Privilege a Novel of the Transition

abreast, Jane and Vera chattering like sparrows while I basked in the quiet contentment of their youth and merriment. "Scraps," I said solemnly, "here is Stewart's. Slightly to your left and down the hill is Rumpel- mayer's. Which?" We exchanged family news. They were comically serious about the funeral. "Mother is taking up eurhythmies," said Vera. "Your mother is a very remarkable woman, mydear Vera," I replied, "but I wish she would take up things that conceal her figure. Arctic discovery, now, or developing photographs?plenty on and a poor light. But there you are . . . People never do. Here am I, for instance, a learned bibliophile, wasting my afternoon on two little ..." "Try 'bits of fluff,' uncle." I looked shocked. "Really, Jane " "No, uncle dear, only pretence." "Vile midgets," I cried. "Tell me about your brother." "He is getting up a quarterly art paper?with two or three others. They think you'll subscribe.'' I groaned. "Another quarterly! Called 'Watersheds,' I suppose, or the 'Iguanodon.' Subscribe! That young man will get into Monica's clutches if he's not careful." The twins clapped their hands and shouted: "He's in them already," in piercing unison. "Perfidious minuscula," I said severely, "why have you hidden this? From brother to sisters. The tentacles of my sister's set will seize your little bodies next and suck your warm and eagerblood. Jane will write villanelles about ham and Vera will lecture on... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.