Harry sighed then. ‘Yes,’ he said.

So there, in the middle of the laughing, chattering – even now shouting – crowd of people, Harry told Pauline – I don’t want to tell her, though, how I met him long ago – about his visit to Copperfield Hall. She became paler and paler as she stared up at him, listening intently.

Finally she said, ‘I have to meet him.’

Harry didn’t say anything for a moment, stared about at the crowded garden. People pushed by, called out, someone kissed Pauline. ‘He’s a very old man Pauly. I had the feeling that for him –’ he tried to choose his words very carefully, ‘– the past is over.’

*

Anthony took Molly right to the top of the house, to his study. He shut the door, put his arms around her, and kissed her. ‘Oh Molly I’ve missed you,’ he said burying his face in her hair. Briefly Molly allowed herself to be in his arms, felt all the familiar feelings. She was ashamed, and at once disturbed, to feel how quickly her whole vulva seemed to expand and moisten almost instantaneously, felt at once how hard he was against her. He was actually trembling. But she pushed him away.

‘Don’t do that Tony,’ she said shakily, pushing her hair back, retreating.

‘Oh Molly,’ he groaned. ‘I knew. I knew at the reunion.’

‘It’s a long time ago,’ she said, ‘for God’s sake it’s years and years ago, so much has changed since then.’ She stopped, took a deep breath. ‘It’s just that – everybody remembers things from when they were young, but that’s all a long time ago, when we were young and working together and everything seemed romantic...’ and he heard that her voice shook, ‘...we’ve both had lots of affairs since then – Tony I know you have affairs –’ as he opened his mouth to protest ‘– I’m living with someone else. That was when we were young.’

‘But you haven’t forgotten, have you?’ He put out his arm, to touch her again. He wanted to feel her mouth with his fingers, knowing what it could do. But she was adamant.

‘Tony I won’t even talk to you if you don’t sit down. Over there.’ She pointed to the chair by his desk. Reluctantly he sat down, and she sat on the small armchair opposite, but he leant forward urgently.

‘It was seeing you again,’ he said, ‘it all came crowding back.’

‘We were young,’ she kept saying, ‘it was when we were young and playing all those parts together.’

‘We’re still young,’ he said, ‘and look at you anyway, cavorting about with a man half your age. No, no, I’m sorry –’ as Molly stood up quickly ‘– sit down again my darling, I’m only jealous. Oh God Molly. I want you with all my heart, you remember how it was, not like with anyone else.’