Page 55 - tender-is-the-night

VIII

Violet breathed loud and hard once and with an effort
brought another expression into her face.
Dick came finally and with a sure instinct he separated
Barban and the McKiscos and became excessively ignorant
and inquisitive about literature with McKisco—thus giv-
ing the latter the moment of superiority which he required.
The others helped him carry lamps up—who would not be
pleased at carrying lamps helpfully through the darkness?
Rosemary helped, meanwhile responding patiently to Royal
Dumphry’s inexhaustible curiosity about Hollywood.
Now—she was thinking—I’ve earned a time alone with
him. He must know that because his laws are like the laws
Mother taught me.
Rosemary was right—presently he detached her from the
company on the terrace, and they were alone together, borne
away from the house toward the seaside wall with what were
less steps than irregularly spaced intervals through some of
which she was pulled, through others blown.
They looked out over the Mediterranean. Far below, the
last excursion boat from the Isles des Lerins floated across
the bay like a Fourth-of-July balloon foot-loose in the heav-
ens. Between the black isles it floated, softly parting the
dark tide.
‘I understand why you speak as you do of your mother,’

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