But he was inexorable. When he had gained his point he
comforted her anxiety with chocolates, a feat more easy than the soothing
of her with reasoning could have been.
When he told Valentine of the success of his embassy, Valentine simply
said:
"I am glad."
Julian did not mention the episode of the washing, the preparation of the
black gown, or the promise wrung from the lady of the feathers. The
result springing from these three events was to come as a surprise to
Valentine on boat-race night.
CHAPTER X
THE DANCE OF THE HOURS
Even so huge a city as London, full of so many varying personalities and
clashing interests, assumes upon certain days of the year a particular
and characteristic aspect, arising from a community of curiosity, of
excitement, or of delight felt by its inhabitants. Such days are Derby
day and boat-race day. On the latter more especially London is leavened
by a huge mob of juveniles from the universities, and their female
admirers from the country, who cast a pleasant spell over the frigid
indifference of town-bred dullards, and wake even the most vacuous of the
Piccadilly loungers into a certain vivacity and boyishness. The cabmen
blossom cheerily in dark and light blue favours.
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