Part 50 (1/2)
”It isn't only Mrs. Levitt. There's Ralph Bevan. You've forgotten Ralph Bevan.”
”What has Ralph Bevan got to do with it?”
”Simply this, that I'm engaged to be married to him.”
”To be married? To be married to Ralph Bevan? Oh, Barbara, why didn't you tell me?”
”Ralph didn't want me to, till nearer the time.”
”The time.... Did it come to that?”
”It did,” said Barbara.
He moved from the doorway and began walking up and down the room. She might now have gone out, but she didn't go. She _had_ to see what he would make of it.
At his last turn he faced her and stood still.
”Poor child,” he said, ”so that's what I've driven you to?”
Amazement kept her silent.
”Sit down,” he said, ”we must go through this together.”
Amazement made her sit down. Certainly they must go through it, to see what he would look like at the end. He was unsurpa.s.sable. She mustn't miss him.
”Look here, Barbara.” He spoke in a tone of forced, unnatural calm. ”I don't think you quite understand the situation. I'm sure you don't realize for one moment how serious it is.”
”I don't. You mustn't expect me to take it seriously.”
”That's because you don't take yourself seriously enough, dear. In some ways you're singularly humble. I don't believe you really know how deep this thing has gone with me, or you wouldn't have talked about Mrs.
Levitt....
”... It's life and death, Barbara. Life and death.... I'll make a confession. It wasn't serious at first. It wasn't love at first sight.
But it's gone all the deeper for that. I didn't know how deep it was till the other day. And I had so much to think of. So many claims.
f.a.n.n.y--”
”Yes. Don't forget f.a.n.n.y.”
”I am not forgetting her. f.a.n.n.y isn't going to mind as you think she minds. As you would mind yourself if you were in her place. Things don't go so deep with f.a.n.n.y as all that.... And she isn't going to hold me against my will. She's not that sort.... Listen, now. Please listen.”
Barbara sat still, listening. She would let him go to the end of his tether.
”I'll confess. In the beginning I hadn't thought of a divorce. I couldn't bear the idea of going through all that unpleasantness. But I'd go through it ten times over rather than that you should marry Ralph Bevan.... Wait now.... Before I spoke to you to-day I'd made up my mind to ask f.a.n.n.y to divorce me. I know she'll do it. Your name shan't be allowed to appear. The moment I get her consent we'll go off together somewhere. Italy or the Riviera. I've got everything planned, everything ready. I saw to that when I was in London. I've bought everything--”
She saw forked lightnings on a magenta Waddington.
”What are you laughing at, Barbara?”