Page 319 - swanns-way

formed an essential factor.
‘You won’t be ill this time, you’ll find,’ he told her, seek-
ing at the same time to subdue her mind by the magnetism
of his gaze. ‘And, if you are ill, we will cure you.’
‘Will you, really?’ Mme. Verdurin spoke as though, with
so great a favour in store for her, there was nothing for it but
to capitulate. Perhaps, too, by dint of saying that she was go-
ing to be ill, she had worked herself into a state in which she
forgot, occasionally, that it was all only a ‘little scene,’ and
regarded things, quite sincerely, from an invalid’s point of
view. For it may often be remarked that invalids grow weary
of having the frequency of their attacks depend always on
their own prudence in avoiding them, and like to let them-
selves think that they are free to do everything that they
most enjoy doing, although they are always ill after doing
it, provided only that they place themselves in the hands of
a higher authority which, without putting them to the least
inconvenience, can and will, by uttering a word or by ad-
ministering a tabloid, set them once again upon their feet.
Odette had gone to sit on a tapestry-covered sofa near
the piano, saying to Mme. Verdurin, ‘I have my own little
corner, haven’t I?’
And Mme. Verdurin, seeing Swann by himself upon a
chair, made him get up. ‘You’re not at all comfortable there;
go along and sit by Odette; you can make room for M.
Swann there, can’t you, Odette?’
‘What charming Beauvais!’ said Swann, stopping to ad-
mire the sofa before he sat down on it, and wishing to be
polite.

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