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650 J A M E S [ 1932-1935 ]wire?' George asked his father. Joyce replied hesitatingly, 'Well, if theywant to get engaged—.' 'You can't talk about engagement with a girl inLucia's condition,' said George. 18Leon exerted the opposite kind of pressure upon Ponisovsky. He oftencalled up at noon to say, 'By the way, I think you should send yourfiancee some flowerstoday. I don't think you've remembered to do so.' 19Ponisovsky could not see how to extricate himself. As for Lucia, shethought more about Beckett than about her future bridegroom. Her behaviorhowever was strangely tranquil. 20After some days of bouquets and visits, Joyce insisted upon a formalengagement party at the Restaurant Drouand in Place Gaillon. The scenewas more funerary than romantic. Following it Lucia went to the Leons'flat and lay down on the sofa. To their horror she remained there, inert,catatonic. 21The engagement was forgotten (though Nora maternally spokeof a suit for breach of promise, and was somewhat estranged from Leon),as the girl lingered out of consciousness. The sources of schizophreniaare not known, but the possibility that a more regular family life mighthave prevented her illness invaded and occupied Joyce's mind. He didnot disavow guilt; he embraced it eagerly. 'Whatever spark of gift I possesshas been transmitted to Lucia,' he said bitterly, 'and has kindled a fireinher brain.' 22He identified himself closely with her. Now began the consultationswith doctors, the long periods of time in clinics, the injectionsand operations that were to engross him and dismay his friends for therest of his life. The gloom that settled upon him now was of almost tragicdimensions.The firstdoctors consulted warned Joyce that apathy was his daughter'sgreatest danger, and attempted various kinds of injections. Lucia came toherself but acted wildly. Joyce wrote Miss Weaver on April 20, 1932, ishall try to set up a home for her here, though she [is] terribly difficultbut she is really a child, and I think the lettrines she did are exquisite.' 23Lucia was at this time twenty-five. Joyce had a remarkable capacity tofollow her swift jumps of thought which baffled other people completely.Where they should live remained a perplexing problem; Lucia spoke ofwanting to go to England, while Joyce had given up the idea of livingthere and wished to findanother flatin Paris, their lease at 2 avenue St.Philibert having expired.They decided to make a visit to London, however, and on April 17went to the Gare du Nord, had their baggage put on the train, and wereabout to take their seats when Lucia suffered a cn'se des nerfs and,screaming that she hated England, refused to go. After forty-five minutes,during which only Joyce remained calm, there was nothing to do butremove the baggage from the train. 24Lucia asked to go to the Leons,and they kindly put her to bed, where she remained for nine days, thenas suddenly demanded to go to Padraic and Mary Colum, who wereliving in Paris at the time. Mary Colum was about to undergo an oper-