Волны

           "Sheleadsoneintoaprivatealcoveandadmitsonetothehonourofherintimacy.SurnameschangetoChristiannames;Christiannamestonicknames.WhatistobedoneaboutIndia,IrelandorMorocco?Oldgentlemenanswerthequestionstandingdecoratedunderchandeliers.Onefindsoneselfsurprisinglysuppliedwithinformation.Outsidetheundifferentiatedforcesroar;insideweareveryprivate,veryexplicit,haveasenseindeed,thatitishere,inthislittleroom,thatwemakewhateverdayoftheweekitmaybe.FridayorSaturday.Ashellformsuponthesoftsoul,nacreous,shiny,uponwhichsensationstaptheirbeaksinvain.Onmeitformedearlierthanonmost.SoonIcouldcarvemypearwhenotherpeoplehaddonedessert.Icouldbringmysentencetoacloseinahushofcompletesilence.Itisatthatseasontoothatperfectionhasalure.OnecanlearnSpanish,onethinks,bytyingastringtotherighttoeandwakingearly.Onefillsupthelittlecompartmentsofone’sengagementbookwithdinnerateight;luncheonatone-thirty.Onehasshirts,socks,tieslaidoutonone’sbed.

           ’Butitisamistake,thisextremeprecision,thisorderlyandmilitaryprogress;aconvenience,alie.Thereisalwaysdeepbelowit,evenwhenwearrivepunctuallyattheappointedtimewithourwhitewaistcoatsandpoliteformalities,arushingstreamofbrokendreams,nurseryrhymes,streetcries,half-finishedsentencesandsights--elmtrees,willowtrees,gardenerssweeping,womenwriting--thatriseandsinkevenaswehandaladydowntodinner.