“I’m not sulking, Harry. I don’t want you to go out tonight, but I’m quite sure that won’t stop you. I only hope you realize what you are doing.”

“This is ridiculous! I stand a chance of making some
money, and you’re doing your best to make it difficult for me.

Just because Dix wears a flashy tie, you dive off the deep end.
We’re in a mess and we’ve got to get out of it, and this is the way to do it. So please don’t be quite so free with your criticism. This is business, and you must leave it to me.”

“Is it business? How can you talk like that, Harry? Don’t
you realize I can see through you? Do you think I’m an utter
fool?”
“What do you, mean? Of course it’s business!”
“Is this Selby girl a friend of Dix?”

I felt myself change colour.
“What on earth makes you say that? Why bring her into
this?”

“Didn’t she introduce you to Dix, Harry?”
“She doesn’t come into it. Can’t you get her out of your
mind?”
She looked at me, her face white and set.

“Are you going to lie to me, Harry? You don’t have to. All
I want is the truth. If you want this girl, say so. Don’t be underhanded about it. She rang you up just now, didn’t she? It wasn’t Dix.”

I looked at her. I felt cold and sick. I suddenly saw the
danger and it frightened me.
“Now look, Ann . . .”

“Harry! Will you stop trying to evade the issue? I’m
asking you a straightforward question and I want an answer.
Did she or did she not phone just now?”
“Yes; she did.”
“She wanted you to go to her?”
“Yes.”

“All right, Harry, go if you want to, I’m not going to stop
you. If she means all that to you, go to her. I don’t want you if you feel like that about her.” “For God’s sake, Ann . . .”

“Don’t look so frightened. It’s all right. I want you to be
happy. If you think this girl will make you happy . . .”
“Stop it! It’s nothing like that. Ann! Don’t say such things.

I’ve been a rotten fool. If it comes to a choice between you and her, you must know who I want. I’m sorry. I won’t go.

You have only to look as you’re looking now to bring me to my senses. I wouldn’t hurt you or make you unhappy for anything in the world.”

“Don’t say that, Harry, if I’ve frightened you. I didn’t mean
to frighten you. I just want to be sure that you want me. If you don’t, say so. I’ll go away. I can look after myself. Only I’m not going to share you with anyone.”

“She means absolutely nothing to me. You must believe
me, Ann. This was a physical thing. I went off balance.

It’ll never happen again. I promise. Honest, darling, it’s never going to happen again.”
She sat down suddenly and put her hands over her face.

“Ann, darling, don’t cry. Forgive me. It’s over now. It
won’t ever happen again.”
I went to her and put my arms round her.

“Harry, you don’t know how I hated doing that,” she said,
clutching hold of me. “But we had to settle it one way or the
other, didn’t we? Oh, darling, try and fight against it. Don’t let her spoil all we’ve built up together. It’s so easy to destroy.”

“It’s all right, Ann, I swear it’s all right. I’ve been a mad
fool. It won’t ever happen again.” She pressed her face
against mine.

“Only you can make that come true, darling. I trust you.
Please never lie to me again. If I can do anything to help you, tell me. I love you so, Harry, but I can’t share you.”
I lifted her and carried her into the bedroom and laid her
on the bed.

“It’ll never happen again, Ann. You’re the only girl who
means anything to me. Oh, Ann, I’m cr@zy about you.”
“But, Harry, your supper’s getting cold.”
“D@mn the supper.”
“Here, let me. I’ll do it. No, darling, you’ll tear it Oh, Harry.

The clock on the bedside table showed twenty minutes
past eight when the telephone bell began to ring.

“You’d better answer it.”
Ann stiffened and her fingers gripped my arm.
“Let it ring.”

We lay side by side, listening to the steady ringing, our
hearts pounding.
“It might be important, Harry.”
“Nothing is as important as you.”

The telephone bell rang for a long time, but after a while I
didn’t hear it.

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