Page 451 - tender-is-the-night

den siestas, lined the curbstone.
Boys sprinted past on bicycles, automobiles jammed
with elaborate betasselled sportsmen slid up the street, high
horns tooted to announce the approach of the race, and
unsuspected cooks in undershirts appeared at restaurant
doors as around a bend a procession came into sight. First
was a lone cyclist in a red jersey, toiling intent and confident
out of the westering sun, passing to the melody of a high
chattering cheer. Then three together in a harlequinade of
faded color, legs caked yellow with dust and sweat, faces ex-
pressionless, eyes heavy and endlessly tired.
Tommy faced Dick, saying: ‘I think Nicole wants a di-
vorce—I suppose you’ll make no obstacles?’
A troupe of fifty more swarmed after the first bicycle rac-
ers, strung out over two hundred yards; a few were smiling
and selfconscious, a few obviously exhausted, most of them
indifferent and weary. A retinue of small boys passed, a few
defiant stragglers, a light truck carried the dupes of accident
and defeat. They were back at the table. Nicole wanted Dick
to take the initiative, but he seemed content to sit with his
face half-shaved matching her hair half-washed.
‘Isn’t it true you’re not happy with me any more?’ Nicole
continued. ‘Without me you could get to your work again—
you could work better if you didn’t worry about me.’
Tommy moved impatiently.
‘That is so useless. Nicole and I love each other, that’s all
there is to it.’
‘Well, then,’ said the Doctor, ‘since it’s all settled, sup-
pose we go back to the barber shop.’

451