Quartet in Autumn

by Barbara Pym

especially to an elderly woman who felt herself in contrast to be greyer than ever, crushed and dried up by the weak British sun.

Why would weak sun crush and dry up anyone?

to push the boat out.

‘What a lovely evening,’ Letty said, looking out of the window. ‘All that laburnum!’

A tree with small flowers containing poisonous seeds -- like much of the characters' dialog.

He stood on the opposite side of the road and gazed in stunned fascination, very much as he had gazed at the mummified animals in the British Museum.

Marcia and Norman

Letty allowed her to ramble on while she looked around the wood, remembering its autumn carpet of beech leaves and wondering if it could be the kind of place to lie down in and prepare for death when life became too much to be endured.

Living lives of quiet desperation is the English way.

Danger lay in that direction.

Letty

This particular evening, being Corpus Christi, Edwin had a service at his own church, with an open-air procession, which started at eight o’clock and would probably last for at least an hour.

Always voing to church services but never caring about the people in their lives. Hair

‘Who is my neighbour?’ Father G. mused, as

Great question

‘I should like to go and see her,’ she said, but uncertainly, for she did not really want to visit Marcia in hospital, only felt that she ought to want to.

"Idon't want o do what Iwant to do. I want to do what I ought to do."