Their friendship was based on a competition for a woman, “they had Molly in common” (65). This similarity could have brought them together but also separated them; this would have created jealousy between them. Clive's trip to the Lake District recognizes the fact that their main commonality is a woman named Molly. The romantic relationship between the woman and each man could have caused a competition over which man she loved more. This competition may not have been evident during the relationship, but it may have been in each man's subconscious. This could have caused disagreement between Clive and Vernon. The disagreement reveals the competitive nature between the two