don't figger any talk could convince either of us different to how we
think and feel. Maybe there's Someone knows the rights of this thing
better than either of us. That being so, I allow He'll ultimately fix
things as He intends. Meanwhile it's for us to do as we feel, just so
far as our personal earthly concerns go."

The coldness in his voice had grown, and it left Evie with a complete
sense of hopelessness that was harder to bear than any fears which
violence of language might have inspired.

His pause was prolonged. She made no effort to break it, she dared not
break it. For the man, he was gathering the threads of what he had to
say so as to deliver it concretely. He feared to prolong this interview.
In view of his decision he must not risk any violent outbreak such as his
feelings were even now striving to force upon him.

"Maybe you'll remember what I said to you about Ronny just after we
were--married. I don't guess you'll have forgotten, seeing things are as
they are. What I said then stands now. If you'd been a man I'd have
shot you down in your tracks when I got to home last night. That should
say all that need be said about how I'm feeling now. You aren't a man,
and you're my wife. Well--you're still my wife. That means it's up to
me to keep you as though this thing hadn't broken things up. I intend to
act as right as I can by you. This is your home. You must use it, if
you feel that way. The Obar has to go on. It's your means of living.
It's my means of living. Then there are others concerned in it. For
these reasons I shall carry on things, and your knowledge of this sort of
work should hand you a reasonable share in the running of this place. If
you feel you can act this way, without remembering we're man and wife,
why, I guess we can agree to live our--separate--lives under the same
roof. If you don't feel you can do this, why, you need to say so right
here an' now, an' state your wishes. I'll do my best to carry them
through, provided you understand our lives are separate from now on. Do
you get that?"

Did she get it? Could there be any mistaking those cold tones, that
ruthless decision?

From slightly behind him Elvine had stood watching with straining eyes
the still figure, speaking with so obvious a repression of feeling, his
eyes steadily fixed upon the distant horizon. Once or twice an ominous
flush had suddenly flamed up in her eyes. A deep flush had stained her