Chapter 8

           Violetbreathedloudandhardonceandwithaneffortbroughtanotherexpressionintoherface.

           DickcamefinallyandwithasureinstinctheseparatedBarbanandtheMcKiscosandbecameexcessivelyignorantandinquisitiveaboutliteraturewithMcKisco—thusgivingthelatterthemomentofsuperioritywhichherequired.Theothershelpedhimcarrylampsup—whowouldnotbepleasedatcarryinglampshelpfullythroughthedarkness?Rosemaryhelped,meanwhilerespondingpatientlytoRoyalDumphry’sinexhaustiblecuriosityaboutHollywood.

           Now—shewasthinking—I’veearnedatimealonewithhim.HemustknowthatbecausehislawsarelikethelawsMothertaughtme.

           Rosemarywasright—presentlyhedetachedherfromthecompanyontheterrace,andtheywerealonetogether,borneawayfromthehousetowardtheseasidewallwithwhatwerelessstepsthanirregularlyspacedintervalsthroughsomeofwhichshewaspulled,throughothersblown.

           TheylookedoutovertheMediterranean.Farbelow,thelastexcursionboatfromtheIslesdesLerinsfloatedacrossthebaylikeaFourth-of-Julyballoonfoot-looseintheheavens.Betweentheblackislesitfloated,softlypartingthedarktide.

           "Iunderstandwhyyouspeakasyoudoofyourmother,"hesaid."Herattitudetowardyouisveryfine,Ithink.Shehasasortofwisdomthat’srareinAmerica."

           "Motherisperfect,"sheprayed.

           "IwastalkingtoheraboutaplanIhave—shetoldmethathowlongyoubothstayedinFrancedependedonyou."

           OnYOU,Rosemaryallbutsaidaloud.