The Moon and Sixpence - Penn State University

Somerset Maugham
she might easily have flung out of the studio with head that his wife cared for Strickland, and with
vows never to return. But the little man was so his genius for blundering he might quite well
distressed that I could not smile.
have offended her so that, to anger him, perhaps,
“My dear fellow, don’t be unhappy. She’ll she had taken pains to foster his suspicion.
come back. You mustn’t take very seriously what “Look here,” I said, “let’s go back to your stu-
women say when they’re in a passion.” dio. If you’ve made a fool of yourself you must
“ You don’t understand. She’s in love with eat humble pie. Your wife doesn’t strike me as
Strickland.”
the sort of woman to bear malice.”
“What!” I was startled at this, but the idea had “How can I go back to the studio?” he said
no sooner taken possession of me than I saw it wearily. “They’re there. I’ve left it to them.”
was absurd. “How can you be so silly? You don’t “Then it’s not your wife who’s left you; it’s
mean to say you’re jealous of Strickland?” I al- you who’ve left your wife.”
most laughed. “You know very well that she “For God’s sake don’t talk to me like that.”
can’t bear the sight of him.”
Still I could not take him seriously. I did not for
“ You don’t understand,” he moaned.
a moment believe what he had told me. But he
“ You’re an hysterical ass,” I said a little impa- was in very real distress.
tiently. “Let me give you a whisky-and-soda, and “ Well, you’ve come here to talk to me about
you’ll feel better. ”
it. You’d better tell me the whole story. ”
I supposed that for some reason or other — and “This afternoon I couldn’t stand it any more. I
Heaven knows what ingenuity men exercise to went to Strickland and told him I thought he was
torment themselves — Dirk had got it into his quite well enough to go back to his own place. I
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