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Chapters (51)
  1. Introduction by Michael Bronski
  2. BEGINNING
  3. II
  4. III
  5. IV
  6. V
  7. VI
  8. VII
  9. VIII
  10. IX
  11. X
  12. XI
  13. XII
  14. XIII
  15. MIDDLE
  16. II
  17. III
  18. IV
  19. V
  20. VI
  21. VII
  22. VIII
  23. IX
  24. X
  25. XI
  26. XII
  27. XIII
  28. XIV
  29. XV
  30. XVI
  31. XVII
  32. XVIII
  33. XIX
  34. XX
  35. END
  36. II
  37. III
  38. IV
  39. V
  40. VI
  41. VII
  42. VIII
  43. IX
  44. X
  45. XI
  46. XII
  47. XIII
  48. XIV
  49. XV
  50. XVI
  51. About the Author

“Not much to work on, is it?”

“Plenty.” For the first time during the discussion, her look was spirited and meaningful.

“Then I’m to be a bachelor for the rest of the summer, is that it? While you,” he added, “fiddle around and—decide my fate.”

“The children’s,” she said quietly; “not yours.”

He got up and drew on his red-­cotton dressing gown. He noticed how one of the shoulder seams was split; that was Cliff. “I suppose it’s as sensible an arrangement as any,” he said. “At least it will give you and the boys a pleasant summer.”

“And you.”

“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m sure you know better than I do.”

He hesitated a moment; then: “You needn’t have said that, Ethel. If you’re hinting at something dark, you know better. I’m not a cheater and never have been.”

“I only meant,” she said, “you’ll be better off alone. You don’t want us.”

“I will not have you thinking for me! I know what I want, even if you don’t think so.”

“Your dressing gown is ripped,” she said.

“I know that.”

“I’ve got a needle and thread, if you’ll give it to me.”

He did not answer. He lay down on the bed again, propped himself against the pillows in a half-­sitting position, and picked up the Herald Tribune and a pencil. He glanced at the date; but because he had lost all track of time he could not tell whether it was yesterday’s paper or today’s. He did not want to read the news. He turned at once to the crossword puzzle on the next-­to-­the-­last page. He knew this was a snub to Ethel if not actually a cowardly dodge, but he persisted in taking refuge in the paper, fearful of where the discussion—so far well-­mannered enough, and controlled—might lead. Behind the paper held between him and her, he could feel that she was regarding him from the wicker chair with probably a very real hate.

As he began to work on the little squares, he was vaguely aware of a solid mass of several closely printed columns to the right of the puzzle, which, without looking, he dimly gathered to be stock-­exchange figures or market reports. Lost in thought over some definition in the puzzle, his eye finally roamed over these columns, and it was a full moment before he took in the significance of the caption printed at the top of the page:

CASUALTIES

(Continued from Page 2)