A Place in the World (Electronic book text)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CHAPTER VI ON ODDNESS On the following Sunday the Reverend John came to tea. "You see," he said, as his great bulk framed itself in the doorway, "I am here." He ran his fingers through his thick hair. "But at the first sight of a pair of scissors," he added ''I shall run to the Vicarage as hard as I can." "Ah," she said suddenly, as he sat down, with the Crape-coloured curtains forming a background for his Michael Angelo head, "how splendid you would look in a cardinal's robe !" "A sense of colour," said the old clergyman, "is a dangerous thing." She poured out the tea and fixed him with her eyes. "Now what," she said, "do you mean by that?" "It's apt to make one discontented," answered the other enigmatically. "Do you like my room?" queried Iris. He nodded. "So-so," he replied. "It's unwholesome, of course. I knew a woman who had a villa at Fiesolewho went in for these sort of colours. She slid it expressed her individuality. Of course, there's no more to be said to that sort of thing; in a sense the tub expressed Diogenes' personality." He broke off. "Do you know," he added suddenly, "that in a small circle you have created quite a sensation?" "Tristram?" asked Iris. "No; Muriel." The Russian moved across to the window. Muriel had been to Dangerfield several times since that first night. "I like Muriel," she said slowly. "That is not in the least peculiar," returned the Reverend John. "The odd thing is that Muriel likes you." "I made her," said Iris. "I know you did," answered the old man. Something in his tone made her turn round. He had got up and was regarding her a little seriously from under his shaggy eyebrows. "I know you did," he repeated slowly. "You know," he went on, "to have all that force at your command and to go on playing with thing...