Chapter 7

           ‘Anoutward-boundmail-boathadcomeinthatafternoon,andthebigdining-roomofthehotelwasmorethanhalffullofpeoplewitha-hundred-pounds-round-the-worldticketsintheirpockets.Thereweremarriedcoupleslookingdomesticatedandboredwitheachotherinthemidstoftheirtravels;thereweresmallpartiesandlargeparties,andloneindividualsdiningsolemnlyorfeastingboisterously,butallthinking,conversing,joking,orscowlingaswastheirwontathome;andjustasintelligentlyreceptiveofnewimpressionsastheirtrunksupstairs.Henceforththeywouldbelabelledashavingpassedthroughthisandthatplace,andsowouldbetheirluggage.Theywouldcherishthisdistinctionoftheirpersons,andpreservethegummedticketsontheirportmanteausasdocumentaryevidence,astheonlypermanenttraceoftheirimprovingenterprise.Thedark-facedservantstrippedwithoutnoiseoverthevastandpolishedfloor;nowandthenagirl’slaughwouldbeheard,asinnocentandemptyashermind,or,inasuddenhushofcrockery,afewwordsinanaffecteddrawlfromsomewitembroideringforthebenefitofagrinningtablefulthelastfunnystoryofshipboardscandal.Twonomadicoldmaids,dresseduptokill,workedacrimoniouslythroughthebilloffare,whisperingtoeachotherwithfadedlips,wooden-facedandbizarre,liketwosumptuousscarecrows.AlittlewineopenedJim’sheartandloosenedhistongue.Hisappetitewasgood,too,Inoticed.Heseemedtohaveburiedsomewheretheopeningepisodeofouracquaintance.

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