“Oh, yes, we must. I must, you must. Molly, don’t talk such ghastly nonsense. I won’t have it. Those aren’t things to be said between you and me, even in fun.”
“It’s not in fun. We mustn’t be engaged any more, because we don’t fit. Because we make each other unhappy. Because, if we married, it would be worse. No—listen now; it’s only this once and for all, and I must get it all out; don’t make it more difficult than it need be, Eddy. It’s because you have friends I can’t ever have; you care for people I must always think bad; I shall never fit into your set.... The very fact of your caring for them and not minding what they’ve done, proves we’re miles apart really.”
“We’re not miles apart.” Eddy’s hands on her shoulders drew her to him. “We’re close together—like this. And all the rest of the world can go and drown itself. Haven’t we each other, and isn’t it enough?”
She pulled away, her two hands against his breast.
“No, it isn’t enough. Not enough for either of us. Not for me, because I can’t not mind that you think differently from me about things. And not for you, because you want—you need to have—all the rest of the world too. You don’t mean that about its drowning itself. If you did, you wouldn’t be going to spend Sunday with——”
“No, I suppose I shouldn’t. You’re right. The rest of the world mustn’t drown itself, then; but it must stand well away from us and not get in our way.”
“And you don’t mean that, either,” said Molly, strangely clear-eyed. “You’re not made to care only for one person—you need lots. And if we were married, you’d either have them, or you’d be cramped and unhappy. And you’d want the people I can’t understand or like. And you’d want me to like them, and I couldn’t. And we should both be miserable.”
“Oh, Molly, Molly, are we so silly as all that? Just trust life—just live it—don’t let’s brood over it and map out all its difficulties beforehand. Just trust it—and trust love—isn’t love good enough for a pilot?—and we’ll take the plunge together.”
She still held him away with her pressing hands, and whispered, “No, love isn’t good enough. Not—not your love for me, Eddy.”
“Not?”