The Wings of the Dove

(To make this a blog exclusively about the Wings of the Dove click here.)

Chapter 27
There was a moment when I had a rather disloyal thought that perhaps the reason that the writing is so brilliant these last few chapters is simply because the fuse has been lit and that has given focus to the story. To put it bluntly, I wondered if James really deserved the praise I have been heaping on him or whether it was just the momentum that came from the plot kicking into a familiar pattern. Forw e will get a certain frisson from simply wondering whether Kate and Merton can pull the trick off or whether someone or something wil trip them up.

But no, James is brilliant and nowhere is that more obvious than at the opening of this chapter. Milly is at home, and Kate and Merton are alone on the Piazza San Marco because the rest of the party are in a shop. And they are dueling with one another although neither really understands why.

Merton, without really knowing why it is so important to him or even what the "it" he wants is, wants something from  Kate. He is talking to her of others' motives for they all seem to furthering the plan even though they could not possibly be in conspiracy. Except he doesn't really know that. He doesn't even know what is being conspired about. And he is one of only two conspirators!

Kate, for her part, is confronted with a young man who is very concerned about his honour. He is willing to play along so far without getting it because he loves her. She needs to lead him in further but must worry that, at any moment, he may pull up and simply refuse, or go home to London or go tell Milly everything.

Merton, of course, knows something is up. So neither really knows how game or howmercenary the other is willing to be. And thus we get this beautiful description:

Such was to-day, in its freshness, the moral air, as we may say, that hung about our young friends; these had been the small accidents and quiet forces to which they owed the advantage we have seen them in some sort enjoying. It seemed in fact fairly to deepen for them as they stayed their course again; the splendid Square, which had so notoriously, in all the years, witnessed more of the joy of life than any equal area in Europe, furnished them, in their remoteness from earshot, with solitude and security. It was as if, being in possession, they could say what they liked; and it was also as if, in consequence of that, each had an apprehension of what the other wanted to say.

And the thought I think we should keep in mind is this: this is what it's like for any couple falling in love. The plot regarding Milly heightens the emotion but any young couple slowly working their way into love is in a conspiracy and they are alone and free to say anything they want they will also be scared of what the other might say. And "the other" can screw it up in two ways: 2) they can not be ready to "go on" or 2) they could blurt out something to the effect of "going on" too quickly.

But these two are plotting. Let me give you a dialogue out of context here just for fun:

"We've gone too far," she none the less pulled herself together to reply. "Do you want to kill her?"

He had an hesitation that wasn't all candid. "Kill, you mean, Aunt Maud?"

"You know whom I mean. We've told too many lies."

Oh at this his head went up. "I, my dear, have told none!"

He had brought it out with a sharpness that did him good, but he had naturally, none the less, to take the look it made her give him. "Thank you very much."

Her expression, however, failed to check the words that had already risen to his lips. "Rather than lay myself open to the least appearance of it I'll go this very night."

"Then go," said Kate Croy.

 How did they get there? Let em assure that none of that "means" what the literal sense of the words would have you conclude.

You really need to read this novel.