按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Sebastian's Christmas festivities。 You may have observed last night that there were certain precautions。'
'I did。'
'You thought them excessive？ I am with you； particularly as they tend to promise the fort of our own little visit。 I have seen Lady Marchmain this morning。 You must not suppose I am just out of bed。 I have had a little talk upstairs with our hostess。 I think we may hope for some relaxation tonight。 Yesterday was not an evening that any of us would wish to have repeated。 I earned less gratitude than I deserved； I think； for my efforts to distract you。'
It was repugnant to me to talk about Sebastian to Mr Samgrass； but I was pelled to say： 'I'm not sure that tonight would be the best time to start the relaxation。'
'But surely？ Why not tonight； after a day in the field under Brideshead's inquisitorial eye？ Could one choose better？'
'Oh； I suppose it's none of my business really。'
'Nor mine strictly； now that he is safely home。 Lady Marchmain did me the honour of consulting me。 But it is less Sebastian's welfare than our own I have at heart at the moment。 I need my third glass of port； I need that hospitable tray in the library。 And yet you specifically advise against it tonight。 I wonder why。 Sebastian can e to no mischief today。 For one thing； he has no money。 I happen to know。 I saw to it。 I even have his watch and cigarette case upstairs。 He will be quite harmless。。。as long as no one is so wicked as to give him any。。。Ah； Lady Julia； good morning to you； good morning。 And how is the peke this hunting morning？'
'Oh； the peke's all right。 Listen。 I've got Rex Mottram ing here today。 We simply can't have another evening like last night。 Someone must speak to mummy。'
'Someone has。 I spoke。 I think it will be all right。'
'Thank God for that。 Are you painting today； Charles？'
It had been the custom that on every visit to Brideshead I painted a medallion on the walls of the garden…room。 The custom suited me well； for it gave me a good reason to detach myself from the rest of the party； when the house was full； the garden…room became a rival to the nursery； where from time to time people took refuge to plain about the others； thus without effort I kept in touch with the gossip of the place。 There were three finished medallions now； each rather pretty in its way； but unhappily each in a different way； for my tastes had changed and I had bee more dexterous in the eighteen months since the series was begun。 As a decorative scheme； they were a failure。 That morning was typical of the many mornings when I had found the garden…room a sanctuary。 There I went and was soon at work。 Julia came with me to see me started and we talked； inevitably； of Sebastian。
'Don't you； get bored with the subject？' she asked。 'Why must everyone make such a Thing about it？'
'Just because we're fond of him。'
'Well。 I'm fond of him too； in a way； I suppose； only I wish he'd behave like anybody else。 I've grown up with one family skeleton； you know … papa。 Not to be talked of before the servants； not to be talked of before us when we were children。 If mummy is going to start making a skeleton out of Sebastian； it's too much。 If he wants to be always tight； why doesn't he go to Kenya or somewhere where it doesn't matter？'
'Why does it matter less being unhappy in Kenya than anywhere else？'
'Don't pretend to be stupid； Charles。 You understand perfectly。'
'You mean there won't be so many embarrassing situations for you？ Well； all I was trying to say was that I'm afraid there may be an embarrassing situation tonight if Sebastian gets the chance。 He's in a bad mood。'
'Oh； a day's hunting will put that all right。'
It was touching to see the faith which everybody put in the value of a day's hunting。 Lady Marchmain； who looked in on me during the morning； mocked herself for it with that delicate irony for which she was famous。
'I've always detested hunting；' she said； 'because it seems to produce a particularly gross kind of caddishness in the nicest people。 I don't know what it is； but the moment they dress up and get on a horse they bee like a lot of Prussians。 And so boastful after it。 The evenings I've sat at dinner appalled at seeing the men and women I know； transformed into half…awake； self…opinionated； monomaniac louts！。。。and yet； you know … it must be something derived from centuries ago … my heart is quite light today to think of Sebastian out with them。 〃There's nothing wrong with him really；〃 I say； 〃he's gone hunting〃 … as though it were an answer to prayer。'
She asked me about my life in Paris。 I told her of my rooms with their view of the river and the towers of Notre Dame。 'I'm hoping Sebastian will e and stay with me when I go back。'
'It would have been lovely；' said Lady Marchmain； sighing as though for the unattainable。
'I hope he's ing to stay with me in London。'
'Charles； you know it isn't possible。 London's the worst place。 Even Mr Samgrass couldn't hold him there。 We have no secrets in this house。 He was lost； you know； all through Christmas。 Mr Samgrass only found him because he couldn't pay his bill in the place where he was； so they telephoned our house。 It's too horrible。 No； London is impossible； if he can't behave himself here； with us。。。We must keep him happy and healthy here for a bit； hunting； and then send him abroad again with Mr Samgrass。。。You see； I've been through all this before。'
The retort was there； unspoken； well…understood by both of us … 'You couldn't keep him； he ran away。 So will Sebastian。 Because they both hate you。'
A horn and the huntsman's cry sounded in the valley below。
'There they go now； drawing the home woods。 I hope he's having a good day。'
Thus with Julia and Lady Marchmain I reached deadlock； not because we failed to understand one another； but because we understood too well。 With Brideshead； who came home to luncheon and talked to me on the subject … for the subject was everywhere in the house like a fire deep in the hold of a ship； below the water…line； black and red in the darkness； ing to in acrid wisps of smoke that oozed under hatches and billowed suddenly from th