Asleep
Viv believes that Berty and Maurice are asleep when she tells Tom that they will get married. Ironically, Berty is only pretending to be asleep and hears everything.
Secret
Viv and Tom make the decision to get married, to share the rest of their lives together. Ironically, Viv keeps a major secret from him about her health problems. She provides no way out for him in keeping this secret.
Family
Viv wants to marry in order to get as far away from her family as possible. Ironically, when she marries Tom he wants to stay close to home and become as British as can be though he is American.
Best
Tom believes he writes best only when he is sick. Ironically, he makes himself sick in order that he will be able to produce something worthy of the public's interest.
Banker
Tom becomes a banker in order to support he and Viv. He does so in order to provide a decent life for them while he is making his way to being a writer full-time. Ironically, Viv tells him that Berty has invited her to the shore and she is going. Insinuating the thought that she may sleep with Berty.
