Волны

           Andthensittingsidebysideonthesofawerememberedinevitablywhathadbeensaidbyothers;"thelilyofthedayisfairerfarinMay";wecomparedPercivaltoalily--PercivalwhomIwantedtolosehishair,toshocktheauthorities,togrowoldwithme;hewasalreadycoveredwithlilies.

           ’Sothesincerityofthemomentpassed;soitbecamesymbolical;andthatIcouldnotstand.Letuscommitanyblasphemyoflaughterandcriticismratherthanexudethislily-sweetglue;andcoverhimwithphrases,Icried.ThereforeIbrokeoff,andJinny,whowaswithoutfuture,orspeculation,butrespectedthemomentwithcompleteintegrity,gaveherbodyaflickwiththewhip,powderedherface(forwhichIlovedher),andwavedtomeasshestoodonthedoorstep,pressingherhandtoherhairsothatthewindmightnotdisorderit,agestureforwhichIhonouredher,asifitconfirmedourdetermination--nottoletliliesgrow.

           ’Iobservedwithdisillusionedclaritythedespicablenonentityofthestreet;itsporches;itswindowcurtains;thedrabclothes,thecupidityandcomplacencyofshoppingwomen;andoldmentakingtheairincomforters;thecautionofpeoplecrossing;theuniversaldeterminationtogoonliving,whenreally,foolsandgullsthatyouare,Isaid,anyslatemayflyfromaroof,anycarmayswerve,forthereisneitherrhymenorreasonwhenadrunkmanstaggersaboutwithaclubinhishand--thatisall.Iwaslikeoneadmittedbehindthescenes:likeoneshownhowtheeffectsareproduced.Ireturned,however,tomyownsnughomeandwaswarnedbytheparlourmaidtocreepupstairsinmystockings.