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    • CHAPTER XVI. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XVI of "Crome Yellow," the setting shifts to a post-dinner atmosphere among gentlemen, focusing on an eccentric conversation led by Mr. Scogan. The women have departed, allowing the port to circulate freely among the men left in the room. Scogan, engaged deeply with his thoughts and mildly entertained by a private amusement, catches the attention of Gombauld, who inquires about the source of his amusement. Mr. Scogan reveals that he was assessing each person at the table, imagining which of the…
    • CHAPTER XIV. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XIV of "Crome Yellow," the story unfolds in the library of the house, described as the coolest place to be during the after-luncheon hours. This room, elegantly designed with white painted shelves from the eighteenth century, contains a secret door disguised as a bookshelf that leads to a cupboard housing the mummy-case of an Egyptian lady, an artifact brought back by the second Sir Ferdinando from the Grand Tour. Amidst the discussion, Mr. Scogan engages in a discourse on the contents of the…
    • CHAPTER XIII. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay Henry Wimbush concludes his lifelong project, the "History of Crome," and shares its completion with his dinner guests, sparking interest and modest pride. His history spans over three centuries, meticulously detailed from archival records, right down to the advent of the three-pronged fork, a testament to his exhaustive scholarship. The assembled company, consisting of family and a close circle of friends, reacts with a mix of admiration and curiosity to Wimbush's monumental achievement, touching on…
    • CHAPTER XII. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XII of "Crome Yellow," titled "Blight, Mildew, and Smut," the narrative shifts to focus on the inner thoughts and interactions among the characters, particularly Mary and Gombauld. Mary, feeling slighted by Denis's evasive behavior, decides to seek intellectual and artistic camaraderie with Gombauld, whose serious dedication to his art she admires. Gombauld, engaged deeply in his work, attempts to capture something beyond the tangible through his painting, exploring themes of form, light, and…
    • CHAPTER XI. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XI of "Crome Yellow" recounts the departure of Mr. Barbecue-Smith from Crome, which prompts a conversation among the remaining guests—Anne, Denis, Mr. Scogan, and Henry Wimbush—about the architectural and historical nuances of the manor. Following Mr. Barbecue-Smith's departure, the group takes a contemplative walk around the estate, reflecting on the architectural grandeur of Crome House. Their dialogue transitions from a discussion on modern and traditional architecture to a deep dive into…
    • CHAPTER X. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter X of "Crome Yellow," the atmosphere of a lively social gathering unfolds through Denis's introspective and disengaged perspective. The story vividly describes a scene where the characters are engaging in a dance, while Denis, who does not partake, becomes an observer to the vibrant, albeit to him, discomforting scene around him. Alternating between feelings of exclusion and self-criticism, Denis reflects on his perceived inadequacies. The chapter opens with a detailed portrayal of ragtime music…
    • CHAPTER IX. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter IX of "Crome Yellow," we're introduced to Mr. Bodiham, the rector ensconced in his study, enveloped in an atmosphere steeped in shades of brown, from the varnished furniture to the theological tomes that populate his bookshelves. The light struggles to penetrate the room, mirroring the gloom pervading Mr. Bodiham's spirit. As a figure marked by an iron-like sternness and gravity, he embodies the devout preacher, his metallic features suggesting a rigidity of belief and demeanor that seems almost…
    • CHAPTER VIII. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay Breakfast at Crome on Sunday morning was a more leisurely affair, with Priscilla making a rare appearance before luncheon. Adorned in black silk and her usual pearls plus a ruby cross, she dominated the scene, her attention partly dedicated to the enormous Sunday paper that masked most of her appearance from view. Amidst her meal, she noted Surrey's victory in cricket, attributing it to the astrological positioning of the sun in Leo, emphasizing the game's quintessentially English character—a sentiment…
    • CHAPTER VII. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay At Crome, the heritage of beds from the time of Sir Ferdinando to his late eighteenth-century namesake offered a magnificence unparalleled, embodying eras and aesthetics in their grand designs. The crown of these beds belonged to Anne, a masterpiece from early-seicento Venice, its body a sarcophagus of art, gilded roses, and cherubs drifting amidst floral carvings, under which Anne found her repose, engrossed in a book deemed "second-rate" by Mary, who had donned mauve pyjamas for her nightly visit. The…
    • CHAPTER VI. -Crome yellow Cover
      by LovelyMay Mr. Barbecue-Smith, an older, successful writer known for his spiritual books, arrives at Crome for a visit and quickly becomes the center of attention with his talks on inspiration and writing. At tea, he dismisses Denis Stone, a young aspiring writer, with Olympian condescension, which ignites a blend of fury and embarrassment in Denis. Later, Mr. Barbecue-Smith shares with Denis his secret to prolific writing—inspiration drawn from the subconscious, claiming a direct connection to the Infinite that…
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