Explore "Adam's Breed" by Radclyffe Hall on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Gian-Luca was taking late service at the Doric when the news came that England had joined in the war; like lightning it spread from table to table, and people suddenly stopped eating. Millo, rather pale but perfectly composed, whispered a word to his band; there was silence for a moment, and then through the restaurant sounded the National Anthem. A strange, new meaning the hymn had that night. So simple and yet so poignant a meaning, that something leapt into Gian-Luca's heart, a feeling of bitter resentment. The clients at his tables had forgotten their suppers, of one accord they stood up and sang.
"They are singing because they have a country! " thought Gian-Luca. And presently when the singing had ceased, he turned away from those people.