Still she was silent。 He watched her dark figure as she stood
there on the edge of the faint darkness; and he waited。
〃e and say good night nicely; if were going to say it;〃
he said。
Still she did not stir。 He put his hand out and drew her into
the darkness again。
〃Its warmer in here;〃 he said; 〃a lot cosier。〃
His will had not yet relaxed from her。 The moment of hatred
exhilarated him。
〃Im going now;〃 she muttered; as he closed his hand over
her。
〃See how well you fit your place;〃 he said; as he drew her to
her previous position; close upon him。 〃What do you want to
leave it for?〃
And gradually the intoxication invaded him again; the zest
came back。 After all; why should he not take her?
But she did not yield to him entirely。
〃Are you a married man?〃 she asked at length。
〃What if I am?〃 he said。
She did not answer。
〃I dont ask you whether youre married or not;〃 he
said。
〃You know jolly well Im not;〃 she answered hotly。 Oh;
if she could only break away from him; if only she need not
yield to him。
At length her will became cold against him。 She had escaped。
But she hated him for her escape more than for her danger。 Did
he despise her so coldly? And she was in torture of adherence to
him still。
〃Shall I see you next week……next Saturday?〃 he said; as
they returned to the town。 She did not answer。
〃e to the Empire with me……you and Gertie;〃 he
said。
〃I should look well; going with a married man;〃 she said。
〃Im no less of a man for being married; am I?〃 he said。