e rail； her face still pressed to mine。
In that minute； with her lips to my ear and her breath warm in the salt wind； Julia said； though。 I had not spoken； 'Yes； now；' and as the ship righted herself and for the moment ran into calmer waters； Julia led me below。
It was no time for the sweets of luxury； they would e； in their season； with the swallow and the lime flowers。 Now on the rough water there was a formality to be observed； no more。 It was as though a deed of conveyance of her narrow loins had been drawn and sealed。 I was making my first entry as the freeholder of a property I would enjoy and develop at leisure。
We dined that night high up in the ship； in the restaurant； and saw through the bow windows the stars e out and sweep across the sky as once； I remembered； I had seen them sweep across the sky as once； I remembered； I had seen them sweep above the towers and gables of Oxford。 The stewards promised that tomorrow night the band would play again and the place be full。 We had better book now； they said； if we wanted a good table'。
'Oh dear；' said Julia； 'where can we hide in fair weather； we orphans of the storm？'
I could not leave her that night； but early next morning； as once again I made my way back along the corridor； I found I could walk without difficulty； the ship rode easily on a smooth sea； and I knew that our solitude was broken。
My wife called joyously from her cabin： 'Charles； Charles； I feel so well。 What do you think I am having for breakfast？'
I went to see。 She was eating a beef…steak。
'I've fixed up for a visit to the hairdresser … do you know they couldn't take me till four o'clock this afternoon； they're so busy suddenly？ So I shan't appear till the evening； but lots of people are ing in to see us this morning； and I've asked Miles and Janet to lunch with us in our sitting…room。 I'm afraid I've been a worthless wife to you the last two days。 What have you been up to？'
'One gay evening；' I said； 'we played roulette till two o'clock； next door in the sitting…room； and our host passed out。'
'Goodness。 It sounds very disreputable。 Have you been behaving； Charles？ You haven't been picking up sirens？'
'There was scarcely a woman about。 I spent most of the time with Julia。'
'Oh； good。 I always wanted to bring you together。 She's one of my friends I knew you'd like。 I expect you were a godsend to her。 She's had rather a gloomy time lately。 I don't expect she mentioned it； but。。。' my wife proceeded to relate a current version of Julia's journey to New York。 'I'll ask her to cocktails this morning；' she concluded。
Julia came among the others； and it was happiness enough； now merely to be near her。
'I hear you've been looking after my husband for me；' my wife said。
'Yes； we've bee very matey。 He and I and a man whose name we don't know。'
'Mr Kramm； what have you done to your arm？'
'It was the bathroom floor； ' said Mr Kramm； and explained at length how he had fallen。
That night the captain dined at his table and the circle was plete； for claimants came to the chairs on the Bishop's right； two Japanese who expressed deep interest in his projects for world…brotherhood。 The captain was full of chaff at Julia's endurance in the storm； offering to engage her as a seaman； years of sea…going had given him jokes for every occasion。 My wife； fresh from the beauty parlour； was unmarked by her three days of distress； and in the eyes of many seemed to outshine Julia； whose sadness had gone and been replaced by an inmunicable content and tranquillity； inmunicable save to me； she and I； separated by the crowd； sat alone together close enwrapped； as we had lain in each other's arms the night before。
'There was a gala spirit in the ship that night。 Though it meant rising at dawn to pack； everyone was determined that for this one night he would enjoy the luxury the storm had denied him。 There was no solitude。 Every corner of the ship was thronged； dance music and high； excited chatter； stewards darting everywhere with trays of glasses； the voice of the officer in charge of tombola … 'Kelly's eye … number one； legs； eleven； and we'll Shake the Bag' … Mrs Stuyvesant Oglander in a paper cap； Mr Kramm and his bandages； the two Japanese decorously throwing paper streamers and hissing like geese。
I did not speak to Julia； alone； all that evening。
We met for a minute next day on the starboard side of the ship while everyone else crowded to port to see the officials e aboard and to gaze at the green coastline of Devon。
'What are your plans？'
'London for a bit； ' she said。
'Celia's going straight home。 She wants to see the children。'
'You too？'
'No。'
'In London then。'
'Charles； the little red…haired man Foulenough。 Did you see？ Two plain clothes police have taken him off。'
'I missed it。 There was such a crowd on that side of the ship。'
'I found out the trains and sent a telegram。 We shall be home by dinner。 The children will be asleep。 Perhaps we might wake Johnjohn up； just for once。'
'You go down；' I said。 'I shall have to stay in London。'
'Oh； but Charles； you must e。 You haven't seen Caroline。'
'Will she change much in a week or two？'
'Darling； she changes every day。'
'Then what's the point of seeing her now？ I'm sorry； my dear； but I must get the pictures unpacked and see how they've travelled。 I must fix up for the exhibition right away。'
'Must you？' she said； but I knew that her resistance ended when I appealed to the mysteries of my trade。 'It's very disappointing。 Besides； I don't know if Andrew and Cynthia will be out of the flat。 They took it till the end of the month。'
'I can go to an hotel。'
'But that's so grim。 I can't bear you to be alone your first night home。 I'll stay and go down tomorrow。'
'You mustn't disappoint the children。'
'No。' Her children； my art； the two mysteries of our trades。
'Will you e for the week…end？'
'If I can。'
'All British passports to the smoking…room； please；' said a steward。
'I've arranged with that sweet Foreign Office man at our table to get us off early with him；' said my wife。
＇2＇
IT was my wife's idea to hold the private view on Friday。
'We are out to catch the critics this time； I she said。 'It's high time they began to take you seriously； and they know it。 This is their chance。 If you open on Monday； they'll most of them have just e up from the country； and they'll dash off a few paragraphs before dinner … I'm only worrying about the weeklies of course。 If we give them the week…end to think about it； we shall have them in an urbane Sunday…in…the…country mood。 They'll settle down after a good luncheon； tuck up their cuffs； and turn out a nice； leisurely full…length essay； which they'll reprint later in a nice little book。 Nothing less will do this time。'
She was up and down from the Old Rectory several times during the month of preparation； revising the list of invitations and helping with the hanging。
On the morning of the private view I telephoned to Julia and said： 'I'm sick of the pictures already and never want to see them again； but I suppose I shall have to put in an appearance。'
'D'you want me to e？'
'I'd much rather you didn't。'
'Celia sent a card with 〃Bring everyone〃 written across it in green ink。 When do we meet？'
'In the train。 You might pick up my luggage。'
'If you'll have it packed soon I'll pick you up； too； and drop you at the gallery。 I've got a fitting next door at twelve。'
When I reached the gallery my wife was standing looking through the window to the street。 Behind her half a dozen unknown picture…lovers were moving from canvas to canvas； catalogue in hand； they were people who had once bought a wood： cut and were consequently on the gallery's list of patrons。
'No one has e yet；' said my wife。 'I've been here since ten and it's been very dull。 Whose car was that you came in？'
'Julia's。'
'Julia's？ Why didn't； you bring her in？ Oddly enough； I've just been talking about Brideshead to a funny little man who seemed to know us very well。 He said he was called Mr Samgrass。 Apparently he's on