The Green Knight Read Online Free PDF Page A

Her younger brothers, Nick and Rufus, were the ‘boys’ whom Joan Blacket had deemed to be so necessary. The Adwardens, still away, lived in London, but also possessed a house in Yorkshire. Rosemary had a car. She and Aleph were to explore the ‘North Country’.
    â€˜It’ll be just a sort of family party this year,’ said Moy. ‘It’s much nicer like that really. Clement and Bellamy will be back, and Emil and Clive, and Joan will be still here, and there’s Tessa – I suppose – ’ The girls shared Louise’s irrational mistrust of Tessa Millen, but did not speak of it.
    Aleph said, ‘I think the Adwardens will be in Yorkshire, when they get back from America. A pity Harvey won’t be with us.’
    â€˜Louie misses Harvey,’ said Moy. ‘She misses Bellamy too, since he can’t come here because of Anax.’ An unforeseen by-product of Bellamy’s donation was that he could no longer visit Clifton in case the sight of him were to upset the dog. ‘Louie’ was Louise. Early on the three had decided against ‘Mummy’ and could not bring themselves to call their mother ‘Louise’. They settled first upon ‘Lewis’, then upon ‘Louie’.
    â€˜We all miss Bellamy.’
    Moy said, ‘This time next year you and Sefton won’t be here either.’
    The statement had a strange momentous ring. Aleph, her hands folded, did not reply at once. She said, ‘Who knows? We may be at college in London.’
    â€˜No, no, you won’t be. You’ll be in Oxford. Everything will be different.’
    â€˜Well, and then you’ll leave. You’ll be a painter in Italy. You’ll be married.’
    â€˜I shall never leave, I shall never marry. Oh Aleph, how I wish we could all stay like this forever, we’ve been so happy, why can’t it go on and on!’
    â€˜Because it just can’t,’ said Aleph, anxious to change the subject. She called, ‘Sef!’
    Sefton did not reply.
    Aleph said, ‘She is thinking history, she is an ancient Egyptian, she is Julius Caesar, she is the Duke of Wellington, she is Disraeli – ’ she called again, ‘Sefton!’
    Sefton in fact was being none of these persons. Abandoning the fortunes of Harold at the battle of Hastings, she had become Hannibal. If Hannibal had marched on Rome would he have taken it? There were arguments on both sides. And if he had taken it – ? Sefton loved Hannibal. For the last few minutes however she had been in a kind of trance which sometimes came to her when she lay on her back. It was as if she were being, as she lay, lifted off the ground, surrounded by a vibrating chord of atoms. This sensation was accompanied by a wonderful sense of total relaxation and of joy. She thought now, as with eyes closed she floated, oh how perfect this is, oh I am so happy! And yet, some other nearby thought-self was saying, how can I be happy now, when everything is going very soon to be dissolved into pieces and made as if it had never been.
    Obeying Aleph’s second peremptory call she sat up, feeling slightly giddy, raised her knees and put her arms around them, not looking at her sister.
    Aleph said, ‘I’ve been thinking of a question I want to ask you.’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Why did the Greeks never use rhymes?’
    Sefton, already regarded as a polymath, had never reflected on this matter. However, she said promptly, ‘Because they felt instinctively that rhymes were puerile and mechanical and inimical to the true nature of poetry.’
    Aleph seemed content with this reply. She closed her Milton and let the book slide down her skirt onto the floor.
    Moy returned to her subject. She said, addressing them both, ‘ You will get married!’
    â€˜And so will you,’ said Aleph. ‘Throw me my shoe, Sef.’ Sefton threw it.
    â€˜Never, never, never. I just can’t