This quasi-friendship was of practical importance
for John Elliotthrough a trifling circumstance.
By throwing myself into a continual round of calls
and socialactivities. Land has to be bought and is high in price.
About hismobile lips lay a disillusioned smile,
tired and weary like that ofa business man.
Ormondcounts on you for the evening of February
nine.
He, John Elliot, did not care about themountains
and the sea. He washedhead, face, and beard, hesitated over the embroidered towels,
anddressed.
His father looked at him, half anticipating the
blow that wascoming.
An aristocracy of lineage instead of the vulgar
aristocracy ofmoney.
She, too, entered the dining room and pressed a
button in the wall. She took his arm; and together they descended the wide,
carpetedstairway to the lower floor. Yes, she had said, the old mandominates
me.
The moment you try to relax, youdrop out of sight.
Come, she said as she inserted herself behind the wheel. Then she reached for his
arm and led him out into the street.
John Elliot clucked his tongue and made a motion
with his hand asof protest.
Since his wifes deaththe whole family had
scattered; he had hardly seen Gladys since!
At last he lay down on the lounge and at once fell
into a deep anddreamless sleep.
Ifyou cared to go downtown, to do some shopping or
so, I should ordera car for you.
At one oclock Cathleen cameand summoned him for
lunch.
Elliots chokecherry wine which I had theprivilege
of tasting before her death. If thereis anything else you need, press this
button.
It is not as simple as all that, Fred
evaded.
John Elliot clucked his tongue and made a motion
with his hand asof protest. John Elliot, left alone, felt it incumbent upon him to
hurry. Excuse me, Fred said with the ghost of a smile. Pretty sharp, he said when
they had finished the task. Up to acertain sum we could choose whatever we liked,
tea, coffee, sugar.