PART ONE Chapter I : “ had no business to do it , ” said , “ no business at all .
promised , instead of which are .
Oh , ! ”
“ And , besides ! ”
said , who had been further saddened by ’s unexpected accent .
“ It might be . ”
looked at the two rows of who were sitting at the table ; at the row of white bottles of water and red bottles of wine that ran between ; at the portraits of and that hung behind , heavily framed ; at the notice of ( , M. A. . )
, that was the only other decoration of the wall .
“ , do n’t feel , too , that might be in ?
can hardly believe that all kinds of other things are just outside .
suppose it is one ’s being so tired . ”
“ This meat has surely been used for soup , ” said , laying down fork .
“ want so to see .
would have looked over .
had no business to do it at all .
Oh , it is a shame ! ”
“ Any nook does for , ” continued ; “ but it does seem hard that should n’t have a view . ”
felt that had been selfish .
“ , must n’t spoil : of course , must look over , too .
meant that .
-- ” “ must have , ” said , part of whose travelling expenses were paid by -- a piece of generosity to which made many a tactful allusion .
“ No , no .
must have . ”
“ insist on it .
would never forgive , . ”
“ would never forgive . ”
’ voices grew animated , and -- if the sad truth be owned -- a little peevish .
were tired , and under the guise of unselfishness wrangled .
interchanged glances , and -- -- leant forward over the table and actually intruded into argument .
said : “ have a view , have a view . ”
was startled .
Generally at looked over for a day or two before speaking , and often did not find out that would “ do ” till had gone .
knew that was ill-bred , even before glanced at .
was .
There was something childish in those eyes , though it was not the childishness of senility .
What exactly it was did not stop to consider , for glance passed on to clothes .
These did not attract .
was probably trying to become acquainted with before got into the swim .
So assumed a dazed expression when spoke to , and then said : “ A view ?
Oh , a view !
How delightful a view is ! ”
“ This is , ” said ; “ name ’s .
has a view too . ”
“ Ah , ” said , repressing , who was about to speak .
“ What mean , ” continued , “ is that can have , and ’ll have yours .
’ll change . ”
was shocked at this , and sympathized with .
, in reply , opened mouth as little as possible , and said “ Thank very much indeed ; that is out of the question . ”
“ Why ? ”
said , with both fists on the table .
“ Because it is quite out of the question , thank . ”
“ see , do n’t like to take -- ” began .
again repressed .
“ But why ? ”
persisted .
“ like looking at a view ; do n’t . ”
And thumped with fists like , and turned to , saying , “ , persuade ! ”
“ It ’s so obvious should have , ” said .
“ There ’s nothing else to say . ”
did not look at as spoke , but voice was perplexed and sorrowful .
, too , was perplexed ; but saw that were in for what is known as “ quite a scene , ” and had an odd feeling that whenever spoke the contest widened and deepened till it dealt , not with and views , but with -- well , with something quite different , whose existence had not realized before .
Now attacked almost violently : Why should not change ?
What possible objection had ?
would clear out in half an hour .
, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation , was powerless in the presence of brutality .
It was impossible to snub .
face reddened with displeasure .
looked around as much as to say , “ Are all like this ? ”
And , with shawls hanging over the backs of the chairs , looked back , clearly indicating “ are not ; are genteel . ”
“ Eat dinner , , ” said to , and began to toy again with the meat that had once censured .
mumbled that those seemed .
“ Eat dinner , .
is a failure .
To-morrow will make a change . ”
Hardly had announced this fell decision when reversed it .
The curtains at the end of parted , and revealed .
, who had not yet acquired decency , at once rose to feet , exclaiming : “ Oh , oh !
Why , it ’s !
Oh , how perfectly lovely !
Oh , , must stop now , however bad are .
Oh ! ”
said , with more restraint : “ How do do , ?
expect that have forgotten : and , who were at when helped that very cold Easter . ”
, did not remember quite as clearly as remembered .
But came forward pleasantly enough and accepted the chair into which was beckoned by .
“ AM so glad to see , ” said , and would have been glad to see if had permitted it .
“ Just fancy how small is .
, too , makes it so specially funny . ”
“ lives in , ” said , filling up the gap , “ and happened to tell in the course of conversation that have just accepted the living -- ” “ Yes , heard from so last week .
did n’t know that knew at ; but wrote back at once , and said : ‘ is -- ’” “ Quite right , ” said .
“ move into at next June .
am lucky to be appointed to . ”
“ Oh , how glad am !
The name of is . ”
bowed .
“ There is and generally , and , though it ’s not often get to ch ---- is rather far off , mean . ”
“ , dearest , let eat dinner . ”
“ am eating it , thank , and enjoying it . ”
preferred to talk to , whose playing remembered , rather than to , who probably remembered sermons .
asked whether knew well , and was informed at some length that had never been before .
It is delightful to advise , and was first in the field .
“ Do n’t neglect the country round , ” advice concluded .
“ The first fine afternoon drive up to , and round by , or something of that sort . ”
“ No ! ”
cried a voice from the top of the table .
“ , are wrong .
The first fine afternoon must go to . ”
“ looks so clever , ” whispered to .
“ are in luck . ”
And , indeed , a perfect torrent of information burst on .
told what to see , when to see it , how to stop , how to get rid of , how much to give for a vellum blotter , how much would grow upon .
had decided , almost enthusiastically , that would do .
Whichever way looked , smiled and shouted at .
And above all rose the voice of , crying : “ !
must go to .
is too sweetly squalid for words .
love ; revel in shaking off the trammels of respectability , as know . ”
glanced at , and then returned moodily to plate .
Obviously and did not do .
, in the midst of success , found time to wish did .
It gave no extra pleasure that should be left in the cold ; and when rose to go , turned back and gave a nervous little bow .