Part 41 (1/2)
The announce cereh, an adjustly material discussion of settlereements; Barbara and he both needed a respite for recuperation
”I telephoned three ti-room ”I did so want to talk to you! I was so happy I couldn't sleep”
”I couldn't sleep, either,” said Barbara huskily, holding out one hand and covering her eyes with the other
”Aren't you going to kiss ht now”
Eric let fall her hand and drew back, biting his lip
”That's not a very pretty thing to say, darling,” he ht It seemed as if God _must_ strike me downAnd, whenever I fell asleep, Jack was there, reproachingme----”
”He's had his chance,” Eric interrupted sharply ”You start absolutely free”
”You ic talk of God's striking her down for taking His name in vain, Eric could not attune himself readily to a whimper of wounded vanity Barbara's dra, and he had never iined that she was unhappy because she had offered herself to a man and he had repelled her
”I mean it's--all over You've no reason to reproach yourself, Babs
I want to talk to you about seeing your father----”
She stopped hi his i a fresh cast, he described his latest invitation to lecture in America Barbara listened with half her attention,that it would be an experience and a change,hireater by her early love of sharing his triuave her one in which the previous occupant of his flat offered generous terms for the remainder of the lease
”Weto beto live”
”_Please_, Eric!”
He looked at her in a to the fire-place and resting his forehead on his arm
”I--don'tI don't understand what's the htYou did it of your own free will, Babs
And unless you wanted to hurt eniously than you've ever succeeded in doing before----”
The girl winced and covered her face with her hands
”I wouldn't hurt you for the world!” she whispered ”Ah! God! I wish I'd never met you, I wish I'd never been born! Don't you _see_ that I couldn't go on taking, taking, taking with both hands--all your sweetness and gentleness, everything--and giving you nothing in return?
When you said that I'd spoiled your workDidn't I see that I'd already ruined your health and made you miserable? I _tried_ to ht never to have given you that promise!”
”Don't you love me any more, Babs?”
”Oh, yes”
”Well, what have I done since last night?”
”You haven't done anythingIt was a letterYou re's ball just before the war----”