HE'D COME BACK
109
'She didn't do nothing.'
'Well, Jack, what did she say?'
Jack sighed and straightened himself up: 'She said―she said―"Well, so you've come back".'
Painful silence.
'Well, Jack, and what did you say?'
'I said yes.'
'Well, and so you had!' said Tom Moonlight.
'It wasn't that, Tom,' said Jack sadly and wearily―It was the way she said it!'
Lally Thompson rubbed his eyes: 'And what did you do, Jack?' he asked gently.
'I stayed for a year, and then I deserted her again―but I meant it that time.'
'Ah, well! It's time to turn in.'
