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f 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 mummy。 Feeling rather drunk。 Think I'd better have something…on…a…tray up here。 Not dinner with mummy。'
'Go to bed；' I told him。 'I'll say your cold's worse。'
'Much worse。'
I took him to his room which was next to mine and tried to get him to bed； but he sat in front of his dressing table squinnying at himself in the glass； trying to remake his bow…tie。 On the writing table by the fire was a half…empty decanter of whisky。 I took it up； thinking he would not see； but he spun round from the mirror and said： 'You put that down。'
'Don't be an ass； Sebastian。 You've had enough。'
'What the devil's it got to do with you？ You're only a guest here … my guest。 I drink what I want to in my own house。' He would have fought me for it at that moment。
'Very well；' I said； putting the decanter back； 'Only for God's sake keep out of sight。'
'Oh； mind your own business。 You came here as my friend； now you're spying on me for my mother； I know。 Well； you can get out and tell her from me that I'll choose my friends and she her spies in future。'
So I left him and went down to dinner。
'I've been in to Sebastian；' I said。 'His cold has e on rather badly。 He's gone to bed and says he doesn't want anything。'
'Poor Sebastian；' said Lady Marchmain。 'He'd better have a glass of hot whisky。 I'll go and have a look at him。'
'Don't mummy； I'll go；' said Julia rising。
'I'll go；' said Cordelia； who was dining down that night； for a treat to celebrate the departure of the guests。 She was at the door and through it before anyone could stop her。 Julia caught my eye and gave a tiny； sad shrug。
In a few minutes Cordelia was back； looking grave。 'No； he doesn't seem to want anything；' she said。
'How was he？'
'Well； I don't know； but I think he's very drunk' she said。
'Cordelia。'
Suddenly the child began to giggle。 '〃Marquis's Son Unused to Wine〃；' she quoted。 〃'Model Student's Career Threatened〃。'
'Charles； is this true？' asked Lady Marchmain。
'Yes。'
Then dinner was announced； and we went to the dining…room where the subject was not mentioned。
When； Brideshead and I were left alone he said： 'Did you say Sebastian was drunk？'
'Yes。'
'Extraordinary time to choose。 Couldn't you stop him？'
'No。'
'No；' said Brideshead； 'I don't suppose you could。 I once saw my father drunk； in this room。 I wasn't more than about ten at the time。 You can't stop people if they want to get drunk。 My mother couldn't stop my father； you know。'
He spoke in his odd； impersonal way。 The more I saw of this family； I reflected； the more singular I found them。 'I shall ask my mother to read to us tonight。'
It was the custom； I learned later； always to ask Lady Marchmain to read aloud on evenings of family tension。 She had a beautiful voice and great humour of expression。 That night she read part of The Wisdom of Father Brown。 Julia sat with a stool covered with manicure things and carefully revarnished her nails； Cordelia nursed Julia's Pekinese； Brideshead played patience； I sat unoccupied studying the pretty group they made； and mourning my friend upstairs。
But the horrors of that evening were not yet over。
It was sometimes Lady Marchmain's practice； when the family were alone； to visit the chapel before going to bed。 She had just closed her book and proposed going there when the door opened and Sebastian appeared。 He was dressed as I had last seen him； but now instead of being flushed he was deathly pale。
'e to apologize；' he said。
'Sebastian； dear； do go back to your room；' said Lady Marchmain。 'We can talk about it in the morning。'
'Not to you。 e to apologize to Charles。 I was bloody to him and he's my guest。 He's my guest and my only friend and I was bloody to him。'
A chill spread over us。 I led him back to his room； his family went to their prayers。 I noticed when we got upstairs that the decanter was now empty。 'It's time you were in bed；' I said。
Sebastian began to weep。 'Why do you take their side against me？ I knew you would if I let you meet them。 Why do you spy on me？'
He said more than 1 can bear to remember； even at twenty years' distance。 At last I got him to sleep and very sadly went to bed myself。
Next morning； he came to my room very early； while the house still slept； he drew the curtains and the sound of it woke me； to find him there fully dressed； smoking； with his back to me； looking out of the windows to where the long dawn…shadows lay across the dew and the first birds were chattering in the budding tree…tops。 When I spoke he turned a face which showed no ravages of the evening before； but was fresh and sullen as a disappointed child's。
。'Well；' I said。 'How do you feel？'
'Rather odd。 I think perhaps I'm still a little drunk。 I've just been down to the stables trying to get a car but everything was locked。 We're off。'
He drank from the water…bottle by my pillow； threw his cigarette from the window； and lit another with hands which trembled like an old man's。
'Where are you going？'
'I don't know。 London； I suppose。 Can I e and stay with you？'
'Of course。'
'Well； get dressed。 They can send our luggage on by train。'
'We can't just go like this。'
'We can't stay。'
He sat on the window seat looking away from me； out of the window。 Presently he said： 'There's smoke ing from some of the chimneys。 They must have opened the stables now。 e on。'
I can't go；' I said。 'I must say good…bye to your mother。'
'Sweet bulldog。'
'Well； I don't happen to like running away。'
'And I couldn't care less。 And I shall go on running away； as far and as fast as I can。 You can hatch up any plot you like with my mother； I shan't e back。'
'That's how you talked last night。'
'I know。 I'm sorry； Charles。 I told you I was still drunk。 If it's any fort to you； I absolutely detest myself。'
'It's no fort at all。'
'It must be a little； I should have thought。 Well； if you won't e； give my love to nanny。'
'You're really going？'
'Of course。'
'Shall I see you in London？'
'Yes； I'm ing to stay with you。'
He left me but I did not sleep again； nearly two hours later a footman came with tea and bread and butter and set my clothes out for a new day。
Later that morning I sought Lady Marchmain； the wind had freshened and we stayed indoors； I sat near her before the fire in her room； while she bent over her needlework and the budding creeper rattled on the window panes。
'I wish I had not seen him； she said。 'That was cruel。 I do not mind the idea of his being drunk。 It is a thing all men do when they are young。 I am used to the idea of it。 My brothers were wild at。 his age。 What hurt last night was that there was nothing happy about him。'
'I know；' I said。 'I've never seen him like that before。'
And last night of all nights。。。when everyone had gone and there were only ourselves here … you see； Charles； I look on you very much as one of ourselves。 Sebastian loves you … when there was no need for him to make an effort to be gay。 And he wasn't gay。 I slept very little last night； and all the time I kept ing back to that one thing； he was so unhappy。'
It was impossible for me to explain to her what I only half understood myself； even then I felt； 'She will learn it soon enough。 Perhaps she knows it now。'
'It was horrible；' I said。 'But please don't think that's his usual way。'
'Mr Samgrass told me he was drinking too much all last term。'
'Yes； but not like that … never before。'
'Then why now？ here？ with us？ All night I have been thinking and praying and wondering what I was to say to him； and now； this morning； he isn't here at all。 That was cruel of him； leaving without a word。 I don't want him to be ashamed … it's being ashamed that makes it all so wrong of him。'
'He's ashamed of being unhappy；' I said。
'Mr Samgrass says he is noisy and high…spirited。 I believe；' she said； with a faint light of humour streaking the clouds； 'I believe you and he tease Mr Samgrass rather。 It's naughty of you。 I'