Yes, at last they were one
there. And yet he felt further from her even than before--whatever his
marriage hadn't satisfied, that he had stilled in minor ways, was now
without check. The truth was that it had increased, become more
serious, insistent.
The tangible facts, the letters and memoranda, before him, retreated
and came back to his consciousness. Tobacco worms had been boring
through his cigars, and destroyed a third of the box. Helena passed,
affecting a grievance out of any proportion to its cause in him.
Outside, the country was flooded with a deceptive golden radiance; and
he remembered, suddenly, that Alice Lucian had told him to bring Fanny
to the Club and a tea that afternoon, which she was giving for Mina
Raff. He repeated this to his wife, in a conciliatory regret at his
forgetfulness; and she replied that if he cared to go she would come
over later for him in the car. Lee, standing at a window, thought he
wouldn't; but, adding that Peyton would be there, he decided that, in
view of the possible developments, his presence might be wise.
* * * * *
The early gloom gathered familiarly in the long main room of the
clubhouse; the fire cast out fanwise and undependable flickering light
upon the relaxed figures; it shone on tea cups, sparkled in rich
translucent preserves, and glimmered through a glass sugar bowl.
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