‘Yes, I am going back now; but you needn’t come.’
He got up from his chair and went to get his hat it was hanging
up on the landing, outside the door. I stood up too. Mollie took
both my hands in hers.
She said:
‘I wish you happiness with all my heart, you do know that, my
dear!’
I nodded; I felt I could not speak without crying, and I did
not want to cry.
George was waiting for me outside, at the top of the stairs;
he waited for me to pass and then followed me down.
We crossed the road to the pavement by the river, and turned
Eastward, towards the bridges and the trams. We passed the two
bridges, and Oakley Street, where my bus for Kensington would
run; we did not, either of us, think about that. We were walking
very quickly, along the river; the lamps were all lit now, broad
streaks of light lay out in front of each, across the wet pavement
and the road.
‘It isn’t true, what you said just now?’ George asked at last.