MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[2823] about to start at last.

[2824] It was then that the sound of a gong, struck with violence, filled
the house. [2825] True enough, it was nine o'clock. [2826] I got up, adjusted my
clothes and hurried down. [2827] To give notice that the soup was on the table ⁱⁿ,
nay, that it had begun to coagulate, was always for Martha a little
triumph and a great satisfaction. [2828] For as a rule I was at table, my
napkin tucked into mh^y collar, crumbling the bread, fiddling with the
cover, playing with the knife-rest, waiting to be served, a few minutes
before the appointed hour. [2829] I attacked [myself]^{the soup.} [2830] [t]Where is Jacques? I said.

[2831] She shrugged her shoulders. [2832] Detestable slavish gesture. [2833] Tell him to come
down at once, I said. [2834] The soup before me had stopped steaming. [2835] Had it
ever steamed? [2836] She came back. [2837] He won't come down, she said. [2838] I laid down
my spoon. [2839] Tell me, Martha, I said, what is this preparation? [2840] She named
it. [2841] Have I had it before? I said. [2842] She assured me I had. [2844] I then made a
joke which pleased me enormously, I laughed so much I began to hiccup. [2845] It
was lost on Martha who stared at me dazedly.

[2846] Tell him to come down, I
said at last. [2847] What? said Martha. [2848] I repeated my phrase. [2849] She still looked
genuinely perplexed. [2850] There are three of us in this charming home, I said,
you, my son and finally myself. [2851] What I said was, Tell him to come down.
[2852] But he's sick, said Martha. [2853] Were he dying, I said, down he must ^[⁁]come. [2854] Anger
led me sometimes to slight indiscretions ^excesses of language. [2855] I could not regret
them. [2856] It seemed to me that all language was an excess of language.
[2857] Naturally I confessed them. [2858] I was short of sins.

[2859] Jacques was scarlet in the face. [2860] Eat your soup, I said, and tell me
what you think of it. [2861] I'm not hungry, he said. [2862] Eat your soup, I said.
[2863] I saw he would not eat it. [2864] What ails you? I said. [2865] I don't feel well, he
said. [2866] What an abominable thing is youth. [2867] Try and be more explicit, I