“That’s what you was.”
“Exactly! And nobody couldn’t do nothing with me. I did it for meself!”
“Don’t you want to see the old man before he goes?”
“What for? When he was well the sight of him used to make me sick!”
“Well . . . good-bye, Joe. . . .”
“Easy with the Joes when you open the door!”
“I’ll be careful. When I write I’ll put Mr. Kaplan. . . .”
IV
The four friends drifted out into the street from Ceccina’s. Linking arms, they paraded towards Sixth avenue, singing. Binks had to be put in the middle because he wobbled at the knees. Stanny and Jasper each had a good edge on, too. Jasper was gloriously released. Wilfred observed them enviously. I can drink like a fish, he thought, and it has no effect whatever!
They made a round of their favorite resorts; the Grapevine; Maria’s; Mould’s over on University Place. Wilfred tossed down more fiery potations than the vino de pasto of Ceccina’s. It only intensified his self-consciousness. I’ll never be able to carry it through! . . . You shall go through with it! He was ceaselessly plotting how he could shake his friends without exciting ribald comment. As they became really drunk that offered no difficulty. But how dear they became to him! How he hated to leave them! . . . I really ought not to leave them now. I’ve got the only cool head in the party. They might get into serious trouble. Some other night I’ll start out alone and . . . Come off! You’ve got to go through with it!