Page 329 - tender-is-the-night

Collis.
Dick got up and walked to her across the room.
‘Won’t you dance?’
The middle-aged Englishman with whom she was sitting
said, almost apologetically: ‘I’m going out soon.’
Sobered by excitement Dick danced. He found in the
girl a suggestion of all the pleasant English things; the sto-
ry of safe gardens ringed around by the sea was implicit
in her bright voice and as he leaned back to look at her, he
meant what he said to her so sincerely that his voice trem-
bled. When her current escort should leave, she promised
to come and sit with them. The Englishman accepted her
return with repeated apologies and smiles.
Back at his table Dick ordered another bottle of spuman-
te.
‘She looks like somebody in the movies,’ he said. ‘I can’t
think who.’ He glanced impatiently over his shoulder. ‘Won-
der what’s keeping her?’
‘I’d like to get in the movies,’ said Collis thoughtfully.
‘I’m supposed to go into my father’s business but it doesn’t
appeal to me much. Sit in an office in Birmingham for twen-
ty years—‘
His voice resisted the pressure of materialistic civiliza-
tion.
‘Too good for it?’ suggested Dick.
‘No, I don’t mean that.’
‘Yes, you do.’
‘How do you know what I mean? Why don’t you practise
as a doctor, if you like to work so much?’

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