The End Of The Affair

Bendrix waits in the restaurant for Sarah, reading a newspaper and trying not to glance toward the door whenever a person enters. Sarah is five minutes late and arrives just as Bendrix is checking his watch; she apologizes for her tardiness. As they sit and talk, Bendrix catches the eye of a man who seems to be watching them. He stares at the man, who drops his glass of beer. Bendrix immediately regrets causing such confusion in the man, who is with his (now embarrassed) son.

They decide to go to a restaurant called Rules, where they dined together frequently in the past. They pass by spots where they enjoyed romantic moments and arrive in the restaurant, where the waiter remembers them. After they eat, Sarah reveals that she “wanted to ask [Bendrix] about Henry” (17), which disappoints Bendrix. They discuss the matter, interrupted by Sarah’s persistent cough. As they discuss Bendrix’s writing, Sarah admits she was worried he would write about their relationship “for a revenge,” although Bendrix jokes that this would be “too hard work” (18). He pays and they leave, agreeing to speak again soon. As Bendrix moves toward her, Sarah breaks out into a coughing fit. They part ways, Sarah’s cough echoing along the street.

Bendrix details his work schedule and his methodical habit of writing exactly 500 words each day. Even during the war, he kept up this routine. However, Sarah managed to break him from his habits. But when he realized “how often [they] quarreled” (19), Bendrix understood that the relationship was doomed. When she left the house, he found himself unable to work. Then, he decided that he “had to shut [his] eyes and wring its neck” (19).

Just as he had been unable to write in a satisfactory manner during their affair, Bendrix finds his writing to be difficult after the meeting at Rules. He tries to work in the morning but finds himself staring across the Common toward Sarah and Henry’s home. Then, he is visited by Mr. Parkis, who is “Mr. Savage’s man” (20). Parkis produces “an extraordinary number of papers and envelopes” (20) and begins to tell Bendrix what he has found. They discuss Parkis’s son, who accompanies him on duty. As Parkis details his expenses, Bendrix recognizes him as the man from the bar who spilled his beer. He reads Parkis’s report of the meeting at Rules, which continues after Bendrix and Sarah parted ways. Sarah visited the National Portrait Gallery for a few minutes, before entering a church.

Bendrix reveals to Parkis that he was the man in the restaurant. Although Bendrix sees the funny side, Parkis is mortified, embarrassed that he will have to tell his son. Parkis leaves and Bendrix realizes that, “for ten minutes [he] had not thought of Sarah or of [his] jealousy” (23).

Bendrix compares his jealousy with Henry’s and finds that they are similar, yet different in nature. Bendrix thinks back to the time, just after he first kissed Sarah, when he phoned her a week later. He invited her to the cinema to see a film based on one of his books. The film “was not a good film” (24), and Bendrix felt the need to point out where it differed from his writing. Sarah was sympathetic and they had dinner at Rules afterwards, even though Bendrix felt inspired and wanted to write. They discussed the film and Bendrix felt himself falling in love. Bendrix touched Sarah’s knee beneath the table and she held his hand.

Leaving dinner early, they each confessed their love for the other and then headed to a hotel. Bendrix revisited the hotel later and found it destroyed in the Blitz. After they made love, Bendrix walked Sarah home across the Common, and once inside, they met Henry and stopped for an amiable drink. Bendrix politely declined. As Sarah walked him to the door, they kissed again, and she promised to phone him in the morning. Bendrix noticed that Sarah seemed well-practiced at conducting an affair.