As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her

laughter and being part of it, until her teeth were

only accidental stars with a talent for squad-drill. I

was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at each momentary

recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her

throat, bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An

elderly waiter with trembling hands was hurriedly

spreading a pink and white checked cloth over the rusty

green iron table, saying: “If the lady and gentleman

wish to take their tea in the garden, if the lady and

gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden …” I

decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be

stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might

be collected, and I concentrated my attention with

careful subtlety to this end.