"I could, Mary."
"Not you. You said you couldn't stand another evening like yesterday…. All the evenings would be like yesterday…. Please…. Even if there wasn't Mamma, you don't want to marry. If you'd wanted to you'd have done it long ago, instead of waiting till you're forty-five. Think of two people tied up together for life whether they both like it or not. It isn't even as if one of them could be happy. How could you if the other wasn't? Look at the Sutcliffes. Think how he hated it…. And he was a kind, patient man. You know you wouldn't dream of marrying me if you didn't think it was the only possible way."
"Well—isn't it?"
"No. The one impossible way. I'd do anything for you but that….
Anything."
"Would you, Mary? Would you have the courage?"
"It would take infinitely more courage to marry you. We should be risking more. All the beautiful things. If it wasn't for Mamma…. But there is Mamma. So—you see."
She thought: "He hasn't kissed me. He hasn't held me in his arms.
He'll be all right. It won't hurt him."
V.
That was Catty's white apron.
Catty stood on the cobbled square by the front door, looking for her.
When she saw them coming she ran back into the house.