A madness to
spring up and run among them knocking them about and making them march
with the power that comes of abandonment almost lifted him from the
bench. His mouth twitched and his fingers ached for action.
* * * * *
In and out among the trees and on the green spaces moved the people.
Along the shores of a pond sat men and women eating the evening meal
from baskets or from white cloths spread on the grass. They laughed
and shouted at each other and at the children, calling them back from
the gravel driveways filled with moving carriages. Beaut saw a girl
throw an egg shell and hit a young fellow between the eyes, and then
run laughing away along the shore of the pond. Under a tree a woman
nursed a babe, covering her breasts with a shawl so that just the
black head of the babe showed. Its tiny hand clutched at the mouth of
the woman. In an open space in the shadow of a building young men
played baseball, the shouts of the spectators rising above the murmur
of the voices of people on the gravel walk.
A thought came into McGregor's mind that he wanted to discuss with the
older man. He was moved by the sight of women about and shook himself
like one awakening from a dream. Then he began looking at the ground
and kicking up the gravel with his foot.
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