Titus Awakes by Maeve Gilmore & Mervyn Peake

Author:Maeve Gilmore & Mervyn Peake [Gilmore, Maeve & Peake, Mervyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2014-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

22

Titus as Model

They walked back to Ruth’s studio with Dog, who sensed Titus’s affinity with her, so much so that he chose to walk by Ruth’s side instead of his master’s. For Titus, this indication was a good one. Despite his endeavour to have no human ties, no loves, no hates, he felt an unpossessive affection for the animal, which had displayed so much valour towards him, but he knew that when the time came he would abandon him. Perhaps Dog himself sensed it and, not sharing Titus’s need for self-sufficiency, was yearning towards someone who would shield him against what was to come.

As they entered the studio the cats, according to their temperaments, remained asleep, or raised eyes and, recognising no interruption to their privacy, closed them again.

‘What are you going to do then, Ruth?’

‘I’ve got to do three drawings for a story that I don’t like, and as usual they are to be done in a hurry. I’ve been waiting to hear if they were wanted for months and now I’ve heard yes, but they must be sent by the end of the month. I’ve got to get references and materials and, most urgent of all, my ideas straightened out or crookeded out perhaps. I might even ask you if you would pose for me some time, but I’m afraid I can’t pay you! I’ll have to go out now to get some special paper – so perhaps you’ll have gone to Herbert’s by the time I’m back, but Titus, come back, won’t you. It’s too soon for goodbye.’

As Ruth left to go out, Dog, without being asked, rose to follow, but she said, ‘Oh, no, Dog. You’ve got an appointment this afternoon, but we’ll be together some time – of that I am almost certain, eh, Titus?’

Titus didn’t answer, for he knew the implications of Ruth’s remark.

After she had left, despite the very short time Titus had known her, her absence filled the studio and Titus had a momentary wish to be like other people in wanting and needing the succour of one person, one place, a home, but he knew himself too well to think that it would ever be.

It was time to go to Herbert Drumm’s, so he called Dog to him and they both went out to see what lay in store for them.

Titus found his way to Herbert’s studio and knocked on the glass panel of the door. It was opened by a lady in a black turban, dressed completely in black; her eyes were black, with deep brown shadows ringing them, which gave them a tragic appearance, and her skin was sallow with two patches of rouge flanking the hollow shadows. It might be supposed that such an appearance would be reflected in the lady’s demeanour, but as she said ‘Titus Groan’ in a deeply accented voice, she bowed to welcome him in and her melancholy smile lent as much warmth to her personality as did the rouge to her cheeks.

She pushed

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