‘Yes, I am going back now; but you needn’t come.’
He got up from his chair and went to get his hat it was hanging up on the landing, outside the door. I stood up too. Mollie took both my hands in hers.
She said:
‘I wish you happiness with all my heart, you do know that, my dear!’
I nodded; I felt I could not speak without crying, and I did not want to cry.
George was waiting for me outside, at the top of the stairs; he waited for me to pass and then followed me down.
We crossed the road to the pavement by the river, and turned Eastward, towards the bridges and the trams. We passed the two bridges, and Oakley Street, where my bus for Kensington would run; we did not, either of us, think about that. We were walking very quickly, along the river; the lamps were all lit now, broad streaks of light lay out in front of each, across the wet pavement and the road.
‘It isn’t true, what you said just now?’ George asked at last.
I said:
‘Yes; why should it not be true?’