar caps； on their way to Tom Gate and the Cathedral。 So through a world of piety I made my way to Sebastian。
He was out。 I read the letters； none of them very revealing； that littered his writing table and scrutinized the invitation cards on his chimney…piece … there were no new additions。 Then I read Lady into Fox until he returned。
'I've been to at the Old Palace；' he said。 'I haven't been all this term； and Monsignor Bell asked me to dinner twice last week； and I know what that means。 Mummy's been writing to him。 So I sat bang in front where he couldn't help seeing me and absolutely shouted the Hail Marys at the end so that's over。 How was dinner with Antoine？ What did you talk about？ '
'Well； he did most of the talking。 Tell me； did you know him at Eton？'
'He was sacked my first half。 I remember seeing him about。 He always has been a noticeable figure。'
'Did he go to church with you？'
'I don't think so； why？'
'Has he met any of your family？'
'Charles； how very peculiar you're being today。 No。 I don't suppose so。
'Not your mother at Venice？'
'I believe she did say something about it。 I forget what。 I think she was staying with some Italian cousins of ours； the Foglieres； and Anthony turned up with his family at the hotel； and there was some party the Foglieres gave that they weren't asked to。 I know Mummy said something about it when I told her he was a friend of mine。 I can't think why he should want to go to a party at the Foglieres … the princess is so proud of her English blood that she talks of nothing else。 Anyway； no one objected to Antoine … much； I gather。 It was his mother they thought difficult。'
'And who is the Duchesse of Vincennes？'
'Poppy？'
'Stefanie。'
'You must ask Antoine that。 He claims to have had an affair with her。'
'Did he？'
'I dare say。 I think it's more or less pulsory at Cannes。 Why all this interest？'
'I just wanted to find out how much truth there was in what Anthony said last night。'
'I shouldn't； think a word。 That's his great charm。'
'You may think it charming。 I think it's devilish。 Do you know he spent the whole of yesterday evening trying to turn me against you； and almost succeeded？'
'Did he？ How silly。 Aloysius wouldn't approve of that at all； would you； you pompous old bear？'
And then Boy Mulcaster came into the room。
＇3＇
I RETURNED home for the Long Vacation without plans and without money。 To cover end…of…term expenses I had sold my Omega screen to Collins for ten pounds； of which I now kept four； my last cheque overdrew my account my a few shillings； and I had been told that； without my father's authority； I must draw no more。 My next allowance was not due until October。 I was thus faced with a bleak prospect and； turning the matter over in my mind； I felt something not far off remorse for the prodigality；of the preceding weeks。
I had started the term with my battels paid and over a hundred pounds in hand。 All that had gone； and not a penny paid out where I could get credit。 There had been no reason for it； no great pleasure unattainable else； it had gone in ducks and drakes。 Sebastian used to tease me … 'You spend money； like a bookie' … but all of it went on and with him。 His own finances were perpetually； vaguely distressed。 'It's all done by lawyers；' he said helplessly； 'and I suppose they embezzle a lot。 Anyway； I never seem to get much。 Of course； mummy would give me anything I asked for。'
'Then why don't you ask her for a proper allowance？'
'Oh； mummy likes everything to be a present。 She's so sweet；' he said； adding one more line to the picture I was forming of her。
Now Sebastian had disappeared into that other life of his where I was not asked to follow； and I was left； instead； forlorn and regretful。
How ungenerously in later life we disclaim the virtuous moods of our youth； living in retrospect long； summer days of unreflecting dissipation。 There is no candour in a story of early manhood which leaves out of account the home…sickness for nursery morality； the regrets and resolutions of amendment； the black hours which； like zero on the roulette table； turn up with roughly calculable regularity。
Thus I spent the first afternoon at home； wandering from room to room； looking from the plate…glass windows in turn on the garden and the street； in a mood of vehement self…reproach。
My father； I knew； was in the house； but his library was inviolable； and it was not until just before dinner that he appeared to greet me。 He was then in his late fifties； but it was his idiosyncrasy to seem much older than his years； to see him one might have put him at seventy； to hear him speak at nearly eighty。 He came to me now； with the shuffling； mandarin…tread which he affected； and a shy smile of wele。 When he dined at home … and he seldom dined elsewhere … he wore a frogged velvet smoking suit of the