lone。 By the blue waters and rustling palms of his own mind he was happy and harmless as a Polynesian； only when the big ship dropped anchor beyond the coral reef； and the cutter beached in the lagoon； and； up the slope that had never known the print of a boot； there trod the grim invasion of trader； administrator； missionary； and tourist … only then was it time to disinter the archaic weapons of the tribe and …sound the drums in the hills； or； more easily； to turn from the sunlit door and lie alone in the darkness； ； where the impotent； painted deities paraded the walls in vain and cough his heart out among the rum bottles。
And； since Sebastian counted among the intruders his own conscience and all claims of human affection； his days in Arcadia were numbered。 For in this； to me； tranquil time Sebastian took fright。 I knew him well in that mood of alertness and suspicion； like a deer suddenly lifting his head at the far notes of the hunt； I had seen him grow wary at the thought of his family or his religion； now I found I； too； was suspect。 He did not fail in love； but he lost his joy of it； for I was no longer part of his solitude。 As my intimacy with his family grew； I became part of the world which he sought to escape； I became one of the bonds which held him。 That was the part for which his mother； in all our little talks； was seeking to fit me。 Everything was left unsaid。 It was only dimly and at rare moments that I suspected what was afoot。
Outwardly Mr Samgrass was the only enemy。 For a fortnight Sebastian and I remained at Brideshead； leading our own life。 His brother was engaged in sport and estate management； Mr Samgrass was at work in the library on Lady Marchmain's book； Sir Adrian Porson demanded most of Lady Marchmain's time。 We saw little of them except in the evenings； there was room under that wide roof for a wide variety of independent lives。
After a fortnight Sebastian said： 'I can't stand Mr Samgrass any more。 Let's go to London；' so he came to stay with me and now began to use my home in preference to 'Marchers'。 My father liked him。 'I think your friend very amusing；' he said。 'Ask him often。'
Then； back at Oxford； we took up again the life that seemed to be shrinking in the cold air。 The sadness that had been strong in Sebastian the term before gave place to kind of sullenness； even towards me。 He was sick at heart somewhere； I did not know how； and I grieved for him； unable to help。
When he was gay now it was usually because he was drunk； and when drunk he developed an obsession of 'mocking Mr Samgrass'。 He posed a ditty of which the refrain was； 'Green arse； Samgrass … Samgrass green arse'； sung to the tune of St Mary's chime； and he would thus serenade him； perhaps once a week； under his windows。 Mr Samgrass was distinguished as being the first don to have a private telephone installed in his rooms。 Sebastian in his cups used to ring him up and sing him this simple song。 And all this Mr Samgrass took in good part； as it is called； smiling obsequiously when we met； but with growing confidence； as though each outrage in some way strengthened his hold on Sebastian。
It was during this term that I began to realize that Sebastian was a drunkard in quite a different sense to myself I got drunk often； but through an excess of high spirits； in the love of the moment； and the wish to prolong and enhance it； Sebastian drank to escape。 As we together grew older and more serious I drank less； he more。 I found that sometimes after I had gone back to my college； he sat up late and alone； soaking。 A succession of disasters came on him so swiftly and with such unexpected violence that it is hard to say when exactly I recognized that my friend was in deep trouble。 I knew it well enough in the Easter vacation。
Julia used to say； 'Poor Sebastian。 It's something chemical in him。'
That was the cant phrase of the time； derived from heaven knows what misconception of popular science。 'There's something chemical between them' was used to explain the over…mastering hate or love of any two people。 It was the old concept in a new form。 I do not believe there was anything chemical in my friend。
The Easter party at Brideshead was a bitter time； culminating in a small but unforgettably painful incident。 Sebastian got very drunk before dinner in his mother's house； and thus marked the beginning of a new epoch in his melancholy record； another stride in the flight from his family which brought him to ruin。
It was at the end of the day when the large Easter party left Brideshead。 It was called the Easter party； though in fact it began on the Tuesday of Easter Week； for the Flytes all went into retreat at the guest…house of a monastery from Maundy Thursday until Easter。 This year Sebastian had said he would not go； but at the last moment had yielded； and came home in a state of acute depression from which I totally failed to raise him。
He had been drinking very hard for a week … only I knew how hard … and drinking in a nervous； surreptitious way； totally unlike his old habit。 During the party there was always a grog tray in the library； and Sebastian took to slipping in there at odd moments during the day without saying anything even to me。 The house was largely deserted during the day。 I was at work painting another panel in the little garden…room in the colonnade。 Sebastian plained of a cold； stayed in； and during all that time was never quite sober； he escaped attention by being silent。 Now and then I noticed him attract curious glances； but most of the party knew him too slightly to see the change in him； while his own family were occupied； each with their particular guests。
When I remonstrated he said； 'I can't stand all these people about；〃 but it was when they finally left and he had to face his family at close quarters that he broke down。
The normal practice was for a cocktail tray to be brought into the drawing…room at six； we mixed our own drinks and the bottles were removed when we went to dress； later； just before dinner； cocktails appeared again； this time handed round by the footmen。
Sebastian disappeared after tea； the light had gone and I spent the next hour playing mah…jongg with Cordelia。 At six I was alone in the drawing…room； when he returned； he was frowning in a way I knew all too well； and when he spoke I recognized the drunken thickening in his voice。
'Haven't they brought the cocktails yet？' He pulled clumsily on the bell…rope。
I said； 'Where have you been？'
'Up with nanny。'
'I don't believe it。 You've been drinking somewhere。'
'I've been reading in my room。 My cold's worse today。' When the tray arrived he slopped gin and vermouth into a tumbler and carried it out of the room with him。 I followed him upstairs； where he shut his bedroom door in my face and turned the key。
I returned to the drawing…room full of dismay and foreboding。
The family assembled。 Lady Marchmain said： 'What's bee of Sebastian？'
'He's gone to lie down。 His cold is worse。'
'Oh dear； I hope he isn't getting flu。 I thought he had a feverish look once or twice lately。 Is there anything he wants？'
'No； he particularly asked not to be disturbed。'
I wondered whether I ought to speak to Brideshead； but that grim； rock…crystal mask forbade all confidence。 Instead； on the way upstairs to dress； I told Julia。
'Sebastian's drunk。'
'He can't be。 He didn't even e for a cocktail。'
'He's been drinking in。 his room all the afternoon。'
'How very peculiar！ What a bore he is！ Will he be all right for dinner？'
'No。'
'Well； you must deal with him。 It's no business of mine。 Does he often do this？'
'He has lately。'
'How very boring。'
I tried Sebastian's door； found it locked； and hoped he was sleeping； but； when I came back from my bath； I found him sitting in the chair before my fire； he was dressed for dinner； all but his shoes； but his tie was awry and his hair on end； he was very red in the face and squinting slightly。 He spoke indistinctly。
'Charles； what you said was quite true。 Not with nanny。 Been drinking whisky up here。 None in the library now party's gone。 Now party's gone and only mum