Page 387 - of-human-bondage-

phasised the shadows on the faces; all the lines seemed to
harden under it, and the colours were most crude. It was a
sordid scene. Philip leaned over the rail, staring down, and
he ceased to hear the music. They danced furiously. They
danced round the room, slowly, talking very little, with all
their attention given to the dance. The room was hot, and
their faces shone with sweat. it seemed to Philip that they
had thrown off the guard which people wear on their ex-
pression, the homage to convention, and he saw them now
as they really were. In that moment of abandon they were
strangely animal: some were foxy and some were wolf-like;
and others had the long, foolish face of sheep. Their skins
were sallow from the unhealthy life they led and the poor
food they ate. Their features were blunted by mean inter-
ests, and their little eyes were shifty and cunning. There was
nothing of nobility in their bearing, and you felt that for all
of them life was a long succession of petty concerns and
sordid thoughts. The air was heavy with the musty smell of
humanity. But they danced furiously as though impelled by
some strange power within them, and it seemed to Philip
that they were driven forward by a rage for enjoyment. They
were seeking desperately to escape from a world of horror.
The desire for pleasure which Cronshaw said was the only
motive of human action urged them blindly on, and the
very vehemence of the desire seemed to rob it of all plea-
sure. They were hurried on by a great wind, helplessly, they
knew not why and they knew not whither. Fate seemed to
tower above them, and they danced as though everlasting
darkness were beneath their feet. Their silence was vaguely

Of Human Bondage