II + 

It was trueтБатАФreally true! The leave train came in and disgorged its multitudes. She saw him. He was actually there. They met. Neither could speak. He squeezed her hand frantically. She knew then how afraid she had been.тБатАКтБатАж + 

That five days went by in a flash. It was like some queer delirious dream. She adored Vernon and he adored her, but they were in some ways like strangers to each other. He was offhand when she spoke about France. It was all rightтБатАФeverything was all right. One made jokes about it and refused to treat it seriously. тАЬFor goodnessтАЩ sake, Nell, donтАЩt sentimentalize. ItтАЩs awful to come home and find everyone with long faces. And donтАЩt talk slush about our brave soldiers laying down their lives, etc. That sort of stuff makes me sick. LetтАЩs get tickets for another show.тАЭ + 

Something in his absolute callousness perturbed herтБатАФit seemed somehow rather dreadful to treat everything so lightly. When he asked her what she had been doing, she could only give him hospital news, and that he didnтАЩt like. He begged her again to give it up. + 

тАЬItтАЩs a filthy job, nursing. I hate to think of your doing it.тАЭ + 

She felt chilled, rebuffed, then rebuked herself. They were together again. What did anything else matter? + 

They had a wild delightful time. They went to a show and danced every night. In the daytime they went shopping. Vernon bought her everything that took his fancy. They went to a Paris firm of dressmakers and sat there whilst airy young duchesses floated past in wisps of chiffon and Vernon chose the most expensive model. They felt horribly wicked but dreadfully happy when Nell wore it that night. + 

Then Nell told him he ought to go and see his mother. Vernon rebelled. + 

тАЬOh! darling, I donтАЩt want to! Our little short precious time. I canтАЩt miss a minute of it.тАЭ + 

Nell pleaded. Myra would be terribly hurt and disappointed. + 

тАЬWell, then, youтАЩve got to come with me.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, that wouldnтАЩt do at all.тАЭ + 

In the end, he went down to Birmingham for a flying visit. His mother made a tremendous fuss over himтБатАФgreeted him with floods of what she called тАЬglad proud tears,тАЭ and trotted him round to see the Bents. Vernon came back seething with conscious virtue. + 

тАЬYou are a hard-hearted devil, Nell. WeтАЩve missed a whole day! God, how IтАЩve been slobbered over.тАЭ + 

He felt ashamed as soon as he had said it. Why couldnтАЩt he love his mother better? Why did she always manage to rub him up the wrong way, no matter how good his resolutions were? He gave Nell a hug. + 

тАЬI didnтАЩt mean it. IтАЩm glad you made me go. YouтАЩre so sweet, Nell. You never think of yourself. ItтАЩs so wonderful being with you again. You donтАЩt knowтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

And she put on the French model gown and they went out to dine with a ridiculous feeling of having been model children and deserving a reward. + 

They had nearly finished dinner when Nell saw VernonтАЩs face change. It stiffened and grew anxious. + 

тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ + 

тАЬNothing,тАЭ he said hastily. + 

But she turned and looked behind her. At a small table against the wall was Jane. + 

Something cold seemed for a moment to rest on NellтАЩs heart. Then she said easily: + 

тАЬWhy, itтАЩs Jane. LetтАЩs go and speak to her.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, IтАЩd rather not.тАЭ She was a little surprised by the vehemence of his tone. He saw that and went on: тАЬIтАЩm stupid, darling. I want to have you and nothing but youтБатАФnot other people butting in. Have you finished? LetтАЩs go. I donтАЩt want to miss the beginning of the play.тАЭ + 

They paid the bill and went. Jane nodded to them carelessly and Nell waved her hand to her. They arrived at the theatre ten minutes early. + 

Later, as Nell was slipping the gown from her white shoulders, Vernon said suddenly: + 

тАЬNell, do you think I shall ever write music again?тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course. Why not?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! I donтАЩt know. I donтАЩt think I want to.тАЭ + 

She looked at him in surprise. He was sitting on a chair, frowning into space. + 

тАЬI thought it was the only thing you cared about.тАЭ + 

тАЬCared aboutтБатАФcared aboutтБатАФthat doesnтАЩt express it in the least. It isnтАЩt the things you care about that matter. ItтАЩs the things you canтАЩt get rid ofтБатАФthe things that wonтАЩt let you goтБатАФthat haunt youтБатАФlike a face that you canтАЩt help seeing even when you donтАЩt want to.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬDarling VernonтБатАФdonтАЩt.тАЭ + 

She came and knelt down beside him. He clutched her to him convulsively. + 

тАЬNellтБатАФdarling NellтБатАФnothing matters but you. Kiss me.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

But he reverted presently to the topic. He said irrelevantly: тАЬGuns make a pattern, you know. A musical pattern, I mean. Not the sound one hears. I mean the pattern the sound makes in space. I suppose thatтАЩs nonsenseтБатАФbut I know what I mean.тАЭ + 

And again a minute or two later: тАЬIf one could only get hold of it properly.тАЭ + 

Ever so slightly, she moved her body away from him. It was as though she challenged her rival. She never admitted it openly, but secretly she feared VernonтАЩs music. If only he didnтАЩt care so much. + 

And tonight, at any rate, she was triumphant. He drew her back holding her close, showering kisses on her. + 

But long after Nell was asleep Vernon lay staring into the darkness, seeing against his will JaneтАЩs face and the outline of her body in its dull green satin sheath as he had seen it against the crimson curtain at the restaurant. + 

He said to himself very softly under his breath: + 

тАЬDamn Jane.тАЭ + 

But he knew that you couldnтАЩt get rid of Jane as easily as that. + 

He wished he hadnтАЩt seen her. + 

There was something so damnably disturbing about Jane. + 

He forgot her the next day. It was their last, and it went terribly quickly. + 

All too soon, it was over. + 