‘Surely every woman’s in the market till she marries.’
‘Some think that’s when she begins to be.’
‘Well,’ said Hallorsen gravely, ‘I’ve no use for adultery myself. I want a straight deal in sex as in everything else.’
‘I hope you will get it.’
He drew himself up. ‘And I want it from you. I have the honour to ask you to become Mrs Hallorsen, and please don’t say “No” right away.’
‘If you want a straight deal, Professor, I must.’
She saw his blue eyes film as if with pain, and felt sorry. He came a little closer, looking, as it seemed to her enormous, and she gave a shiver.
‘Is it my nationality?’
‘I don’t know what it is.’
‘Or the grouch you had against me over your brother?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Can’t I hope?’
‘No. I am flattered, and grateful, believe me. But no.’
‘Pardon me! Is there another man?’
Dinny shook her head.
Hallorsen stood very still; his face wore a puzzled expression, then cleared suddenly.
‘I judge,’ he said, ‘I haven’t done enough for you. I’ll have to serve a bit.’
‘I’m not worth service. It’s simply that I don’t feel like that towards you.’
‘I have clean hands and a clean heart.’
‘I’m sure you have; I admire you, Professor, but I should never love you.’
Hallorsen drew back again to his original distance, as if distrusting his impulses. He gave her a grave bow. He looked really splendid standing there, full of simple dignity. There was a long silence, then he said:
‘Well, I judge there’s no use crying over spilt milk. Command me in any way. I am your very faithful servant.’ And, turning round, he went out.
Dinny heard the front door close with a slight choke in her throat. She felt pain at having caused him pain, but relief, too, the relief one feels when something very large, simple, primitive – the sea, a thunderstorm, a bull – is no longer imminent. In front of one of Fleur’s mirrors she stood despitefully, as though she had just discovered the over-refinement of her nerves. How could that great handsome, healthy creature care for one so spindly and rarefied as she looked reflected there? He could snap her off with his hands. Was that why she recoiled? The great open spaces of which he seemed a part, with his height, strength, colour, and the boom of his voice! Funny, silly perhaps – but very real recoil! She belonged where she belonged – not to such as them, to such as him. About such juxtapositions there was even something comic. She was still standing there with a wry smile when Adrian was ushered in.
She turned to him impulsively. Sallow and worn and lined, subtle, gentle, harassed, no greater contrast could have appeared, not any that could have better soothed her jangled nerves. Kissing him, she said:
‘I waited to see you before going to stay at Diana’s!’
‘You are going, Dinny?’
‘Yes. I don’t believe you’ve had lunch or tea or anything,’ and she rang the bell. ‘Coaker, Mr Adrian would like – ’
‘A brandy and soda, Coaker, thank you!’
‘Now, Uncle?’ she said, when he had drunk it.
‘I’m afraid, Dinny, one can’t set much store by what they say down there. According to them Ferse ought to go back. But why he should, so long as he acts sanely, I don’t know. They query the idea of his recovery, but they can bring nothing abnormal against him for some weeks past. I got hold of his personal attendant and questioned him. He seems a decent chap, and he thinks Ferse at the moment is as sane as himself. But – and the whole trouble lies there – he says he was like this once before for three weeks, and suddenly lapsed again. If anything really upsets him – opposition or what not – he thinks Ferse will be just as bad again as ever, perhaps worse. It’s a really terrible position.’
‘When he’s in mania is he violent?’
‘Yes; a kind of gloomy violence, more against himself than anyone else.’
‘They’re not going to do anything to get him back?’
‘They can’t. He went there voluntarily; I told you he hasn’t been certified. How is Diana?’
‘She looks tired, but lovely. She says she is going to do everything she can to give him a chance.’
Adrian nodded.
‘That’s like her; she has wonderful pluck. And so have you, my dear. It’s a great comfort to know you’ll be with her. Hilary is ready to take Diana and the children if she’d go, but she won’t, you say.’
‘Not at present, I’m sure.’