Page 506 - sons-and-lovers

‘But, good Lord, Clara! Think of ME in evening suit at
the theatre!’ he remonstrated.
‘Would you rather not?’ she asked.
‘I will if you WANT me to; but I s’ll feel a fool.’
She laughed at him.
‘Then feel a fool for my sake, once, won’t you?’
The request made his blood flush up.
‘I suppose I s’ll have to.’
‘What are you taking a suitcase for?’ his mother asked.
He blushed furiously.
‘Clara asked me,’ he said.
‘And what seats are you going in?’
‘Circle—three-and-six each!’
‘Well, I’m sure!’ exclaimed his mother sarcastically.
‘It’s only once in the bluest of blue moons,’ he said.
He dressed at Jordan’s, put on an overcoat and a cap,
and met Clara in a cafe. She was with one of her suffragette
friends. She wore an old long coat, which did not suit her,
and had a little wrap over her head, which he hated. The
three went to the theatre together.
Clara took off her coat on the stairs, and he discovered
she was in a sort of semi-evening dress, that left her arms
and neck and part of her breast bare. Her hair was done
fashionably. The dress, a simple thing of green crape, suited
her. She looked quite grand, he thought. He could see her
figure inside the frock, as if that were wrapped closely round
her. The firmness and the softness of her upright body could
almost be felt as he looked at her. He clenched his fists.
And he was to sit all the evening beside her beautiful na-

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