Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Fiction; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Politicians -- Fiction
Harry lit a cigarette and smoked it very quickly, between gulps of wine.
Andy had begun to smoke too. His air was calm, though grave; he seemed
to have taken charge of the whole affair.
"Are you going to marry her?" the Nun suddenly inquired, with her usual
directness.
"You might have gathered that much from what Andy said," Harry grumbled
in an injured tone.
"Does Vivien know yet?"
He dropped his cigarette-end into his emptied glass.
"Yes," he answered, frowning. "For God's sake, don't put me through a
catechism, Doris!" He rose from his chair, looking round for his hat.
"Shall I walk back with you?" Andy asked.
"No, thanks. I'd rather be alone." His tone was still very injured, as
though the two were in league with one another, and with all the world,
to persecute him. He came up to the Nun. "I shan't see you again for a
bit, I expect. Good-bye, Doris." He held out his hand to her. The Nun
interlaced her hands on the table in front of her.
"I won't!" she said. "I won't shake hands with you to-night, Harry
Belfield. You've broken the heart of the sweetest girl I ever met.
You've brought shame and misery on her--you who aren't fit to black her
shoes! You've brought shame on your people. I suppose you've pretty well
done for yourself in Meriton. And all for what? Because you must
philander, must have your conquests, must always be proving to yourself
that nobody can resist you!"
Harry looked morosely resentful at the indictment. "Oh, you can't
understand. Nobody can understand who--who isn't made that way. You talk
as if I'd meant to do it!"
"I think I'd rather you had meant to do it. That'd be rather less
contemptible, I think."
"Gently, gently, Doris!" Andy interposed.
She turned on him. "Oh yes, it's always 'Gently, gently!' with Harry
Belfield. He's to be indulged, and excused, and forgiven, and all the
rest of it. Let him hear the truth for once, Andy. Even if it doesn't do
him any good to hear it, it does me good to say it--lots of good!"
"You'd better go, Harry. You won't find her good company to-night. I'll
be at the station to see you off to-morrow--before I see about the
things at Nutley."
"I'm going; and I'm much obliged to Doris for her abuse. She's always
been the same about me--sneering and snarling!"
"I've never made a fool of myself about you. That's what you can't
forgive, Harry."
"Go, my dear fellow, go," said Andy. "What's the use of this?"
Harry moved off towards the door. As he went out, he said over his
shoulder, "At any rate you can't say I'm not doing the square thing
now!"
They heard the "Boots" open the door of the inn for him; a moment later
his step passed the window. Andy came and sat down by the Nun; she
caught his big hand in hers.
"I'm trying hard not to cry. I don't want to break my record. How did it
all happen?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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