“It sounds like Henry James called everyone beautiful and marvellous,” said Sam, a little sourly, “from what you say.” “Oh, beautiful, magnificent… wonderful. I suppose it’s really more what the characters call each other, especially when they’re being wicked. In the later books, you know, they do it more and more, when actually they’re more and more ugly—in a moral sense.” “Right …” said Simon. “The worse they are the more they see beauty in each other.” “Interesting,” said Howard drily. Nick cast a fond glance at his little audience. “There’s a marvellous bit in his play The High Bid, when a
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