One

 Matlida, on her return from Boston and her visit to her friend Anorexia, sout some
ground, some solid earth, even some soil after her jorney so long thru the air. The
London streets were full of all sorts of commotion, some great event she knew not
of bringing the shadows of people onto the roads of the city, or rather, rimming their
edges. She saw them as ghosts thru the corner of her eye as she scouted out a corner
of Hyde Park, seeking the solace from where she could hear the birds sing.
 Robert was already there when she arrived a little early, she thout, for their appointment,
their heart to heart, since he had expressed a preferance and had so arranged to meet her
on the conclusion of her travels. All the time she had been traveling the decision line
too, wondering if he were deserving a dalliance with, however much a darling he seemed.
 In outlook he was starchy and grey and of the political class that her father's career had
pushed her into. But with her interest in the Barn, the survival of the squat, and with her
bedecked in the new fashions of cropped top, leggings and boots she had to wonder if
he wasn't a shadow too old for her who mite cloud her existence at the moment her
flower was seeing the lite of day.
 He walked forward to her, on seeing her, acrossed the crust leaf carpet and then they
rejoined the bench he had just bequeathed.
 'I'm so glad you could see me so soon; I was afraid I'd been a little too forward the last
time we spoke.' He watched her all the time on saying this, like someone observing a
bird or a butterfly on a branch or a leaf, fearing any moment it mite fly away.
 'I sensed your resolve to still the revolution; of events, I am speaking. I thout you had
wanted to tie things up.' She looked at him with a look as if traversing a volcano that
is due to erupt.
 'You know, I do have Lady Gravely to think about. I am kind of holding her off, for yor
answer.' He looked abashed as if realising an error. 'I know you can't give the answer if
I haven't yet asked the question,' he continued.
 She strainted the slant of her top and mused on a small piece of cotton fluff that was
resting on her green knee. 'I had thout to let you down gently,' she mused, 'but I find
that you interest me,' and she flicked away the piece of fluff in an experienced fashion.
 'Well, that interests me also,' he returned without delay.
 'O but there is Lady Gravely,' came back Matilda's conscience, 'she IS such a dear. Can
she realy bear yor desertion?'
 'In that we've never been a team as yet, so to speak, I think that she can.'
 'Ah, but Robert, do I love you in that you're unobtainable. I wonder.'
 She allowed him to walk her back to the gates and then, within site of number ten she
stopped short from entering.
 'You have given me a lot to talk about.'
 'I have hardly said a word.' She was charmed by his honesty.
 'It is the beauty of what yet mite be which I must muse over,' she breathed, her eyes
resting on a single cloud in the sky. 'Its the mystery to be uncovered whereby we will
meet again.'
 'So we will? Its settled?'
 'We will,' and she disappeared thru the gates that closed on him.