صفحة 157 من 490

The exaggerated folly of the threat, the passionate gesture that

accompanied it, the mad melodramatic words, made life seem more

vivid to her. She was familiar with the atmosphere. She breathed

more freely, and for the first time for many months she really

admired her son. She would have liked to have continued the scene

on the same emotional scale, but he cut her short. Trunks had to

be carried down and mufflers looked for. The lodging-house drudge

bustled in and out. There was the bargaining with the cabman. The

moment was lost in vulgar details. It was with a renewed feeling

of disappointment that she waved the tattered lace handkerchief

from the window, as her son drove away. She was conscious that a

great opportunity had been wasted. She consoled herself by

telling Sibyl how desolate she felt her life would be, now that

she had only one child to look after. She remembered the phrase.

It had pleased her. Of the threat she said nothing. It was

vividly and dramatically expressed.