368
PARTISAN REVIEW
Then waving his anns, Jesse cried, "All right! Get out!"
And suddenly letting go at last he struck Cade across the mouth,
bringing some blood. "Now you git," he said. "Git out."
J esse panted, walking .around the room. "You been bleedin' me
white for a year. That's the reason I'm the way I am. I'm bled white."
Cade went mechanically to the bureau, took out a shirt, a pair
of shorts, a toothbrush, his straight razor, and a small red box. He
put these in a small bag such as an athlete might carry to his gym.
He walked over to the door and went out.
Below, on the sidewalk, directly under the room where he and
J esse had lived together a year, Cade stood waiting for the street–
car. He knew Jesse was looking down on him. He did not have to
wait long.
"Cade," Jesse's voice came from the window. "You get back
here, Cade, goddam you." Jesse hearing the first of his profanity let
loose at last, swore a lot more then, as though he had found his mind
again in swearing.
A streetcar stopped at that moment.
"Don't get on that car, Cade," Jesse cried. "Goddam it."
Cade affected impatience.
"You wait now, goddam you," Jesse said putting on his rose–
colored shirt.
"Cade," Jesse began when he was on the street beside his
friend. "Let's go somewhere and talk this over ... See how I am,"
he pointed to his trembling ann.
"There ain't nowhere to go since you give up drinking," Cade
told him.
Jesse took Cade's bag for him.
"Well if it makes you unhappy I'll drink with you," Jesse said.
"I don't mind being unhappy," Cade said. " It's
you
that minds,
Jesse."
"I want you to forgive me, Cade," Jesse said, putting his hand
on Cade's ann.
Cade allowed Jesse's ann to rest there.
"Well, Jesse," Cade said coldly.
"You see," Jesse began, pulling Cade gently along with him
as they walked toward a tavern. "You see, I don't know what it is,
Cade, but you know everything."
