The Present and the Past Read Online Free Page B

said Flavia, ‘and I suppose no voice.’
    â€˜And Flavia might say she wanted something to eat in the middle of the day,’ said Cassius.
    â€˜It is true that I might,’ said his wife.
    â€˜So it only leaves me to dispense with the meal. And that would not make much difference.’
    â€˜It would to yourself,’ said old Mr Clare. ‘Have you thought of the difference it would make?’
    â€˜It may not be worth while to make the change for one person.’
    â€˜It is for you to decide,’ said Flavia. ‘It involves no one else.’
    â€˜So you have upset your scheme, my boy,’ said Mr Clare. Cassius began to carve the meat, breathing rather deeply.
    â€˜Will you have any of this?’ he said to his wife.
    â€˜I will have what I usually do.’
    â€˜A good deal, isn’t it?’ said Cassius, seeming to operate with some effort.
    â€˜I should think an average amount.’
    â€˜This is not a meal we were to dispense with,’ said Mr Clare.
    â€˜I think most women eat less,’ said Cassius, looking at the plate as it left him.
    â€˜Well, this is what I will eat,’ said his wife.
    â€˜I wonder what we are quarrelling about.’
    â€˜You can hardly do that, my boy, as you have arranged it,’ said Mr Clare.
    â€˜Do you think that bookcase would look better further to the left?’ said Cassius, with his head to one side.
    â€˜Not to me, when I have seen it where it is for so long. It would look in the wrong place. And I should think it would to you, as you have seen it there for even longer.’
    Cassius regarded it in independent consideration.
    â€˜Did you say you had seen the children this morning?’ he said to his wife, as though realizing no more than this about her utterance.
    â€˜I did not say so, as you know. But I have seen them or seen four of them,’ said Flavia, her voice changing as she spoke. ‘And a picture they made, alike and different, and individual and the same. Toby was still asleep.’
    â€˜Did Miss Ridley add to the picture?’
    â€˜She looked herself, as she does. Yes, she added something of her own. I hope the post is what she needs.’
    â€˜I hope she is the person to fill it. That should be our concern.’
    â€˜It was naturally our chief one. It should not exclude the other. I am afraid it tends to do so.’
    â€˜I am sure of it,’ said Mr Clare. ‘I would not say I was afraid.’
    Cassius looked at his companions’ plates, and took a shred of meat himself, as if to fill the time. In a moment he gave a sigh and fully supplied his plate, as though conformity were unavoidable. As he did so, he happened to meet his wife’s eyes.
    â€˜Having my luncheon after all!’ he said, as if quoting her thought.
    â€˜A good many people are doing that.’
    â€˜But they did not say they would not have any,’ said Cassius, still in the quoting tone.
    â€˜I daresay they did. It is a thing people do.’
    â€˜So I am just like anyone else?’
    â€˜No, you need not be afraid of it, my boy,’ said Mr Clare.
    â€˜Like a good many people in that,’ said Flavia.
    â€˜And you are different?’ said Cassius.
    â€˜I may be in the minority. The matter is a small one.’
    â€˜How many of us think that about ourselves?’
    â€˜All of us,’ said his father. ‘And not only on that ground.’
    â€˜On more important ones?’
    â€˜Yes, yes, on those, my boy.’
    â€˜I hardly think we are all so much alike,’ said Flavia.
    â€˜Neither do I,’ said Cassius. ‘I often wonder if I belong to the same species as other people.’
    â€˜And what conclusion do you come to?’ said Mr Clare.
    â€˜To my own conclusion. I daresay you often wonder it about yourself.’
    â€˜No, I know I belong to the same. I have had long enough to learn it.’
    â€˜Do we mean the same thing, or