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The gale which； unheard； unseen； unfelt； in our enclosed and insulated world had； for an hour； been mounting over us； had now veered and fallen full on our bows。
Silenced followed the crash； then a high； nervous babble of laughter。 Stewards laid napkins on the pools of spilt wine。 We tried to resume the conversation； but all were waiting； as the little ginger man had watched the drop swell and fall from the swan's beak； for the next great blow； it came； heavier than the last。
'This is where I say good night to you all；' said the diplomat's wife； rising。
Her husband led her to their cabin。 The dining…room was emptying fast。 Soon only Julia； my wife； and I were left at the table； and； telepathically； Julia said； 'Like King Lear。'
'Only each of us is all three of them。'
'What can you mean？' asked my wife。
'Lear； Kent； Fool。'
'Oh dear； it's like that agonizing Foulenough conversation over again。 Don't try and explain。'
'I doubt if I could；' I said。
Another climb； another vast drop。 The stewards were at work making things fast； shutting things up； hustling away unstable ornaments。
'Well； we've finished dinner and set a fine example of British phlegm；' said my wife。 'Let's go and see what's on。'
Once； on our way to the lounge； we had all three to cling to a pillar； when we got there we found it almost deserted； the band played but no one danced； the tables were set for tombola but no one bought a card； and the ship's officer； who made a speciality of calling the numbers with all the patter of the lower deck … 'sweet sixteen and never been kissed … key of the door； twenty…one … clickety…click； sixty…six' … was idly talking to his colleagues； there were a score of scattered novel readers； a few games of bridge； some brandy drinking in the smoking…room； but all our guests of two hours before had disappeared。
The three of us sat for a little by the empty dance floor… my wife was full of schemes by which； without impoliteness； we could move to another table in the dining…room。 'It's crazy to go to the restaurant；' she said； 'and pay extra for exactly the same dinner。 Only film people go there； anyway。 I don't see why we should be made to。'
Presently she said： 'It's making my head ache and I'm tired； anyway。 I'm going to bed。'
Julia went with her。 I walked round the ship； on one of the covered decks where the wind howled and the spray leaped up from the darkness and smashed white and brown against the glass screen； men were posted to keep the passengers off the open decks。 Then I； too； went below。
In my dressing…room everything breakable had been stowed away； the door to the cabin was hooked open； and my wife called plaintively from within。
'I feel terrible。 I didn't know a ship of this size could pitch like this； she said； and her eyes were full of consternation and resentment； like those of a woman who； at the end of her time； at length realizes that however luxurious the nursing home； and however well paid the doctor； her labour is inevitable； and the lift and fall of the ship came regularly as the pains of childbirth。
I slept next door； or； rather； I lay there between dreaming and waking。 In a narrow bunk； on a hard mattress； there might have been rest； but here the beds were broad and buoyant； I collected what cushions I could find and tried to wedge myself firm； but through the night I turned with each swing and twist of the ship … she was rolling now as well as pitching … and my head rang with the creak and thud。
Once； an hour before dawn； my wife appeared like a ghost in the doorway； supporting herself with either hand on the jambs； saying： 'Are you awake？ Can't you do something？ Can't you get something from the doctor？'
I rang for the night steward； who had a draught ready prepared； which forted her a little。
And all night between dreaming and waking I thought of Julia； in my brief dreams she took a hundred fantastic and terrible and obscene forms； but in my waking thoughts she returned with her sad； starry head just as I had seen her at dinner。
After first light I slept for an hour or two； then awoke clearheaded； with a joyous sense of anticipation。
The wind had dropped a little； the steward told me； but was still blowing hard and there was a very heavy swell； 'which there's nothing worse than a heavy swell'； he said； 'for the enjoyment of the passengers。 There's not many breakfasts wanted this morning。'
I looked in at my wife； found her sleeping； and closed the door between us； then I ate salmon kedgeree and cold Bradenham ham and telephoned for a barber to e and shave me。
'There's a lot of stuff in the sitting…room for the lady；' said the steward； 'shall I leave it for the time？'
I went to see。 There was a second delivery of cellophane parcels from the shops on board； some ordered by radio from friends in New York whose secretaries had failed to remind them of our departure in time； some by our guests as they left the cocktail party。 It was no day for flower vases； I told him to leave them on the floor and then； struck by the thought； removed the card from Mr Kramm's roses and sent them with my love to Julia。
She telephoned while I was being shaved。
'W hat a deplorable thing to do； Charles！ How unlike you！'
'Don't you like them？'
'What can I do with roses on a day like this？'
'Smell them。'
There was a pause and a rustle of unpacking。 'They've absolutely no smell at all。'
'What have you had for breakfast？'
'Muscat grapes and cantaloupe'
'When shall I see you？'
'Before lunch。 I'm busy till then with a masseuse。'
'A masseuse？'
'Yes； isn't it peculiar？ I've never had one before； except once when I hurt my shoulder hunting。 What is it about being on a boat that makes everyone behave like a film star？'
'I don't。'
'How about these very embarrassing roses？'
'The barber did his work with extraordinary dexterity indeed； with agility； for he stood like a swordsman in a ballet sometimes on the point of one foot； sometimes on the other； lightly flicking the lather off his blade； and swooping back to my chin as the ship righted herself； I should not have dared use a safety razor on myself。
The telephone rang again。
It was my wife。
'How are you Charles？'
'Tired。'
'Aren't you ing to see me？'
'I came once。 I'll be in again。'
I brought her the flowers from the sitting…room； they pleted the atmosphere of a maternity ward which she had managed to create in the cabin； the stewardess had the air of a midwife； standing by the bed； a pillar of starched linen and posure。 My wife turned her head on the pillow and smiled wanly； she stretched out a bare arm and caressed with the tips of her fingers the cellophane and silk ribbons of the largest bouquet。 'How sweet people are； ' she said faintly； as though the gale were a private misfortune of her own for which the world in its love was condoling with her。
'I take it you're not getting up。'
'Oh no； Mrs Clark is being so sweet'； she was always quick to get servants' names。 'Don't bother。 e in sometimes and tell me what's going on。'
'Now； now； dear；' said the stewardess； 'the less we are disturbed today the better。'
My wife seemed to make a sacred； female rite even of sea…sickness。
Julia's cabin； I knew； was somewhere below ours。 I waited for her by the lift on the main deck； when she came we walked once round the promenade； I held the rail； she took my other arm。 It was hard going； through the streaming glass we saw a distorted world of grey sky and black water。 When the ship rolled heavily I swung her round so that she could hold the rail with her other hand； the howl of the wind was subdued； but the whole ship creaked with strain。 We made the circuit once； then Julia said： 'It's no good。 That woman beat hell out of me； and I feel limp； anyway。 Let's sit down。'
The great bronze doors of the lounge had torn away from their hooks and were swinging free with the roll of the ship； regularly and； it seemed； irresistibly； first one； then the other； opened and shut； they paused at the pletion of each half circle； began to move slowly and finished fast with a resounding clash。 There was no real risk in passing them； except of slipping and being caught by that swift； final blow； there was ample time to walk through unhurried but there was something forbidding in the sight of that great weight of uncontrolled metal； flapping to and fro； which might have made a timid man flinch or skip through too quickly； I rejoiced to feel Julia's hand perfectly steady on my arm and know； as I walked beside her； that she was wholly undismayed。
'Bravo；' said a man sitting nearby。 'I confess I went round the other way。 I didn't like the look of those doors somehow。 They've been trying to fix them all the morning。'
There were few people about that day； and that few seemed bound together by a camaraderie of reciprocal esteem； they did nothing except sit rather glumly in their armchairs； drink occasionally； and exchange congratulations on not being seasick。
'You're the first lady I've seen；' said the man。
'I'm very lucky。'
'We are very lucky；' he said； with a movement which began as a bow and ended as a lurch forward to his knees； as the blotting…paper floor dipped steeply between us。 The roll carried us away from him； clinging together but still on our feet； and we quickly sat where our dance led us； on the further side； in isolation； a web of life…lines had been stretched across the lounge； and we seemed like boxers； roped into the ring。
The steward approached。 'Your usual； sir？ Whisky and tepid water； I think。 And for the lady？ Might I suggest a nip of champagne？'
'D'you know； the awful thing is I would like champagne very much；' said Julia。 'What a life of pleasure … roses； half an hour with a female pugilist； and now champagne！'
'I wish you wouldn't go on about the roses。 It wasn't my idea in the first place。 Someone sent them to Celia。'
'Oh； that 's quite different。 It lets you out pletely。 But it makes my massage worse。'
'I was shaved in bed。'
'I'm glad about the roses；' said Julia。 'Frankly； they were a shock。 They made me think we were starting the day on the wrong foot。'
I knew what she meant； and in that moment felt as though I had shaken off some of the dust and grit of ten dry years； then and always； however she spoke to me； in half sentences； single words； stock phrases of contemporary jargon； in scarcely perceptible movements of eyes or lips or hands； however inexpressible her thought； however quick and far it had glanced from the matter in hand； however deep it had plunged； as it often did； straight from the surface to the depths； I knew； even that day when I still stood on the extreme verge of love； I knew what she meant。
We drank our wine and soon our new friend came lurching towards us down the life…line。
'Mind if I join you？ Nothing like a bit of rough weather for bringing people together。 This is my tenth crossing； and I've never seen anything like it。 I can see you are an experienced sailor； young lady。'
'No。 As a matter of fact； I've never been at sea before except ing to New York and； of course； crossing the Channel。 I don't feel sick； thank God； but I feel tired。 I thought at first it was only the massage； but I'm ing to the conclusion it's the ship。'
'My wife's in a terrible way。 She's an experienced sailor。 Only shows； doesn't it？'
He joined us at luncheon； and I did not mind his being there； he had clearly taken a fancy to Julia； and he thought we were man and wife； this misconception and his gallantry seemed in some way to bring her and me closer together。 'Saw you two last night at the Captain's table；' he said； 'with all the nobs。'
'Very dull nobs。'
'If you ask me； nobs always are。 When you get a storm like this you find out what people are really made of'
'You have a predilection for good sailors？'
'Well； put like that I don't know that I do … what I mean is； it makes for getting together。'
'Yes。'
'Take us for example。 But for this we might never have met。 I've had some very romantic encounters at sea in my time。 If the lady will excuse me； I'd like