Волны

           ’Now,’saidBernard,’thetimehascome.Thedayhascome.Thecabisatthedoor.MyhugeboxbendsGeorge’sbandy-legsevenwider.Thehorribleceremonyisover,thetips,andthegood-byesinthehall.Nowthereisthisgulpingceremonywithmymother,thishand-shakingceremonywithmyfather;nowImustgoonwaving,Imustgoonwaving,tillweturnthecorner.Nowthatceremonyisover.Heavenbepraised,allceremoniesareover.Iamalone;Iamgoingtoschoolforthefirsttime.

           ’Everybodyseemstobedoingthingsforthismomentonly;andneveragain.Neveragain.Theurgencyofitallisfearful.EverybodyknowsIamgoingtoschool,goingtoschoolforthefirsttime."Thatboyisgoingtoschoolforthefirsttime,"saysthehousemaid,cleaningthesteps.Imustnotcry.Imustbeholdthemindifferently.Nowtheawfulportalsofthestationgape;"themoon-facedclockregardsme."Imustmakephrasesandphrasesandsointerposesomethinghardbetweenmyselfandthestareofhousemaids,thestareofclocks,staringfaces,indifferentfaces,orIshallcry.ThereisLouis,thereisNeville,inlongcoats,carryinghandbags,bythebooking-office.Theyarecomposed.Buttheylookdifferent.’

           ’HereisBernard,’saidLouis.’Heiscomposed;heiseasy.Heswingshisbagashewalks.IwillfollowBernard,becauseheisnotafraid.Wearedrawnthroughthebooking-officeontotheplatformasastreamdrawstwigsandstrawsroundthepiersofabridge.Thereistheverypowerful,bottle-greenenginewithoutaneck,allbackandthighs,breathingsteam.