"Yes," he said. "I'm going. But I'm not going to lie about it and say I don't funk it. Because I do."
"You don't really."
"I own I didn't the first night--the night I knew Nicky was killed. Because I couldn't think of anything else but Nicky.
"It was after I'd written to Mother that it came on. Because I knew then I couldn't back out of it. That's what I can't get over--my having to do that--to clinch it--because I was afraid."
"My dear, my dear, thousands of men do that every day for the same reason, only they don't find themselves out; and if they did they wouldn't care. You're finding yourself out all the time, and killing yourself with caring."
"Of course I care. Can't you see it proves that I never meant to go at all?"
"It proves that you knew you'd have to go through hell first and you were determined that even hell shouldn't keep you back."
"Ronny--that's what it has been. Simply hell. It's been inconceivable. Nothing--absolutely nothing out there could be as bad. It went on all yesterday and to-day--till you came."
"I know, Michael. That's why I came."
"To get me out of it?"