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'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 to tell you about a little adventure I had in the Gulf of Lions when I was younger than I am now。'
We were both weary； lack of sleep； the incessant din； and the strain every movement required； wore us down。 We spent that afternoon apart in our cabins。 I slept and when I awoke the sea was as high as ever； inky clouds swept over us； and the glass streamed still with water； but I had grown used to the storm In my sleep； had made its rhythm mine； had bee part of it； so that I arose strongly and confidently and found Julia already up and in the same temper。
'What d'you think？' she said。 'That man's giving a little 〃get together party〃 tonight in the smoking…room for all the good sailors。 He asked me to bring my husband。'
'Are we going？'
'Of course。。。I wonder if I ought to feel like the lady our friend met on the way to Barcelona。 I don't； Charles not a bit。'
There were eighteen people at the 'get…together party'； we had nothing in mon except immunity from seasickness。 We drank champagne； and presently our host said： 'Tell you what； I've got a roulette wheel。 Trouble is we can't go to my cabin on account of the wife； and we aren't allowed to play in public。'
So the party adjourned to my sitting…room and we played for low stakes until late into the night； when Julia left and our host had drunk too much wine to be surprised that she and I were not in the same quarters。 When all but he had gone； he fell asleep in his chair； and I left him there。 It was the last I saw of him； for later … so the steward told me when he came from returning the roulette things to the man's cabin … he broke his thigh； falling in the corridor； and was taken to the ship's hospital。
All next day Julia and I spent together without interruption； talking； scarcely moving； held in our chairs by the swell of the sea。 After luncheon the last hardy passengers went to rest and we were alone as though the place had been cleared for us； as though tact on a titanic scale had sent everyone tip…toeing out to leave us to one another。
The bronze doors of the lounge had been fixed； but not before two seamen had been badly injured。 They had tried various devices； lashing with ropes and； later； when these failed； with steel hawsers； but there was nothing to which they could be made fast； finally； they drove wooden wedges under them； catching them in the brief moment of repose when they were full open； and these held firm。
When； before dinner； she went to her cabin to get ready （no one dressed that night） and I came with her； uninvited； unopposed； expected； and behind closed doors took her in my arms and first kissed her； there was no alteration from the mood of the afternoon。 Later； turning it over in my mind； as I turned in my bed with the rise and fall of the ship； through the long； lonely； drowsy night； I recalled the courtships of the past； dead； ten years； how； knotting my tie before setting out； putting the gardenia in my buttonhole； I would plan my evening and think at such and such a time； at such and such an opportunity； I shall cross the start…line and open my attack for better or worse； 'this phase of the battle has gone on long enough'； I would think； 'a decision must be reached。' With Julia there were no phases； no start…line； no tactics at all。
But later that night when she went to bed and I followed her to her door； she stopped me。
'No； Charles； not yet。 Perhaps never。 I don't know。 I don't know if I want love。'
Then something； some surviving ghost from those dead ten years … for one cannot die； even for a little； without some loss made me say； 'Love？ I'm not asking for love。'
'Oh yes； Charles； you are；' she said； and putting up her hand gently stroked my cheek； then shut her door。
And I reeled back； first on one wall； then on the other； of the long； softly lighted； empty corridor； for the storm； it appeared； had the form of a ring； all day we had been sailing through its still centre； now we were once more in the full fury of the wind and that night was to be rougher than the one before。
Ten hours of talking： what had we to say？ Plain fact mostly； the record of our two lives； so long widely separate； now being knit to one。 Through all that storrn…tossed night I rehearsed what she had told me； she was no longer the alternate succubus and starry； vision of the night before； she had given all that was transferable of her past into my keeping。 She told me； as I have already retold； of her courtship and marriage； she told me； as though fondly turning the pages of an old nursery…book； of her childhood； and I lived long； sunny days with her in the meadows； with Nanny Hawkins on her camp stool and Cordelia asleep in the pram； slept quiet nights under the dome with the religious pictures fading round the cot as the nightlight burned low and the embers settled in the grate。 She told me of her life with Rex and of the secret； vicious； disastrous escapade that had taken her to New York。 She； too； had had her dead years。 She told me of her long struggle with Rex as to whether she should have a child； at first she wanted one； but learned after a year that an operation was needed to make it possible； by that time Rex and she were out of love； but he still wanted his child； and when at last she consented； it was born dead。
'Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally；' she said。 'It's just that he isn't a real person at all； he's just a few faculties of a man highly developed； the rest simply isn't there。 He couldn't imagine why it hurt me to find two months after we came back to London from our honeymoon； that he was still keeping up with Brenda Champion。'
'I was glad when I found Celia was unfaithful；' I said。 'I felt it was all right for me to dislike her。'
'Is she？ Do you？ I'm glad。 I don't like her either。 Why did you marry her？'
'Physical attraction。 Ambition。 Everyone agrees she's the ideal wife for a painter。 Loneliness； missing Sebastian。'
'You loved him； didn't you？'
'Oh yes。 He was the forerunner。'
Julia understood。
The ship creaked and shuddered； rose and fell。 My wife called to me from the next room： 'Charles； are you there？'
'Yes。'
'I've been asleep such a long while。 What time is it？'
'Half past three。'
'It's no better； is it？'
'Worse。'
'I feel a little better； though。 D'you think they'd bring me some tea or something if I rang the bell？'
I got her some tea and biscuits from the night steward。
'Did you have an amusing evening？'
'Everyone's seasick。'
'Poor Charles。 It was going to have been such a lovely trip； too。 It may be better tomorrow。'
I turned out the light and shut the door between us。
Waking and dreaming； through the strain and creak and heave of the long night； firm on my back with my arms and legs spread wide to check the roll； and my eyes open to the darkness； I lay thinking of Julia。
'。。。We thought papa might e back to England after mummy died； or that he might marry again； but he lives just as he did。 Rex and I often go to see him now。 I've grown fond…of him。。。 Sebastian's disappeared pletely。。rdelia's in Spain with an ambulance。。。Bridey leads his own extraordinary life。 He wanted to shut Brideshead after mummy died； but papa wouldn't have it for some reason； so Rex and I live there now； and Bridey has two rooms up in the dome； next to Nanny Hawkins； part of the old nurseries。 He's like a character from Chekhov。 One meets him sometimes ing out of the library or on the stairs … I never know when he's at home … and now and then he suddenly es in to dinner like a ghost quite unexpectedly。
'。。。Rex's parties！ Politics and money。 They can't do anything except for money； if they walk round the lake they have to make bets about how many swans they see。。。sitting up till two； amusing Rex's girls； hearing them gossip； rattling away endlessly on the backgammon board while the men play cards and smoke cigars。 The cigar smoke。 I can smell it in my hair when I wake up in the morning； it's in my clothes when I dress at night。 Do I smell of it now？ D'you think that woman who rubbed me； felt it in my skin？
'。。。At first I used to stay away with Rex in his friends' houses。 He doesn't make me any more。 He was ashamed of me when he found I didn't cut the kind of figure he wanted； ashamed of himself for having been taken in。 I wasn't at all the article he'd bargained for。 He can't see the point of me； but whenever he's made up his mind there isn't a point and he's begun to feel fortable； he gets a surprise … some man； or even woman； he respects； takes a fancy to me and he suddenly sees that there is i whole world of things we understand and he doesn't 。。。 he was upset when I went away。 He'll be delighted to have me back。 I was faithful to' him until this last thing came along。 There's nothing like a good upbringing。 Do you know last year； when I thought I was going to have a child； I'd decided to have it brought up a Catholic？ I hadn't thought about religion before； I haven't since； but just at that time； when I was waiting for the birth； I thought； 〃That's one thing I can give her。 It doesn't seem to have done me much good； but my child shall have it。〃 It was odd； wanting to give something one had … lost oneself。 Then； in the end； I couldn't even give that： I couldn't even give her life。 I never saw her； I was too ill to know what was going on； and afterwards； for a long time； until now； I didn't want to speak about her … she was a daughter； so Rex didn't so much mind her being dead。
'I've been punished a little for marrying Rex。 You see； I can't get all that sort of thing out of my mind； quite … Death； Judgement； Heaven； Hell； Nanny Hawkins； and the catechism。 It bees part of oneself； if they give it one early enough。 And yet I wanted my child to have it。。。now I suppose I shall be punished for what I've just done。 Perhaps that is why you and I are here together like this。。。part of a plan。'
That was almost the last thing she said to me …'part of a plan' … before we went below and I left her at the cabin door。
Next day the wind had again dropped； and again we were wallowing in the swell。 The talk was less of seasickness now than of broken bones； people had been thrown about in the night； and there had been many nasty accidents on bathroom floors。
That day； because we had talked so much the day before and because what we had to say needed few words； we spoke little。 We had books； Julia found a game she liked。 When after long silences we spoke； our thoughts； we found； had kept pace together side by side。
Once I said； 'You are standing guard over your sadness。'
'It's all I have earned。 You said yesterday。 My wages。'
'An I。O。U。 from life。 A promise to pay on demand。'
Rain ceased at midday； at evening the clouds dispersed and the sun； astern of us； suddenly broke into the lounge where we sat； putting all the lights to shame。
'Sunset； ' said Julia； 'the end of our day。'
She rose And； though the roll and pitch of the ship seemed unabated； led me up to the boat…deck。 She put her arm through mine and her hand into mine； in my great…coat pocket。 The deck was dry and empty； swept only by the wind of the ship's speed。 As we made our halting； laborious way forward； away from the flying smuts of the smokestack； we were alternately jostled together； then strained； nearly sundered； arms and fingers interlocked as I held the rail and Julia clung to me； thrust together again； drawn apart； then； in a plunge deeper than the rest； I found myself flung across her； pressing her against the rail； warding myself off her with the arms that held her prisoner on either side； and as the ship paused at the end of its drop as though gathering strength for the ascent； we stood thus embraced； in the open； cheek against cheek； her hair blowing across my eyes； the dark horizon of tumbling water； flashing now with gold； stood still above us； then came sweeping down till I was staring through Julia's dark hair into a wide and golden sky； and she was thrown forward on my heart； held up by my hands on the rail； her face stil