Kingfishers Catch Fire [antikvár]

Long afterwards-"Not so long/' said Toby, "ifs only two years"; "Ages afterwards," said Sophie-Toby gave Sophie another lamp with kingfishers on it; he sent for it all the way to Profit Dávid, of whom he disapproved, "And I am a fool," he said. "You will only lose it or give it away to someone else, or leave it behind somewhere." "No I won9t," said Sophie certainly. "I am more careful now"; but Toby shook his head. He knew that Sophie was like a kingfisher herself, choosing somé strange, unthoughtof place for her nest, diving relentlessly for her priváté fish, then fiashing out of sight "Well, people must do as they must,9' said Sophie, She argued defensively, but her eyes were tender, as her fingers traced the bright birds on the lamp; kingfishers always made her think of Kashmir; with the bulbul, the lotus, the iris, vine, and chenar leaf, they are the symbols of the eountry; over and over again they appear in carvings and embroideries and are woven in Kashmiri silks and carpets* "I am-homesick for them," said Sophie. "Homesick!" "Even with what happened?" asked Toby, "What happened doesn't matter," said Sophie, "Not now." And she said, "I am even glad it happened*59 "Good God!" said Toby, "Yes, glad," said Sophie softly. "My eyes will never be poor again, having seen Kashmir. I saw such beauty in people and things." "Those people?" asked Toby, "Those people," said Sophie,