E F Benson

The Blotting Book E F Benson

Book Excerpt: ...learly his mode of life: the motor had to go sixty miles an hour; he might be one of those who bathed in the Serpentine in mid-winter; he would clearly dance all night, and ride all day, and go on till he dropped in the pursuit of what he cared for. Mr. Taynton, looking at him as he stood smiling there, in his splendid health and vigour felt all this. He felt, too, that if Morris intended to be married to-morrow morning, matrimony would probably take place. But Morris's pause, after he pushed his chair back and stood up, was only momentary."Good God, yes; I'm in love," he said. "And she probably thinks me a stupid barbarian, who likes only to drive golfballs and motorcars. She--oh, it's hopeless. She would have let me come over to see them to-morrow otherwise."He paused again."And now I've given the whole show away," he said. Mr. Taynton made a comfortable sort of noise. It was compounded of laughter, sympathy, and comprehension."You gave it away long ago, my dear..