“I’m a very dumb person,” said Edward. “It is great pain to me to be so ... shut away from the hope of really telling you how much I love you. Emily, would you—but, please, you must—you must marry me tomorrow?”
What was she saying? Her head was on his shoulder. She spoke softly but now he could hear. He was listening and planning just as though he were a real man—not Edward. Adequate at last.
“If you leave me alone,” she said, “I shall never stop crying. Can’t we go to some happier place? This minute? Edward, don’t leave me alone for a minute here.”
He would never leave her alone again. Everything was perfectly easy at last. He had money. Stone’s money. Nothing could be more easy or fortunate.
“But she is pretending I am Tam. Never mind, I can pretend too. I have always been good at pretending. I can pretend that she wants me at last.”
From minute to minute he could pretend. Not for longer. It was very dangerous. He would not face the coming minute. He could not hold the frenzied minutes. They were mad. They were frantic, thundering towards the fearful edge of the world.
Was this the happier place she had spoken of? It was the “best suite” in the happier hotel. There were Emily’s two suitcases on the floor. One was leaning against Edward’s suitcase. The room was panelled in pale blue. This was only the sitting-room. The bedroom opened from it.
Time was doing its best. One minute gave him Emily’s—“Oh, Edward, darling ... isn’t it all lovely....” Another—“Let me look at you, Edward, at least you have nice heavy eyes. What would happen if you opened your eyes wide?”
Then she pushed him angrily. She put her two thin, cruel hands upon his chest. She was crying again. “Go away ... go away. You are nothing.... Oh, Tam ... Tam....”
She had gone into the inner room and locked the door.