"WhenIwasadolest,mymhtmeacharm,gavemeatalisman,hahekeyoftheworld.ForIlivedinterror,I,soyoung,soshyofsomanypeople--i.e.thosewhospokewithsoftvoidsouhehinwhich;emausheretteswho,inthosedaysworewidesatinpyjamaswhichmockedmyunawakehunashamedlasciviousness;suavemenwhoputcoldhandsonmydefenceless,barelyformedbreastsoopsoflonelyNovemberbuses.Somany,manypeople.

    "Mymothersaid:Child,ifsuchfolksaweyou,thenpicturethemonthelavatory,straining,stipated.Theywillatonceseemsmall,pathetiageable.Andshewhisperedtomeagreat,universaltruth:thebowelsaregreatlevellers.

    "Shewasaroughwoman,mymother.Shepickedherteethceaselesslywithaforkandshewouldtakeoffherfeltslippers,intheevenings,andprobeoutthecaked,flakedskinanddirtfrombetweeoeswithasensual,inquisitivefinger.Butsheossessedofgreatwisdom--thebrutal,yetwithalvital,wisdomofapeasant."

    Thewomansvoice,highandclearasthesoundofaglassrappedoontosummonawaiter,ceasediationforamoment.Onlytwoendlesslylongmiraculouslyslenderlegsemergedfromthepoolofcoagulatedshadowintheerwhereshesat.

    Petalsdroppedfromaredroseinasilverbowlontothelow,round,blood-colouredmahoganytablewithasoft,faint,exhaustedsound,asofapigeonsfart.Thewomanrecrossedherlegs;raspingplanesofsilkflashedoutastheycaughtthelight,likethebladesofscissors,sligallthatcamebetweenthem.Sheresumedhernarrative.

    "Ihadbeenashychild.Alonelychild,lostinthemiddleofalargefamily--twenty-threechildren,ofwhomeighteenreachedmaturity!--coopedupinameagredwelling,thelofta