Волны

           TheTimesandletters--suddenlythetelephonerangwithurgencyandIrosedeliberatelyandwenttothetelephone.Itookuptheblackmouth.Imarkedtheeasewithwhichmymindadjusteditselftoassimilatethemessage--itmightbe(onehasthesefancies)toassumecommandoftheBritishEmpire;Iobservedmycomposure;Iremarkedwithwhatmagnificentvitalitytheatomsofmyattentiondispersed,swarmedroundtheinterruption,assimilatedthemessage,adaptedthemselvestoanewstateofaffairsandhadcreated,bythetimeIputbackthereceiver,aricher,stronger,amorecomplicatedworldinwhichIwascalledupontoactmypartandhadnodoubtwhateverthatIcoulddoit.Clappingmyhatonmyhead,Istrodeintoaworldinhabitedbyvastnumbersofmenwhohadalsoclappedtheirhatsontheirheads,andaswejostledandencounteredintrainsandtubesweexchangedtheknowingwinkofcompetitorsandcomradesbracedwithathousandsnaresanddodgestoachievethesameend--toearnourlivings.

           ’Lifeispleasant.Lifeisgood.Themereprocessoflifeissatisfactory.Taketheordinarymaningoodhealth.Helikeseatingandsleeping.HelikesthesnuffoffreshairandwalkingatabriskpacedowntheStrand.Orinthecountrythere’sacockcrowingonagate;there’safoalgallopingroundafield.Somethingalwayshastobedonenext.TuesdayfollowsMonday;WednesdayTuesday.Eachspreadsthesamerippleofwellbeing,repeatsthesamecurveofrhythm;coversfreshsandwithachillorebbsalittleslacklywithout.Sothebeinggrowsrings;identitybecomesrobust.