‘How odd that you should say that. It is almost what Mr. Sebright
said.’
‘Sebright?’ said George. ‘When did he talk about it?’
‘I went to the British Museum with him the other day.’ I tried
to say it nonchalantly, but I felt self-conscious, and that vexed
me, for why shouldn’t I go with him? ‘He says Greek vases are
like faces without souls.’
‘So they are,’ said George.
Hugo said:
‘No, they are not at all like that. They are more like souls
without faces—impersonal and rather cold. Why did you go there?’
he asked abruptly.
And I said:
‘Because he asked me to. It was very interesting there.’
‘I don’t suppose he would care for vases,’ said Hugo, ‘or statues.
He would like just objects of interest. Did you like them?’
I felt then that I could not discuss Walter, nor repeat what
he had said, even what he had said while Mr. Furze was there.
I felt suddenly that they were all hostile, my own dear people,
and that Walter had somehow put his trust in me.