He ceased to be traceable from Chexington in March, and he
reappeared in the form of a telegram from Karachi demanding news in
May. He learnt he was the father of a man-child and that all was
well with Amanda.
He had not expected to be so long away from any communication with
the outer world, and something in the nature of a stricken
conscience took him back to England. He found a second William
Porphyry in the world, dominating Chexington, and Amanda tenderly
triumphant and passionate, the Madonna enthroned. For William
Porphyry he could feel no emotion. William Porphyry was very red
and ugly and protesting, feeble and aggressive, a matter for a
skilled nurse. To see him was to ignore him and dispel a dream. It
was to Amanda Benham turned again.
For some days he was content to adore his Madonna and listen to the
familiar flatteries of her love. He was a leaner, riper man, Amanda
said, and wiser, so that she was afraid of him. . . .
And then he became aware that she was requiring him to stay at her
side. "We have both had our adventures," she said, which struck him
as an odd phrase.
Pages:
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438