he knew that the idea of a life among such people as the
foreigner was ridiculous。
Yet he dreamed of it； and stuck to his dreams； and would not
have the reality of Cossethay and Ilkeston。 There he sat
stubbornly in his corner at the 〃Red Lion〃； smoking and musing
and occasionally lifting his beer…pot； and saying nothing； for
all the world like a gorping farm…labourer； as he said
himself。
Then a fever of restless anger came upon him。 He wanted to go
away……right away。 He dreamed of foreign parts。 But somehow
he had no contact with them。 And it was a very strong root which
held him to the Marsh； to his own house and land。
Then Effie got married； and he was left in the house with
only Tilly； the cross…eyed woman…servant who had been with them
for fifteen years。 He felt things ing to a close。 All the
time； he had held himself stubbornly resistant to the action of
the monplace unreality which wanted to absorb him。 But now he
had to do something。
He was by nature temperate。 Being sensitive and emotional；
his nausea prevented him from drinking too much。
But； in futile anger； with the greatest of determination and
apparent good humour； he began to drink in order to get drunk。
〃Damn it；〃 he said to himself； 〃you must have it one road or
another……you can't hitch your horse to the shadow of a
gate…post……if you've got l