576
PARTISAN REVIEW
weekend next month when it would be nice if everyone could be here
agam.
The two sat close, turned towards each other, looking into the
other's face. As one finished a remark, or suggestion, Henry, or
Angela, came smartly in . Again it was impossible not to remark
what a pair these two made, alike physically and in their similar
country-comfortable clothes .. . and wasn't Angela wearing
Henry's shirt over her trousers, sleeves turned up, making her a
vulnerable little morsel against his large and reassuring roundness?
Two flushed faces, alike in the mysterious way of the long married,
their eyes searching each other's in a habit of picking up points
where the other dropped them ... As the talk went on, they turned
still further around, were facing each other. Half an hour later, they
were still at it, Grannie's possible plans for Christmas in Switzer–
land, Connie's need for music lessons ...
Sebastian broke in, "I think we should talk about how to incor–
porate Stephen-you know , Jody's boy . He ought to be friends with
our children."
This cut the exchange dead . Slowly Henry and Angela turned
away from each other, and both leaned back and stared at Seba–
stian, at Jody-but her face was shadowed, as she had taken care it
would be.
"Well of course," said Henry. "Haven't we discussed this ,
sweetie - surely we have?" - to Jody.
"It
was mentioned."
"Perhaps he could come here when Marion and Olga come too
some time over Christmas?" This was Henry.
"A bit spartan , really, in winter, but it's lovely too." This was
Angela.
"Surely discomfort is what they are trained for," remarked
Jody. Stephen was at a famous school, not known for its comfort.
"It's a pity Stephen is a boy," said Henry.
"Yes .
If
you had a girl, it would be easy. Marion and Connie
get along like anything. And Jane gets on with Marion too ," said
Angela.
Jody said, "At that school they are not exactly taught how to get
on with girls ." Her voice was dry, nothing of what she felt was being
allowed to show. She sat with her coffee cup in her hand , the hand
on the arm of the chair, a long, elegant well-kept hand . But the
steady tinkle of the cup in the saucer caused Sebastian to lean for-
