Voyage In The Dark

Anna becomes eager for Walter’s presence, waiting all day for his letters to arrive. She thinks of their time together and resents Sundays, when he is not in London. That year, Anna’s birthday falls on a Sunday, and she receives a card from Maudie who intends to visit her that day.

When Maudie comes to visit her, Anna associates her with the past: “When I remember living with her it was like looking at an old photograph of myself and thinking, ‘What on earth’s that got to do with me?’” (38).

Maudie comments on the new appearance of Anna and her quarters saying she always knew Anna would “get off with somebody with money” (38). Anna lives a more lavish lifestyle and Maudie cautiously advises her not to get too attached and emotional, as men often have their own agenda.

Anna resents this and protests to listening further while Maudie laments her own experiences with Viv. She comments: “’The thing with men is to get everything you can out of them and not care a damn. You ask any girl in London—or any girl in the whole world if it comes to that—who really knows, and she’ll tell you the same thing’” (38-39).