560
He had to think. "Four years. At least."
"And I have been with Henry for three."
PARTISAN REVIEW
"I hope you have enjoyed yourself as much as I have."
This, which he had hoped would set the tone for their conversa–
tion, made her smile, wryly. Then he smiled too.
"All right," said he, "I'm doubtless an insensitive clod."
"It has never bothered you that it took them so long to divorce?
It was a perfectly simple divorce."
"No, why should it?"
"Only a formality!"
"Do you see it as much more?"
"Yes, I do . I didn't at first, but then I began to wonder why
nothing ever got started."
"It's finished now, though . The thing was finally through last
month."
"But let's not be too precipitous, let's not be premature!"
He acknowledged that she teased with the briefest of smiles .
Let's get on with it! -he was signalling.
"I feel all the time as if things are not being said, there's
something I'm not getting to grips with."
"So you said on the telephone ." Lest she take this as a put-off,
he made a gesture which said, No, wait . .. He took a couple of
therapeutic mouthfuls of wine , and his serious glance was meant to
show he had every intention of meeting her honestly. But in spite of
this he looked embarrassed and reluctant. "I've been thinking about
what you've been saying. You see, I don't think that I expect as
much as you seem to . Of course there are barriers and difficulties.
Henry and Angela were married for- I think it was ten years . They
have a child - you know, Connie . All that isn't just going to disap–
pear because of-well, you and me? And I have an ex-wife. Olga.
Did I tell you? I expect Angela finds things not too easy with me
sometimes. And you have an ex-husband-surely Henry must
sometimes.
. . . "
"No," she cut in decisively. "No, absolutely not. I've cut that
off. That's the point. Finished!
Finita! Basta!
I don't like ghosts in the
machine."
He sighed . He had not meant to, and now he looked guilty,
and because of that she had to smile at him. Evidently Henry earned
this smile often enough. A well-practiced smile, he was thinking.
"Why do you expect so much?" he inquired. And this was the first (as
