Читать книгу Scandalous Risks - Susan Howatch - Страница 36

‘This is wonderful!’ cried the Dean. ‘Wonderful!’ And as I lifted the needle from the groove at the end of the track he exclaimed: ‘It makes me want to catch up with all the fun I missed out on in my youth!’

‘Was your youth really so drab?’

‘Drab! That’s an understatement. Primitive Methodists, no money, working day in, day out, in order to get on – why, the most thrilling moment of my youth consisted of a forbidden visit to the cinema where I watched Clara Bow oozing “It” as I sank my teeth into a sinful peppermint cream! Never mind, those times are gone now – and how glad I am that I’ve lived to see the dawn of a new era! Class barriers collapsing, sexual inhibitions being overcome –’

‘Good old Elvis! Want to hear some more?’

‘I want to hear everything! Play that song you were singing at dinner!’

I rummaged around and found it. ‘Okay, Mr Dean!’ I cried. “Off we go!’

The beat began to pound. Presley began to celebrate the joy of life. And suddenly Aysgarth rose to his feet.

‘Isn’t it great?’ I shouted, turning up the volume, but he merely cried enthralled: ‘Let’s dance!’

I kicked off my shoes, we grabbed each other’s hands, he drew me to the centre of the floor. And there, as Elvis Presley sang his heart out and the boards vibrated beneath our feet, I danced with the Dean of Starbridge to the beat of rock-’n’-roll.