—fromLuckyJim(ChapterI)
KinsgleyAmis
[1]Dixonlookedoutofthewindowatthefieldswheelingpast, ’tthedouble-exposureeffectofthelasthalf-minute’stalkthathaddumbfoundedhim, forsuchincidentsformedthestaplematerialofWelchcolloquies ; itwastheprospectofrecitingthetitleofthearticlehe’, inthatitcrystallizedthearticle’snigglingmindlessness , itsfunerealparadeofyawn-enforcingfacts, thepseudo -lightitthrewuponnon-problems.
[2]Dixonhadread, orbeguntoread, dozenslikeit, buthisownseemedworsethanmostinitsairofbeingconvincedofitsownusefulnessandsignificance.‘Inconsideringthisstrangelyneglectedtopic,’itbegan.
[3]Thiswhatneglectedtopic? Thisstrangelywhattopic? Thisstrangelyneglectedwhat? Histhinkingallthiswithouthavingdefiledandsetfiretothetypescriptonlymadehimappeartohimselfasmoreofahypocriteandfool.‘Let’ssee,’heechoedWelchinapretendedeffortofmemory: ‘ohyes; , that’swhatit’s...’
[4]Unabletofinishhissentence, helookedtohisleftagaintofindaman’, whichfilledwithalarmashegazed, belongedtothedriverofavanwhichWelchhadelectedtopassonasharpbendbetweentwostonewalls.
[5], thusensuringthattheywouldstillbenexttothevanwhenthebusreachedthem, andsaidwithdecision: ‘Well, thatoughttodoitnicely, Ishouldsay.’
