spanner with which he had been beating on the door. He sat down, not looking at me, breathing hard.
I sat down too, covering my bare knees which were shuddering convulsively.
«Is-Julian-here?» said Arnold, speaking thickly, as if in drunkenness, only he was certainly not drunk.
«Yes.»
«I've come to-take her away-«She won't want to go,» I said. «How did you find us?»
«Francis told me. I asked him and asked him and asked him, and he told me. And about the telephone call.»
«What telephone call?»
«Don't pretend,» said Arnold, looking at me now. «He told me he telephoned you this morning about Priscilla.»
«I see.»
«So you couldn't-drag yourself away-from your love nest-even though your sister-had killed herself.»
«I am going to London tomorrow. Julian is coming with me. We are going to be married.»
«I want to see my daughter. The car is outside. I am going to take her back with me.»
«No.»
«Will you call her, please?»
I got up. As I passed by the table I picked up the spanner. I went to the bedroom. The door was closed, not locked, and I went in and locked the door after me.
Julian was dressed. She was wearing one of my jackets over her dress. It reached down to her thighs. She was very pale.
«Your pa.»
«Yes. What's that?»
I threw the spanner down on the bed. «A lethal weapon. Not for use. Better come and see him.»
«You will-«
«I'll protect you. There's nothing whatever to worry about. We'll just explain the situation to him and see him off. Come. No, wait a minute. I need some trousers.» I rapidly put on a shirt and trousers. I saw with surprise that it was only just after midnight.
I went back to the sitting-room and Julian followed. Arnold had got up. We faced him across the table, which was still strewn with the remnants of our supper which we had been too worn out to clear away. I put my arm round Julian's shoulder.
Arnold had got a grip on himself and had clearly resolved not to shout. He said, «My dear girl-«Hello.»
«I've come to take you home.»
«This is home,» said Julian. I squeezed her, and then moved to sit down, leaving them facing each other.
