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i~ waiting at the gate when her flight comes in. Two years have passed since he saw hi~; mother; despite himself, he is shocked at how she has aged. Her r, which had had 'eaks of Ç) in it, is now entirely white; her shoulders stoop; her flesh has grown
i~ waiting at the gate when her flight comes in. Two years have passed since he saw hi~; mother; despite himself, he is shocked at how she has aged. Her r, which had had 'eaks of Ç) in it, is now entirely white; her shoulders stoop; her flesh has grown flabty. 5 They never been a dernonstrative family. A huç], a few murmured words; and the business of greeting is done. In silence they follow the flow of travellers to the baggage hall. pick up her suitcase, and off on the ninety-minute drive. 'A flight,' he remarks. 'Vou must be exhausted.' 'Ready to sleep.' she says' and indeed, en route, she falls asleep briefly, her head 10 slumped açainst the window. At six o'clock, as it is growinn dark, they pull up in front of his home in suburban VValtham. His wife Norma and the children appear on the porch. In a show of affection that must cost her a great deal, Norma holds her arms out wide and says, 'Elisabeth!' The two women emJrace; then the children, in their well-brought-up though more subdued fashion, 15 follow suit. Elize.beth Costello the novelist will be staying with them ':or the three days of her to Appeton College. It is not a period he is looking forward to. His wife and his mother do Ilot get on. It would be better were to stay at a hotel, but he cannot bring himself to suggest that. 20 Hos1ilities are renewed almost at once. Norma has prepared a light supper. His mother notices that only three have been set. 'Aren't the children eating with us?' asks. '[\]0,' says Nonna, 'they are eating in the playroom.' 'Why?' The question is not necessary since she knows the answer. The children are eating 1 separately because Elizabeth does not like to see on the table, while Norma refuses to 1h e children's diet ta what she calls 'your mother's delicate sensibilities'. 'Wh;!?' asks Elizabeth Costello a second time. Nonna flashes him an angry glance. He sighs. 'Mother,' he says, 'the children are having chicken for supper, that's the only reason.' 'Oh,' sile says '1 see.' 30 His mother has been invited to Appleton College, where her son I.John is assistant professor of physics and astronomy, to deliver the annual GatE~s Lecture and meet with litera~ure students. Because Costello is !lis mother's maiden name, and because he has