О дивный новый мир

           "Toplaysuchajokeonme,"theArch-Songsterkeptrepeating,"onme!"

           Asforthewomen,theyindignantlyfeltthattheyhadbeenhadonfalsepretences–hadbyawretchedlittlemanwhohadhadalcoholpouredintohisbottlebymistake–byacreaturewithaGamma-Minusphysique.Itwasanoutrage,andtheysaidso,moreandmoreloudly.TheHeadMistressofEtonwasparticularlyscathing.

           Leninaalonesaidnothing.Pale,herblueeyescloudedwithanunwontedmelancholy,shesatinacorner,cutofffromthosewhosurroundedherbyanemotionwhichtheydidnotshare.Shehadcometothepartyfilledwithastrangefeelingofanxiousexultation."Inafewminutes,"shehadsaidtoherself,assheenteredtheroom,"Ishallbeseeinghim,talkingtohim,tellinghim"(forshehadcomewithhermindmadeup)"thatIlikehim–morethananybodyI’veeverknown.Andthenperhapshe’llsay..."

           Whatwouldhesay?Thebloodhadrushedtohercheeks.

           "Whywashesostrangetheothernight,afterthefeelies?Soqueer.AndyetI’mabsolutelysurehereallydoesratherlikeme.I’msure..."

           ItwasatthismomentthatBernardhadmadehisannouncement;theSavagewasn’tcomingtotheparty.

           LeninasuddenlyfeltallthesensationsnormallyexperiencedatthebeginningofaViolentPassionSurrogatetreatment–asenseofdreadfulemptiness,abreathlessapprehension,anausea.Herheartseemedtostopbeating.

           "Perhapsit’sbecausehedoesn’tlikeme,"shesaidtoherself.