International relations -- Fiction; Liaoyang, Battle of, Liaoyang, China, 1904 -- Fiction; War correspondents -- Fiction
This, on the night of his perfect day. Noreen Cardinegh had given him
every moment of her time in Paris, not even saying good-by to her
friends.... It was not the mystery in India; not the swift failing of
Jerry Cardinegh, which his daughter felt, though she had not seen; not
the White Mustache nor the creaking chair--these merely wove into a
garment of nettles. The premonition was not even his own. It was Noreen
Cardinegh’s, and had to do with his leaving her and hurrying back to
India.... “It has come to me, Routledge-san, that you are to go very
quickly!”... The great frieze coat was wet with Channel mists and
Channel spray when the half-dawn developed the Dover pier, and the eyes
of the wanderer were filled once more with the seven shades of English
gray.... Noreen was out before the full day.
“Let’s take the earlier train for Charing Cross,” she said. “I
believe we still have time. Our luggage is checked through, and we can
breakfast _en route_.”
He brought his bag, and Noreen took his arm companionably as he
appeared on the main-deck again.... She was all in gray like the
morning, save for a touch of yellow ruching at her throat and her
hair’s golden wonder-work.... Routledge turned on the pier at a step
behind. It was the White Mustache in light-travelling order, hastening
to make the early train.
A breakfast-table was between them. “Routledge-san,” she said, leaning
toward him critically, “you don’t look the least bit tired, but I doubt
if you’ve slept since I left you. Beside, your coat is all wet.”
“I did smell the Channel a bit,” he replied, thinking that a man who
looked dull and worn in the presence of Noreen Cardinegh would be
incapable of reflecting light of any kind. “I couldn’t? feel more fit
and keep my self-control. Though I am not an Englishman, it thrills to
see England again.” He glanced from his plate to her eyes and then out
upon the winter fields, sweeping by the window like an endless magic
carpet. “Some time, when there are no more wars,” he added, “we shall
write an essay and call it, ‘Grape-fruit and Kentish Gardens.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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