MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[2359] certainly not, anything he liked, but not the pip. [2360] He mused ^{[⁁]meditated}. [2361] Have you
tried bicarbonate? he said. [2362] I beg your pardon? I said. [2363] Bicarbonate of
soda, he said, have you tried it? [2364] Why no, I said. [2365] Try it! he cried,
flushing with pleasure, have her swallow a few dessertspoonfuls, several
times a day, for a few months. [2366] You'll see, you won't know her. [2367] A powder?
I said. [2368] Bless my heart to be sure, he said.

[2369] Many thanks, I said, I'll
begin today. [2370] Such a fine hen, he said, such a good layer. [2371] Or rather
tomorrow, I h^said. [2372] I had forgotten the chemist was closed. [2373] Except in case
of emergency. [2374] And now that little digestive ^cordial, he said. [2375] I declined.

[2376] This interview with Father Ambrose left me with a painful impression.
[2377] He was still the same dear man, and yet not. [2378] I seemed to have surprised,
on his face, a lack, how shall I say, a lack of nobility. [2379] The host, it is
only fair to say, was lying heavy on my stomach. [2380] And as I made my way
home I felt like one who, having swallowed a pain-killer, is first
astonished, then indignant, on obtaining no relief.

[2381] And I was almost
ready to suspect Father Ambrose, alive to my excesses of the forenoon, of
having fobbed me off with unconsecrated bread. [2382] Or of mental reservation
as he pronounced the magic words. [2383] And it was in vile humour that I
arrived home, in the pelting rain.

[2384] The stew was a great disappointment. [2385] Where are the onions? I cried.
[2386] Gone to nothing, replied Martha. [2387] I rushed into the kitchen, to look for
the onions I suspected her of having removed from the pot, because she
knew how much I liked them. [2388] I even rummaged in the bin. [2389] Nothing. [2390] She
watched me mockingly.

[2391] I went up to my room again, drew back the curtains on a calamitous
sky and ly^ay down. [2392] I could not understand what was happening to me. [2393] I
found it painful at that period not to understand. [2394] I tried to pull myself
together. [2395] In vain. [2396] I might have known. [2397] My life ^was running out, I knew not