ThelasttimeIvisitedAngelaCarter,afewweeksbeforeshedied,shehadinsistedondressingfortea,inspiteofbeinginsiderablepaibright-eyeda,headcockedlikeaparrots,lipssatiricallypursed,andgotdowntotheseriousteatimebusinessofgivingandreceiviestdirt:sharp,foulmouthed,passionate.

    Thatiswhatshewaslike:spikilyoutspoken--oerIdetotheendofarelationshipofwhichshehadnotapproved,shetelephoosay,"Well.Yoingtobeseeingalotmoreofmefromnowon"--andatthesametimecourteousenoughtooverortalsufferingfentilityofaformalafternoontea.

    DeathgenuinelypissedAngelaoff,butshehadonesolatioakenoutan"immense"lifeinsurancepolicyshortlybeforethecerstruck.Theprospectoftheinsurersbeingobliged,afterreceivingsofewpayments,tohandoutafortuo"herboys"(herhusband,Mark,andherson,Alexander)delightedhergreatly,andinspiredagreatgloatingblaedyariaatwhichitossiblenottolaugh.

    Sheplannedherfuneralcarefully.MyinstrusweretoreadMarvellspoemOnaDropofDew.Thisrise.TheAngelaCarterIknewhadalwaysbeescatologicallyirreligious,merrilygodlessofwomeshewantedMarvellsmeditationontheimmortalsoul--"thatDrop,thatRay/OftheclearFountaiernalDay"--spokenoverherdeadbody.Wasthisalast,surrealistjoke,ofthe"thankGod,Idiea"variety,oranobeisahemetaphysiMarvellshighsymboliguagefromawriterwhoseownfavouredlanguageitchedhigh,aewithsymbols?ItshouldbehatnodivinitymakesanappearanMarvellspoem,exceptfor"thAlmightySun".PerhapsAngela,alwaysagiveroflight,wasaskingus,attheend,toimagineherdissolvingin