The End Of The Affair

Bendrix moves to Henry’s home across the Common. He works all day and then, in the evening, he and Henry go to the pub. One time when Henry is away, Bendrix brings a prostitute back to the house but finds himself “impotent” (93). He discovers a trove of Sarah’s childhood possessions and spends an evening going through it all.

One morning, Henry arrives home while Bendrix is eating his breakfast. Henry reveals that he has been to Mass with Father Crompton, who he then invited to dinner. Bendrix cannot help but resent the priest who “kept Sarah from [him]” (94). The conversation is slow and tedious, with Bendrix making little effort and the priest unpracticed in the art of small talk. As Bendrix finally begins to talk—arguing with Crompton about superstition—the doorbell rings.

Bendrix answers the door and finds a “stout woman in black holding a parcel” (95). The parcel has been sent by Parkis. Bendrix writes her a receipt and takes the parcel. Henry calls down the hallway but Bendrix does not want to open the parcel. Hearing Crompton leave, Bendrix decides to open the parcel in the hallway, and inside finds one of Sarah’s books that had been given to Lance. There is also a letter from Parkis.

The letter is a rambling account of Lance’s illness. After watching Sarah, Lance became convinced that she was like his own deceased mother. As the boy became sick, Parkis lied to Henry and asked him for something of Sarah’s, in order to satisfy Lance’s fever dream in which Sarah had come to him and promised him a present.

The book seems to improve Lance’s condition, but Parkis remains worried and prays to God for help. The next day, Lance’s fever had improved, and the boy tells his doctor that Sarah came to him in the night and cured him, leaving behind a message in the book. As a result, Parkis would “rather not have the book in the house” (97). Bendrix examines the book and finds a poem, written by Sarah as a child. He shows Henry. When Crompton says that Sarah was “a good woman” (97), Bendrix loses his temper: “She was nothing of the sort” (98), he insists. They argue and Henry tries to apologize. Bendrix storms out of the room.

Bendrix goes to his room, reflecting on how much he hates everything, including himself. He is unable to sleep, consumed by thoughts of Sarah and of all his regrets.

Bendrix’s book is not going well. He takes a break by walking across the Common and listening to the speakers. Spotting Richard Smythe, Bendrix decides to speak to the man. Richard has given up public speaking, as he no longer knows what to believe. As they talk, Richard reveals that he has cured the marks which blighted his otherwise-handsome face.

Bendrix returns home to try to write again. He compares trying to write a difficult character to being God. When Henry arrives home, Bendrix is glad for the distraction. Henry seems dejected, so Bendrix offers him a drink. Henry tells a story about being visited by Mrs. Bertram, who asked to borrow £10. He gave her the money but “couldn’t resist a sermon” (101). Mrs. Bertram accuses him of “not giving Sarah a proper funeral” (101) and tells him the story of the baptism. Bendrix assures him that it means nothing.

The phone rings. It is Richard Smythe, asking for Bendrix. Richard confesses that the marks on his face cleared up of their own accord. Before Richard can explain the superstitious circumstances, Bendrix hangs up. He dismisses the possibility of some supernatural cause but asks “how many coincidences are there going to be” (102).

Bendrix goes to his room, determined not to have these coincidences haunt him. He rips apart Sarah’s diary and declares: “I hate You, God, I hate You as though You existed” (103). Calling down to Henry, Bendrix declares himself ready, and they walk together across the Common to the pub. He feels a protective duty toward Henry, praying to himself in the hope that God will “leave [him] alone forever” (104).