after all what we really are？〃 he asked the doctor。 〃EssentiallyRage。 A rage in dead matter； making it alive。〃 〃Schopenhauer；〃 footnoted the doctor。 〃Boehme。〃 〃Plain fact； 〃said Sir Richmond。 〃No Rageno Go。〃 〃But rage without discipline？〃 〃Discipline afterwards。 The rage first。〃 〃But rage against what？ And FOR what？〃 〃Against the Universe。 And for？ That's more difficult。 What IS the little beast squalling itself crimson for？ Ultimately？ 。 。 。 What is it clutching after？ In the long run； what will it get？〃 （〃Yours the car in distress what sent this？〃 asked an unheeded voice。） 〃Of course； if you were to say 'desire'；〃 said Dr。 Martineau； 〃then you would be in line with the psychoanalysts。 They talk of LIBIDO； meaning a sort of fundamental desire。 Jung speaks of it at times almost as if it were the universal driving force。〃 〃No；〃 said Sir Richmond； in love with his new idea。 〃Not desire。 Desire would have a definite direction； and that is just what this driving force hasn't。 It's rage。〃 〃Yours the car in distress what sent this？〃 the voice repeated。 It was the voice of a mechanic in an Overland car。 He was holding up the blue request for assistance that Sir Richmond had recently filled in。 The two philosophers returned to practical matters。 Section 3 For half an hour after the departure of the little Charmeuse car with Sir Richmond and Dr。 Martineau； the brass Mercury lay unheeded in the dusty roadside grass。 Then it caught the eye of a passing child。 He was a bright little boy of five。 From the moment when he caught the gleam of brass he knew that he had made the find of his life。 But his nurse was a timorous； foolish thing。 〃You did ought to of left it there； Masterrarry；〃 she said。 〃Findings ain't keepings nowadays； not by no manner of means； Masterrarry。 〃Yew'd look silly if a policeman came along arsting people if they seen a goldennimage。 〃Arst yer 'ow you come by it and look pretty straight at you。〃 All of which grumblings Master Harry treated with an experienced disregard。 He knew definitely that he would never relinquish this bright and lovely possession again。 It was the first beautiful thing he had ever possessed。 He was the darling of fond and indulgent parents and his nursery was crowded with hideous rag and sawdust dolls； golliwogs； comic penguins； comic lions； comic elephants and comic policemen and every variety of suchlike humorous idiocy and visual beastliness。 This figure； solid； delicate and gracious； was a thing of a different order。 There was to be much conflict and distress； tears and wrath； before the affinity of that cleanlimbed； shining figure and his small soul was recognized。 But he carried his point at last。 The Mercury became his inseparable darling； his symbol； his private god； the one dignified and serious thing in a little life much congested by the quaint； the burlesque； and all the smiling； dull condescensions of adult love。
CHAPTER THE FOURTH AT MAIDENHEAD Section 1 The little Charmeuse was towed to hospital and the two psychiatrists took up their quarters at the Radiant Hotel with its pleasant lawns and graceful landing stage at the bend towards the bridge。 Sir Richmond； after some trying work at the telephone； got into touch with his own proper car。 A man would bring the car down in two days' time at latest； and afterwards the detested coupe could go back to London。 The day was still young； and after lunch and coffee upon a sunny lawn a boat seemed indicated。 Sir Richmond astonished the doctor by going to his room； reappearing dressed in tennis flannels and looking very well in them。 It occurred to the doctor as a thing hitherto unnoted that Sir Richmond was not indifferent to his personal appearance。 The doctor had no flannels； but he had brought a brown holland umbrella lined with green that he had acquired long ago in Algiers； and this served to give him something of the riverside quality。 The day was full of sunshine and the river had a Maytime animation。 Pink geraniums； vivid green lawns； gay awnings； bright glass； white paint and shining metal set the tone of Maidenhead life。 At lunch there had been five or six small tables with quietly affectionate couples who talked in undertones； a tableful of bright…coloured Jews who talked in overtones； and a family party from the Midlands； badly smitten with shyness； who did not talk at all。 〃A resort； of honeymoon couples；〃 said the doctor； and then rather knowingly： 〃Temporary honeymoons； I fancy； in one or two of the cases。〃 〃Decidedly temporary；〃 said Sir Richmond； considering the company〃in most of the cases anyhow。 The two in the corner might be married。 You never know nowadays。〃 He became reflective。 。 。 。 After lunch and coffee he rowed the doctor up the river towards Cliveden。 〃The last time I was here；〃 he said； returning to the subject； 〃I was here on a temporary honeymoon。〃 The doctor tried to look as though he had not thought that could be possible。 〃I know my Maidenhead fairly well；〃 said Sir Richmond。 〃Aquatic activities； such as rowing； punting； messing about with a boat…hook； tying up； buzzing about in motor launches； fouling other people's boats； are merely the stage business of the drama。 The ruling interests of this place are love largely illicitand persistent drinking。 。 。 。 Don't you think the bridge charming from here？〃 〃I shouldn't have thoughtdrinking；〃 said Dr。 Martineau； after he had done justice to the bridge over his shoulder。 〃Yes； the place has a floating population of quiet industrious soakers。 The incurable river man and the river girl end at that。〃 Dr。 Martineau encouraged Sir Richmond by an appreciative silence。 〃If we are to explore the secret places of the heart；〃 Sir Richmond went on； 〃we shall have to give some attention to this Maidenhead side of life。 It is very material to my case。 I have；as I have saidBEEN HERE。 This place has beauty and charm； these piled…up woods behind which my Lords Astor and Desborough keep their state； this shining mirror of the water； brown and green and sky blue； this fringe of reeds and scented rushes and forget…me…not and lilies； and these perpetually posing white swans： they make a picture。 A little artificial it is true； one feels the presence of a Conservancy Board； planting the rushes and industriously nicking the swans； but none the less delightful。 And this setting has appealed to a number of people as an invitation； as； in a way； a promise。 They come here； responsive to that promise of beauty and happiness。 They conceive of themselves here； rowing swiftly and gracefully； punting beautifully； brandishing boat…hooks with ease and charm。 They look to meet； under pleasant or romantic circumstances； other possessors and worshippers of grace and beauty here。 There will be glowing evenings； warm moonlight； distant voices singing。 。 。 。There is your desire； doctor； the desire you say is the driving force of life。 But reality mocks it。 Boats bump and lead to coarse ungracious quarrels； rowing can be curiously fatiguing； punting involves dreadful indignities。 The romance here tarnishes very quickly。 Romantic encounters fail to occur； in our impatience we resort toaccosting。 Chilly mists arise from the water and the magic of distant singing is provided； even excessively； by boatloads of cads with collecting dishes。 When the weather keeps warm there presently arises an extraordinary multitude of gnats； and when it does not there is a need for stimulants。 That is why the dreamers who come here first for a light delicious brush with love； come down at last to the Thamesside barmaid with her array of spirits and cordials as the quintessence of all desire。〃 〃I say；〃 said the doctor。 〃You tear the place to pieces。〃 〃The desires of the place；〃 said Sir Richmond。 〃I'm using the place as a symbol。〃 He held his sculls awash； rippling in the water。 〃The real force of life； the rage of life； isn't here；〃 he said。 〃It's down underneath； sulking and smouldering。 Every now and then it strains and cracks the surface。 This stretch of the Thames； this pleasure stretch； has in fact a curiously quarrelsome atmosphere。 People scold and insult one another for the most trivial things； for passing too close； for taking the wrong side； for tying up or floating loose。 Most of these notice boards on the bank show a thoroughly nasty spirit。 People on the banks jeer at anyone in the boats。 You hear people quarrelling in boats； in the hotels； as they walk along the towing path。 There is remarkably little happy laughter here。 The RAGE； you see； is hostile to this place； the RAGE breaks through。 。 。 。 The people who drift from one pub to another； drinking； the people who fuddle in the riverside hotels； are the last fugitives of pleasure； trying to forget the rage。 。 。 。〃 〃Isn't it that there is some greater desire at the back of the human mind？〃 the doctor suggested。 〃Which refuses to be content with pleasure as an end？〃 〃What greater desire？〃 asked Sir Richmond； disconcertingly。 〃Oh！ 。 。 。 〃 The doctor cast about。 〃There is no such greater desire；〃 said Sir Richmond。 〃You cannot name it。 It is just blind drive。 I admit its discontent with pleasure as an endbut has it any end of its own？ At the most you can say that the rage in life is seeking its desire and hasn't found it。〃 〃Let us help in the search；〃 said the doctor； w