Brideshead Revisited

by Evelyn Waugh

You want either a first or a fourth. There is no value in anything between. Time spent on a good second is time thrown away.

She’s a Roman Catholic, so she can’t get a divorce — or won’t, I expect. You can do anything at Rome with money,

“Dear sweet clodhoppers, if you knew anything of sexual psychology you would know that nothing could give me keener pleasure than to be manhandled by you meaty boys. It would be art ecstasy of the very naughtiest kind. So if any of you wishes to be my partner in joy come and seize me. If, on the other hand, you simply wish to satisfy some obscure and less easily classified libido and see me bathe, come with me quietly, dear louts, to the fountain.”

‘Won’t you find it rather a bore having me at home for so long?’ ‘I trust I should not betray such an emotion even if I felt it,

I presume you intend to do the thing thoroughly and use oil paint?’ My father belonged to a generation which divided painters into the serious and the amateur, according as they used oil or water.

My dear boy, you’re twenty-two.’ ‘Twenty,’ I said, ‘twenty-one in October.’ ‘Is that all? It seems much longer.’

On my side the interest was keener, for there was always the physical likeness between brother and sister, which, caught repeatedly in different poses, under different lights, each time pierced me anew; and, as Sebastian in his sharp decline seemed daily to fade and crumble, so much the more did Julia stand out clear and firm.

Oh, mummy, must I see him? There’ll be a scene if I do.’ ‘Nonsense, Julia, you twist that poor man round your finger.’ So Julia went into the library and came out an hour later engaged to be married. ‘Oh, mummy, I warned you this would happen if I went in there.’ ‘You did nothing of the kind.

‘But you can’t be divorced as a Catholic.’ ‘I wasn’t a Catholic and I was divorced. I’ve got the papers somewhere.’

French leave them dirty. Not like British peoples. My peoples,’ he said, ‘always very British peoples.’ For he was from the Sudan Police, and regarded this ancient centre of his culture as a New Zealander might regard Rome.

you must come. You haven’t seen Caroline.’ ‘Will she change much in a week or two?’ ‘Darling, she changes every day.’ ‘Then what’s the point of seeing her now?

‘Ribbentrop told me that the army just kept Hitler in power so long as he was able to get things for nothing. The moment anyone stands up to him, he’s finished. The army will shoot him.’

Rex made a rabid speech in the House of Commons which sealed his fate one way or the other; sealed it, as is sometimes done with naval orders, to be opened later at sea.

‘He’s got a wonderful will to live, hasn’t he?’ ‘Would you put it like that? I should say a great fear of death.’ ‘Is there a difference?’ ‘Oh dear, yes. He doesn’t derive any strength from his fear, you know. It’s wearing him out.’

at five o’clock that evening, her father died proving both, sides right in the dispute, priest and doctor.