Theodora watched the window,
on which the crowd now focused.
The window had become quite encrusted with fire.
It had a considerable, stiff jewelled
splendour of its own, that ignored
the elaborate ritual of the flames ...
Patrick White
Theodora's mother, Stella Free, had slept with Max.
As a child, Theodora had heard Aunt Alma tell Jonah about the affair one night as she lay secretly
curled up under their bed.
Jonah seemed to enjoy the story and he groaned while Alma's voice went on and on.
Alma said that Stella had stolen Max's heart away from his work.
She said her breasts like melons would smoulder under her tight shifts, beckoning.
Stella had been beautiful.
Her lips would make men crazy.
Theodora did not like Max, though, and she hoped he was not her father.
