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be confronted with another。 Many a man who would patiently undergo
martyrdom for religion's sake would be furiously unwilling to be a
martyr to neuralgia。
〃I think that is why you English love animals so much；〃 pursued the
young diplomat； 〃you are such splendid animals yourselves。 You are
lively because you want to be lively； not because people are
looking on at you。 Monsieur Courtenay is certainly an animal。 I
mean it as a high compliment。〃
〃Am I an animal？〃 asked Elaine。
〃I was going to say you are an angel；〃 said the Russian； in some
embarrassment； 〃but I do not think that would do； angels and
animals would never get on together。 To get on with animals you
must have a sense of humour； and I don't suppose angels have any
sense of humour； you see it would be no use to them as they never
hear any jokes。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Elaine； with a tinge of bitterness in her voice；
〃perhaps I am a vegetable。〃
〃I think you most remind me of a picture；〃 said the Russian。
It was not the first time Elaine had heard the simile。
〃I know；〃 she said； 〃the Narrow Gallery at the Louvre； attributed
to Leonardo da Vinci。〃
Evidently the impression she made on people was solely one of
externals。
Was that how Courtenay regarded her？ Was that to be her function
and place in life； a painted background； a decorative setting to
other people's triumphs and tragedies？ Somehow to…night she had
the feeling that a general might have who brought imposing forces
into the field and could do nothing with them。 She possessed youth
and good looks； considerable wealth； and had just made what would
be thought by most people a very satisfactory marriage。 And
already she seemed to be standing aside as an onlooker where she
had expected herself to be taking a leading part。
〃Does this sort of thing appeal to you？〃 she asked the young
Russian； nodding towards the gay scrimmage of masqueraders and
rather prepared to hear an amused negative。〃
〃But yes； of course；〃 he answered； 〃costume balls； fancy fairs；
cafe chantant； casino； anything that is not real life appeals to us
Russians。 Real life with us is the sort of thing that Maxim Gorki
deals in。 It interests us immensely； but we like to get away from
it sometimes。〃
Madame Kelnicort came up with another prospective partner； and
Elaine delivered her ukase： one more dance and then back to the
hotel。 Without any special regret she made her retreat from the
revel which Courtenay was enjoying under the impression that it was
life and the young Russian under the firm conviction that it was
not。
Elaine breakfasted at her aunts' table the next morning at much her
usual hour。 Courtenay was sleeping the sleep of a happy tired
animal。 He had given instructions to be called at eleven o'clock；
from which time onward the NEUE FREIE PRESSE； the ZEIT； and his
toilet would occupy his attention till he appeared at the luncheon
table。 There were not many people breakfasting when Elaine arrived
on the scene； but the room seemed to be fuller than it really was
by reason of a penetrating voice that was engaged in recounting how
far the standard of Viennese breakfast fare fell below the
expectations and desires of little Jerome and the girls。
〃If ever little Jerome becomes President of the United States；〃
said Elaine； 〃I shall be able to contribute quite an informing
article on his gastronomic likes and dislikes to the papers。〃
The aunts were discreetly inquisitive as to the previous evening's
entertainment。
〃If Elaine would flirt mildly with somebody it would be such a good
thing；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook； 〃it would remind Courtenay that he's
not the only attractive young man in the world。〃
Elaine； however； did not gratify their hopes； she referred to the
ball with the detachment she would have shown in describing a
drawing…room show of cottage industries。 It was not difficult to
discern in her description of the affair the confession that she
had been slightly bored。 From Courtenay； later in the day； the
aunts received a much livelier impression of the festivities； from
which it was abundantly clear that he at any rate had managed to
amuse himself。 Neither did it appear that his good opinion of his
own attractions had suffered any serious shock。 He was distinctly
in a very good temper。
〃The secret of enjoying a honeymoon；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook
afterwards to her sister； 〃is not to attempt too much。〃
〃You mean … ？〃
〃Courtenay is content to try and keep one person amused and happy；
and he thoroughly succeeds。〃
〃I certainly don't think Elaine is going to be very happy；〃 said
her sister； 〃but at least Courtenay saved her from making the
greatest mistake she could have made … marrying that young
Bassington。〃
〃He has also；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook； 〃helped her to make the next
biggest mistake of her life … marrying Courtenay Youghal。
CHAPTER XVI
IT was late afternoon by the banks of a swiftly rushing river； a
river that gave back a haze of heat from its waters as though it
were some stagnant steaming lagoon； and yet seemed to be whirling
onward with the determination of a living thing； perpetually eager
and remorseless； leaping savagely at any obstacle that attempted to
stay its course； an unfriendly river； to whose waters you committed
yourself at your peril。 Under the hot breathless shade of the
trees on its shore arose that acrid all…pervading smell that seems
to hang everywhere about the tropics； a smell as of some monstrous
musty still…room where herbs and spices have been crushed and
distilled and stored for hundreds of years； and where the windows
have seldom been opened。 In the dazzling heat that still held
undisputed sway over the scene； insects and birds seemed
preposterously alive and active； flitting their gay colours through
the sunbeams； and crawling over the baked dust in the full swing
and pursuit of their several businesses； the flies engaged in
Heaven knows what； and the fly…catchers busy with the flies。
Beasts and humans showed no such indifference to the temperature；
the sun would have to slant yet further downward before the earth
would become a fit arena for their revived activities。 In the
sheltered basement of a wayside rest…house a gang of native
hammock…bearers slept or chattered drowsily through the last hours
of the long mid…day halt； wide awake； yet almost motionless in the
thrall of a heavy lassitude； their European master sat alone in an
upper chamber； staring out through a narrow window…opening at the
native village； spreading away in thick clusters of huts girt
around with cultivated vegetation。 It seemed a vast human ant…
hill； which would presently be astir with its teeming human life；
as though the Sun God in his last departing stride had roused it
with a careless kick。 Even as Comus watched he could see the
beginnings of the evening's awakening。 Women； squatting in front
of their huts； began to pound away at the rice or maize that would
form the evening meal； girls were collecting their water pots
preparatory to a walk down to the river； and enterprising goats
made tentative forays through gaps in the ill…kept fences of
neighbouring garden plots； their hurried retreats showed that here
at least someone was keeping alert and wakeful vigil。 Behind a hut
perched on a steep hill…side； just opposite to the rest…house； two
boys were splitting wood with a certain languid industry； further
down the road a group of dogs were leisurely working themselves up
to quarrelling pitch。 Here and there； bands of evil…looking pigs
roamed about； busy with foraging excursions that came unpleasantly
athwart the border…line of scavenging。 And from the trees that
bounded and intersected the village rose the horrible； tireless；
spiteful…sounding squawking of the iron…throated crows。
Comus sat and watched it all with a sense of growing aching
depression。 It was so utterly trivial to his eyes； so devoid of
interest； and yet it was so real； so serious； so implacable in its
continuity。 The brain grew tired with the thought of its unceasing
reproduction。 It had all gone on； as it was going on now； by the
side of the great rushing swirling river； this tilling and planting
and harvesting； marketing and store…keeping； feast…making and
fetish…worship and love…making； burying and giving in marriage；
child…bearing and child…rearing； all this had been going on； in the
shimmering； blistering heat and the warm nights； while he had been
a youngster at school； dimly recognising Africa as a division of
the earth's surface that it was advisable to have a certain nodding
acquaintance with。
It had been going on in all its trifling detail； all its serious
intensity； when his father and his gra