“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。
