It is most
disagreeable." The eloquent eyes expressed calamity. It was really
felt as if it had been a personal attack.
"It was a punishment for your utterly abominable politics." For the first
time for months she was her unfettered self. His mind was still on his
calamity. "I really staggered under it."
"Shake it off and get in to the sleigh. My husband ought to have all the
big pines cut down." Rivers's mind had many levels. Sometimes they were
on spiritual heights, or as now--almost childlike.
"To stay indoors would be on the whole more reasonable," he said, "or to
have these trees along the avenue shaken."
"I'd like the job," ventured Billy.
"Keep quiet," said Mrs. Ann.
"It is most uncomfortable as it melts," said Rivers.
Ann thought of John Penhallow's early adventure in the snow, and seeing
how strangely real was Mark Rivers's discomfort, remarked to herself that
he was like a cat for dislike of being wet, and was thankful for her
privilege of laughing inwardly.
Billy, who was, as Leila said, an unexpectable person, contributed to Ann
Penhallow's sense of there being still some available fun in a world
where men were feebly imitating the vast slaughters of nature. He
considered the crushed umbrella, the felt hat awry, and the disconsolate
figure.
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