“He got up and went out, did some telephoning and explanations, placated his mother, apologized to his host, got himself shaved and trimmed up, and attended the office as usual. Masses of work awaited him. Nothing had changed in his life. Nothing remained in it. He was back with his loneliness as it had been before Clive, as it was after Clive, and would now be for ever. He had failed and that wasn't the saddest: he had seen Alec fail. In a way they were one person. Love had failed. Love is an emotion through which you occasionally enjoy yourself. It could not to do things.”