“I’vebeeneverySundayofmylifeeversinceIcanremember，“
　　Mrs。Flushingchuckled，asthoughthatwereareasonbyitself。
　　Rachelturnedabruptlytothewindow。Shedidnotknowwhatitwasthathadputherintosuchapassion；thesightofTerenceinthehallhadconfusedherthoughts，leavinghermerelyindignant。
　　Shelookedstraightattheirownvilla，half-wayupthesideofthemountain。Themostfamiliarviewseenframedthroughglasshasacertainunfamiliardistinction，andshegrewcalmasshegazed。
　　Thensherememberedthatshewasinthepresenceofsomeoneshedidnotknowwell，andsheturnedandlookedatMrs。Flushing。
　　Mrs。Flushingwasstillsittingontheedgeofthebed，lookingup，withherlipsparted，sothatherstrongwhiteteethshowedintworows。
　　“Tellme，“shesaid，“whichd’youlikebest，Mr。HewetorMr。Hirst？“
　　“Mr。Hewet，“Rachelreplied，buthervoicedidnotsoundnatural。
　　“WhichistheonewhoreadsGreekinchurch？“Mrs。Flushingdemanded。
　　ItmighthavebeeneitherofthemandwhileMrs。Flushingproceededtodescribethemboth，andtosaythatbothfrightenedher，butonefrightenedhermorethantheother，Rachellookedforachair。
　　Theroom，ofcourse，wasoneofthelargestandmostluxuriousinthehotel。Therewereagreatmanyarm-chairsandsetteescoveredinbrownholland，buteachofthesewasoccupiedbyalargesquarepieceofyellowcardboard，andallthepiecesofcardboardweredottedorlinedwithspotsordashesofbrightoilpaint。
　　“Butyou’renottolookatthose，“saidMrs。FlushingasshesawRachel’seyewander。Shejumpedup，andturnedasmanyasshecould，facedownwards，uponthefloor。Rachel，however，managedtopossessherselfofoneofthem，and，withthevanityofanartist，Mrs。Flushingdemandedanxiously，“Well，well？“
　　“It’sahill，“Rachelreplied。TherecouldbenodoubtthatMrs。Flushinghadrepresentedthevigorousandabruptflingoftheearthupintotheair；youcouldalmostseetheclodsflyingasitwhirled。
　　Rachelpassedfromonetoanother。Theywereallmarkedbysomethingofthejerkanddecisionoftheirmaker；theywereallperfectlyuntrainedonslaughtsofthebrushuponsomehalf-realisedideasuggestedbyhillortree；andtheywereallinsomewaycharacteristicofMrs。Flushing。
　　“Iseethingsmovin’，“Mrs。Flushingexplained。“So“——shesweptherhandthroughayardoftheair。ShethentookuponeofthecardboardswhichRachelhadlaidaside，seatedherselfonastool，andbegantoflourishastumpofcharcoal。Whilesheoccupiedherselfinstrokeswhichseemedtoserveherasspeechservesothers，Rachel，whowasveryrestless，lookedabouther。
　　“Openthewardrobe，“saidMrs。Flushingafterapause，speakingindistinctlybecauseofapaint-brushinhermouth，“andlookatthethings。“
　　AsRachelhesitated，Mrs。Flushingcameforward，stillwithapaint-brushinhermouth，flungopenthewingsofherwardrobe，andtossedaquantityofshawls，stuffs，cloaks，embroideries，ontothebed。
　　Rachelbegantofingerthem。Mrs。Flushingcameuponcemore，anddroppedaquantityofbeads，brooches，earrings，bracelets，tassels，andcombsamongthedraperies。Thenshewentbacktoherstoolandbegantopaintinsilence。Thestuffswerecolouredanddarkandpale；theymadeacuriousswarmoflinesandcoloursuponthecounterpane，withthereddishlumpsofstoneandpeacocks’
　　feathersandclearpaletortoise-shellcombslyingamongthem。
　　“Thewomenworethemhundredsofyearsago，theywear’emstill，“
　　Mrs。Flushingremarked。“Myhusbandridesaboutandfinds’em；
　　theydon’tknowwhatthey’reworth，soweget’emcheap。Andweshallsell’emtosmartwomeninLondon，“shechuckled，asthoughthethoughtoftheseladiesandtheirabsurdappearanceamusedher。
　　Afterpaintingforsomeminutes，shesuddenlylaiddownherbrushandfixedhereyesuponRachel。
　　“ItellyouwhatIwanttodo，“shesaid。“Iwanttogoupthereandseethingsformyself。It’ssillystayin’herewithapackofoldmaidsasthoughwewereattheseasideinEngland。Iwanttogouptheriverandseethenativesintheircamps。It’sonlyamatteroftendaysundercanvas。Myhusband’sdoneit。Onewouldlieoutunderthetreesatnightandbetoweddowntheriverbyday，andifwesawanythin’nicewe’dshoutoutandtell’emtostop。“
　　Sheroseandbeganpiercingthebedagainandagainwithalonggoldenpin，asshewatchedtoseewhateffecthersuggestionhaduponRachel。
　　“Wemustmakeupaparty，“shewenton。“Tenpeoplecouldhirealaunch。Nowyou’llcome，andMrs。Ambrose’llcome，andwillMr。Hirstandt’othergentlemancome？Where’sapencil？“
　　Shebecamemoreandmoredeterminedandexcitedassheevolvedherplan。
　　Shesatontheedgeofthebedandwrotedownalistofsurnames，whichsheinvariablyspeltwrong。Rachelwasenthusiastic，forindeedtheideawasimmeasurablydelightfultoher。Shehadalwayshadagreatdesiretoseetheriver，andthenameofTerencethrewalustreovertheprospect，whichmadeitalmosttoogoodtocometrue。
　　ShedidwhatshecouldtohelpMrs。Flushingbysuggestingnames，helpinghertospellthem，andcountingupthedaysoftheweekuponherfingers。AsMrs。Flushingwantedtoknowallshecouldtellheraboutthebirthandpursuitsofeverypersonshesuggested，andthrewinwildstoriesofherownastothetemperamentsandhabitsofartists，andpeopleofthesamenamewhousedtocometoChillingleyintheolddays，butweredoubtlessnotthesame，thoughtheytoowereveryclevermeninterestedinEgyptology，thebusinesstooksometime。
　　AtlastMrs。Flushingsoughtherdiaryforhelp，themethodofreckoningdatesonthefingersprovingunsatisfactory。
　　Sheopenedandshuteverydrawerinherwriting-table，andthencriedfuriously，“Yarmouth！Yarmouth！Dratthewoman！
　　She’salwaysoutofthewaywhenshe’swanted！“
　　Atthismomenttheluncheongongbegantoworkitselfintoitsmiddayfrenzy。Mrs。Flushingrangherbellviolently。Thedoorwasopenedbyahandsomemaidwhowasalmostasuprightashermistress。
　　“Oh，Yarmouth，“saidMrs。Flushing，“justfindmydiaryandseewheretendaysfromnowwouldbringusto，andaskthehallporterhowmanymen’udbewantedtoroweightpeopleuptheriverforaweek，andwhatit’udcost，andputitonaslipofpaperandleaveitonmydressing-table。Now——“shepointedatthedoorwithasuperbforefingersothatRachelhadtoleadtheway。
　　“Oh，andYarmouth，“Mrs。Flushingcalledbackoverhershoulder。
　　“Putthosethingsawayandhang’emintheirrightplaces，there’sagoodgirl，oritfussesMr。Flushin’。“
　　ToallofwhichYarmouthmerelyreplied，“Yes，ma’am。“
　　Astheyenteredthelongdining-roomitwasobviousthatthedaywasstillSunday，althoughthemoodwasslightlyabating。
　　TheFlushings’tablewassetbythesideinthewindow，sothatMrs。Flushingcouldscrutiniseeachfigureasitentered，andhercuriosityseemedtobeintense。
　　“OldMrs。Paley，“shewhisperedasthewheeledchairslowlymadeitswaythroughthedoor，Arthurpushingbehind。“Thornburys“camenext。
　　“Thatnicewoman，“shenudgedRacheltolookatMissAllan。
　　“What’shername？“Thepaintedladywhoalwayscameinlate，trippingintotheroomwithapreparedsmileasthoughshecameoutuponastage，mightwellhavequailedbeforeMrs。Flushing’sstare，whichexpressedhersteelyhostilitytothewholetribeofpaintedladies。
　　NextcamethetwoyoungmenwhomMrs。FlushingcalledcollectivelytheHirsts。Theysatdownopposite，acrossthegangway。
　　Mr。Flushingtreatedhiswifewithamixtureofadmirationandindulgence，makingupbythesuavityandfluencyofhisspeechfortheabruptnessofhers。WhileshedartedandejaculatedhegaveRachelasketchofthehistoryofSouthAmericanart。Hewoulddealwithoneofhiswife’sexclamations，andthenreturnassmoothlyasevertohistheme。
　　Heknewverywellhowtomakealuncheonpassagreeably，withoutbeingdullorintimate。Hehadformedtheopinion，sohetoldRachel，thatwonderfultreasureslayhidinthedepthsoftheland；
　　thethingsRachelhadseenweremerelytriflespickedupinthecourseofoneshortjourney。Hethoughttheremightbegiantgodshewnoutofstoneinthemountain-side；andcolossalfiguresstandingbythemselvesinthemiddleofvastgreenpasturelands，wherenonebutnativeshadevertrod。BeforethedawnofEuropeanarthebelievedthattheprimitivehuntsmenandpriestshadbuilttemplesofmassivestoneslabs，hadformedoutofthedarkrocksandthegreatcedartreesmajesticfiguresofgodsandofbeasts，andsymbolsofthegreatforces，water，air，andforestamongwhichtheylived。
　　Theremightbeprehistorictowns，likethoseinGreeceandAsia，standinginopenplacesamongthetrees，filledwiththeworksofthisearlyrace。Nobodyhadbeenthere；scarcelyanythingwasknown。
　　Thustalkinganddisplayingthemostpicturesqueofhistheories，Rachel’sattentionwasfixeduponhim。
　　ShedidnotseethatHewetkeptlookingatheracrossthegangway，betweenthefiguresofwaitershurryingpastwithplates。
　　Hewasinattentive，andHirstwasfindinghimalsoverycrossanddisagreeable。Theyhadtoucheduponalltheusualtopics——
　　uponpoliticsandliterature，gossipandChristianity。Theyhadquarrelledovertheservice，whichwaseverybitasfineasSappho，accordingtoHewet；sothatHirst’spaganismwasmereostentation。
　　Whygotochurch，hedemanded，merelyinordertoreadSappho？
　　Hirstobservedthathehadlistenedtoeverywordofthesermon，ashecouldproveifHewetwouldlikearepetitionofit；andhewenttochurchinordertorealisethenatureofhisCreator，whichhehaddoneveryvividlythatmorning，thankstoMr。Bax，whohadinspiredhimtowritethreeofthemostsuperblinesinEnglishliterature，aninvocationtotheDeity。
　　“Iwrote’emonthebackoftheenvelopeofmyaunt’slastletter，“
　　hesaid，andpulleditfrombetweenthepagesofSappho。
　　“Well，let’shearthem，“saidHewet，slightlymollifiedbytheprospectofaliterarydiscussion。
　　“MydearHewet，doyouwishusbothtobeflungoutofthehotelbyanenragedmobofThornburysandElliots？“Hirstenquired。
　　“Themerestwhisperwouldbesufficienttoincriminatemeforever。God！“hebrokeout，“what’stheuseofattemptingtowritewhentheworld’speopledbysuchdamnedfools？Seriously，Hewet，Iadviseyoutogiveupliterature。What’sthegoodofit？
　　There’syouraudience。“
　　HenoddedhisheadatthetableswhereaverymiscellaneouscollectionofEuropeanswerenowengagedineating，insomecasesingnawing，thestringyforeignfowls。Hewetlooked，andgrewmoreoutoftemperthanever。Hirstlookedtoo。HiseyesfelluponRachel，andhebowedtoher。
　　“IratherthinkRachel’sinlovewithme，“heremarked，ashiseyesreturnedtohisplate。“That’stheworstoffriendshipswithyoungwomen——theytendtofallinlovewithone。“
　　TothatHewetmadenoanswerwhatever，andsatsingularlystill。
　　Hirstdidnotseemtomindgettingnoanswer，forhereturnedtoMr。Baxagain，quotingtheperorationaboutthedropofwater；
　　andwhenHewetscarcelyrepliedtotheseremarkseither，hemerelypursedhislips，choseafig，andrelapsedquitecontentedlyintohisownthoughts，ofwhichhealwayshadaverylargesupply。
　　Whenluncheonwasovertheyseparated，takingtheircupsofcoffeetodifferentpartsofthehall。
　　Fromhischairbeneaththepalm-treeHewetsawRachelcomeoutofthedining-roomwiththeFlushings；hesawthemlookroundforchairs，andchoosethreeinacornerwheretheycouldgoontalkinginprivate。Mr。Flushingwasnowinthefulltideofhisdiscourse。
　　Heproducedasheetofpaperuponwhichhemadedrawingsashewentonwithhistalk。HesawRachelleanoverandlook，pointingtothisandthatwithherfinger。HewetunkindlycomparedMr。Flushing，whowasextremelywelldressedforahotclimate，andratherelaborateinhismanner，toaverypersuasiveshop-keeper。Meanwhile，ashesatlookingatthem，hewasentangledintheThornburysandMissAllan，who，afterhoveringaboutforaminuteortwo，settledinchairsroundhim，holdingtheircupsintheirhands。
　　TheywantedtoknowwhetherhecouldtellthemanythingaboutMr。Bax。
　　Mr。Thornburyasusualsatsayingnothing，lookingvaguelyaheadofhim，occasionallyraisinghiseye-glasses，asiftoputthemon，butalwaysthinkingbetterofitatthelastmoment，andlettingthemfallagain。Aftersomediscussion，theladiesputitbeyondadoubtthatMr。BaxwasnotthesonofMr。WilliamBax。
　　Therewasapause。ThenMrs。ThornburyremarkedthatshewasstillinthehabitofsayingQueeninsteadofKingintheNationalAnthem。
　　Therewasanotherpause。ThenMissAllanobservedreflectivelythatgoingtochurchabroadalwaysmadeherfeelasifshehadbeentoasailor’sfuneral。
　　Therewasthenaverylongpause，whichthreatenedtobefinal，when，mercifully，abirdaboutthesizeofamagpie，butofametallicbluecolour，appearedonthesectionoftheterracethatcouldbeseenfromwheretheysat。Mrs。Thornburywasledtoenquirewhetherweshouldlikeitifallourrookswereblue——“Whatdo_you_think，William？“sheasked，touchingherhusbandontheknee。
　　“Ifallourrookswereblue，“hesaid，——heraisedhisglasses；
　　heactuallyplacedthemonhisnose——“theywouldnotlivelonginWiltshire，“heconcluded；hedroppedhisglassestohissideagain。
　　Thethreeelderlypeoplenowgazedmeditativelyatthebird，whichwassoobligingastostayinthemiddleoftheviewforaconsiderablespaceoftime，thusmakingitunnecessaryforthemtospeakagain。HewetbegantowonderwhetherhemightnotcrossovertotheFlushings’corner，whenHirstappearedfromthebackground，slippedintoachairbyRachel’sside，andbegantotalktoherwitheveryappearanceoffamiliarity。Hewetcouldstanditnolonger。
　　Herose，tookhishatanddashedoutofdoors。