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It seemed very silent in the church when they had finally dragged her out of hearing. The scene had
been so violent, so squalid, that everyone was upset by it. Even Ellis looked disgusted. Flory could
neither speak nor stir. He sat staring fixedly at the altar, his face rigid and so bloodless that the
birthmark seemed to glow upon it like a streak of blue paint. Elizabeth glanced across the aisle at
him, and her revulsion made her almost physically sick. She had not understood a word of what Ma
Hla May was saying, but the meaning of the scene was perfectly clear. The thought that he had been
the lover of that grey-faced maniacal creature made her shudder in her bones. But worse than that,
worse than anything, was his ugliness at this moment. His face appalled her, it was so ghastly, rigid
and old. It was like a skull. Only the birthmark seemed alive in it. She hated him now for his
birthmark. She had never known till this moment how dishonouring, how unforgivable a thing it was.
Like the crocodile, U Po Kyin had struck at the weakest spot. For, needless to say, this scene was U
Po Kyin’s doing. He had seen his chance, as usual, and tutored Ma Hla May for her part with
considerable care. The clergyman brought his sermon to an end almost at once. As soon as it was
over Flory hurried outside, not looking at any of the others. It was getting dark, thank God. At fifty
yards from the church he halted, and watched the others making in couples for the Club. It seemed to
him that they were hurrying. Ah, they would, of course! There would be something to talk about at the
Club tonight! Flo rolled belly-upwards against his ankles, asking for a game. ‘Get out, you bloody
brute!’ he said, and kicked her. Elizabeth had stopped at the church door. Mr Macgregor, happy
chance, seemed to be introducing her to the clergyman. In a moment the two men went on in the
direction of Mr Macgregor’s house, where the clergyman was to stay for the night, and Elizabeth
followed the others, thirty yards behind them. Flory ran after her and caught up with her almost at the
Club gate.
‘Elizabeth!’
She looked round, saw him, turned white, and would have hurried on without a word. But his
anxiety was too great, and he caught her by the wrist.
‘Elizabeth! I must–I’ve got to speak to you!’
‘Let me go, will you!’
They began to struggle, and then stopped abruptly. Two of the Karens who had come out of the
church were standing fifty yards away, gazing at them through the half-darkness with deep interest.
Flory began again in a lower tone:
‘Elizabeth, I know I’ve no right to stop you like this. But I must speak to you, I must! Please hear
what I’ve got to say. Please don’t run away from me!’
‘What are you doing? Why are you holding on to my arm? Let me go this instant!’
‘I’ll let you go–there, look! But do listen to me, please! Answer me this one thing. After what’s
happened, can you ever forgive me?’
‘Forgive you? What do you mean, forgive you?’
‘I know I’m disgraced. It was the vilest thing to happen! Only, in a sense it wasn’t my fault. You’ll
see that when you’re calmer. Do you think–not now, it was too bad, but later–do you think you can
forget it?’