198
PARTISAN REVIEW
"
. and the dreadful flowers the students in my classes sent!
Freesias, you know, those repulsive flowers, whole bushes of freesias–
if freesias grow on bushes? And they also sent delegations to the
funerals, poor, sad little de!egates !" Because, Sally was thinking as she
chattered, we've made a failure, and so let's really have a circus! So
that's the prophecy, she thought gleefully, that we should begin where
we left off, as if nothing had happened in between! Now all that was
lacking was a last mocking touch: she could easily furnish that-it
was her talent for drama, simply, that was needed-and bringing to
an end her discourse on the funerals, she asked, surrendering them to
the puerility of reminiscence, changing her tone innocently to one of
clattering vivacity-"By the way, do you remember old Miss Finch,
the English teacher? I saw her the other day. Poor old thing- do you
remember the time she cried for joy over Hester McDonald's com–
position?"
Margaret, lifting bland and blank eyes, replied, "Of course, it
was a composition on 'My Summer Vacation.' Funny Hester, I
haven't thought of her for years ... " while she set about finishing
her coffee in order the sooner to be able to look at her watch and
exclaim over being late for an appointment.
