Волны

           NotthatIlovemusic,butbecausethewholeoflife,itsmasters,itsadventurers,thenappearedinlongranksofmagnificenthumanbeingsbehindme;andIwastheinheritor;I,thecontinuer;I,thepersonmiraculouslyappointedtocarryiton.So,swingingmystick,withmyeyesfilmed,notwithpride,butwithhumilityrather,Iwalkeddownthestreet.Thefirstwhirrofwingshadgoneup,thecarol,theexclamation;andnowoneenters;onegoesintothehouse,thedry,uncompromising,inhabitedhouse,theplacewithallitstraditions,itsobjects,itsaccumulationsofrubbish,andtreasuresdisplayedupontables.Ivisitedthefamilytailor,whorememberedmyuncle.Peopleturnedupingreatquantities,notcutout,likethefirstfaces(Neville,Louis,Jinny,Susan,Rhoda),butconfused,featureless,orchangedtheirfeaturessofastthattheyseemedtohavenone.Andblushingyetscornful,intheoddestconditionofrawraptureandscepticism,Itooktheblow;themixedsensations;thecomplexanddisturbingandutterlyunpreparedforimpactsoflifeallover,inallplaces,atthesametime.Howupsetting!Howhumiliatingnevertobesurewhattosaynext,andthosepainfulsilences,glaringasdrydeserts,witheverypebbleapparent;andthentosaywhatoneoughtnottohavesaid,andthentobeconsciousofaramrodofincorruptiblesinceritywhichonewouldwillinglyexchangeforashowerofsmoothpence,butcouldnot,thereatthatparty,whereJinnysatquiteatherease,rayedoutonagiltchair.

           ’Thensayssomeladywithanimpressivegesture,"Comewithme.