A woman came to look at the Studio flat and
expressed herselfdelighted with it. Pillcrest was a small, spare woman with opaque
blue eyes. That is evident, but at six tonight I have promised the key tothe waiting
tenant!
The building contained several studios and was set
inthe quiet corner of a Park. Humble people, here in my own town, wanted to seeand
know about Art. Law does not require that such tenants be given notice. I could not
get up the stairs fast enough, galloping all the way! Gran was neither clothed nor
entirelybare. Pillcrest lay in a daze of poetry and tobacco smoke. Must I wait until
their month is up toserve the customary notice?
What was it you were going to tell me about Silas
Jones? After twenty-two years I sold the House of All Sorts. The canvases were
stowed in racks in anante-room.
My change in thought andexpression had angered them
into fierce denouncement.
In Victoria I had only come up against my own
class.
The complete depletion of hot water and perpetual
smell of burningsent me down to investigate.
Istepped forward, meaning to lay the things inside
the door and goaway. I had a carpenter cut me a connecting door. I kept sketches
inthis box and on its top stood a forest of paint brushes and
turpentinebottles.
We replied, It is handy for those who walk in the
Park. Ijumped out of bed, ran to the room above their flat, leaned outthe
window.
Pillcrest said, and kissed the boysscowling face.
Itseemed necessary for her to gesticulate with lighted cigarette asshe poemed. Their
blinds never went up till noon was well past. Pillcrest madethem out of other things
and basted him with them.
Thesquare ugliness of the apartment house cut us
off from the publicityof tenants and the street. How was I going to face them
tomorrow,burning with shame for my house?
We replied, It is handy for those who walk in the
Park. My change in thought andexpression had angered them into fierce denouncement.
They hadseen the crisis through without a murmur.
To expose athing deeper than its skin surface was
to them an indecency.
Pillcrest is visiting; she will doubtless
bereturning soon.
I like our underwear sunned, she said with hauteur.