The Angel in the Corner - Monica Dickens [139]
‘Why not? I’ll sleep it off this afternoon. You should be glad if I can drink myself to sleep. Gives you a chance to run round the corner and meet your boy-friend.’
Virginia did not answer. ‘I said, it gives you a chance to run out and meet your boy-friend,’ Joe repeated, irritated that he could not goad her.
‘Oh, stop it,’ she said. ‘You’ve made a big enough fool of yourself for one day. Felix won’t come back here again. You can give yourself marks for that – if you like losing customers – but you can’t give yourself any marks for sense.’
Joe took a drink of whisky and made a face. He was at the stage when alcohol is repulsive and essential at the same time. He banged his glass down on the table. ‘I’ve got enough sense to see when a man is trying to make my wife,’ he said surlily, ‘and when my wife is making it easy for him.’
‘That’s a lie.’ Virginia faced him across the table. ‘I don’t think anything about Felix. He’s been kind to me, that’s all, and I’ve known him for quite a long time. You just don’t throw away your friends because your husband is unreasonably jealous.’
‘You would if you cared anything about how your husband felt. That’s the hell of it.’ Joe gazed moodily into space, his eyes black and empty.
‘Not that again. I can’t argue with you when you’re like that, because you won’t listen to the truth.’
‘How do I know when you’re telling me the truth? I tell you, it’s a hell of a situation.’
‘I’ve always told you the truth. You know that. And I’m telling it now. I don’t care a thing for Felix. I never did. I’ve never cared for anyone but you.’
‘I notice you don’t use the word love any more,’ Joe said cunningly, shifting his eyes to look at her without moving his head.
‘It means the same thing. Here’ – Virginia pushed a plate in front of him – ‘eat your sandwiches, and I’ll make some coffee. That will do you much more good than the whisky. Give me the glass and I’ll pour it away.’
‘The hell you will.’ Joe grabbed the glass as she reached for it, swallowed the rest of the drink, and stood up. ‘Come here,’ he said. ‘No, nearer. I want to talk to you.’
When she was standing in front of him, he stared at her, trying to focus his eyes, swaying a little on his feet. ‘Tell me the truth then,’ he said. ‘Now that you’ve seen that guy again, and now that you’ve been married to me for nearly two years, during which I’ve – how did your charming mother put it – dragged you with me into the gutter, weren’t you wishing out there in the bar that you were married to him instead of me?’
‘No.’ Virginia shook her head. She could say it honestly, because she had not thought of it. Now, the idea passed through her mind. Marriage to Felix … safe, dull, gentle. A comfortable home, children, security, friends, graceful, polite parties … so very different from this, and she herself a very different person. A little dull herself by now probably, securely undemanding, content never to know what her body was capable of, never to guess at the passion or the pain.…
‘What are you thinking?’ Joe was watching her.
She brought her eyes back to his face and said honestly: ‘I was thinking what it would have been like being married to Felix. I wouldn’t …’
‘You dirty bitch!’ Joe lurched forward and struck her in the face. She staggered, clutching at the table, and ducked her head as he aimed another wild blow at her.
‘Oh, crumbs, Mrs C. – oh, crumbs!’ Lennie had come running into the room when Joe shouted. He pushed Virginia out of the way and stood, pathetically courageous between her and Joe, squaring his elbows and doubling his fists, his voice trembling up to a squeak. ‘You leave her alone, you brute, do you hear me? I’ll get the police. You lay a hand on her, and I’ll get the police to you!’
Joe put his hands on his hips and roared with laughter. ‘I’ll get the police to you!’ he mimicked. ‘What’s the matter – can’t you fight it out yourself? Put your hands up, big boy, and let’s see who’s boss around here.’
Joe raised his fists, feinting at Lennie with a leering grin. The boy flailed his weak arms like