998
PARTISAN REVIEW
and more subtlety too with wild flowers. I wonder if fritillary would
grow here, the place could do with something a bit more strange."
"But Mummie, it would be awful to change it when it's so
beautiful."
"I don't think so, darling" said Monica "I don't know, of course,
but I've always thought that was a false sort of romanticism. I don't
believe you really become aware of the beauty of a scene until you
see how it could be made more beautiful. What do you think,
Mother?"
Mrs. Rackham smiled. "I think I just see the stream and the
meadows behind" she said "and then I feel a great sense of peace and
solitude."
"Oh yes, that of course" cried her daughter "but there's some–
thing else too. You have to look at it properly surely to see the pat–
terns of shape and colour and that's when you see what's needed to
complete them." She thought for a moment, then added "Yes, I'm sure
you have to do that, otherwise it's all a blur and you don't really see
anything."
"Look, Mummie, those holes" cried Elizabeth "I think there must
be badgers.
If
you were here at night you would see them come down
to drink."
"I should like that" said Monica "When there was no moon–
at dusk or dawn-with black water and those nightmare deformed
willow-trees and then lumbering grey shapes coming down to drink.
But not by moonlight, that would be too expected."
"We've been imagining the badgers drinking in the stream"
said Elizabeth to her father when they returned.
"Is that one of Brock's nightly prowls?" asked Edwin.
"No, darling," replied Monica
"not
Brock and
not
nightly prowls.
Just badgers drinking. There were rabbits, too, but they weren't
wearing skyblue shorts, they were just brown rabbits with white tails."
Then seeing her husband's hurt expression, she put her hand on his
arm. "Never mind, darling," she said "You like imagining in that
whimsical way, I don't; but I think it's only because I don't know
how to."
Edwin smiled. "How about that gin you were talking about?"
he asked.
"It's in the shaker, darling, with some French. You do the
shaking, you're so professional."
