he would do all her tricks! She was bent on pleasing him. And
how vulgar and common Trampy appeared in comparison. However, there was no
help for it now; and Lily hastened home to bring him the good news.... In
any case, Trampy would be grateful to her for what she had done for him.
As a matter of fact, it had cost her an effort to go and pay this visit.

She happened to run up against Trampy coming out of the bar, where,
according to his custom, he had been drowning his cares. He had a moment
of delight on learning the result of the visit, but, mad with jealousy, at
once adopted a lofty tone, so as not to have to thank her:

"I knew he would knuckle under!" he said, without looking at Lily. "The
braggart! He prefers a settlement, eh? And quite right too! He knows he's
in the wrong. He's retreating, he's afraid."

"Afraid of what?" asked Lily, bewildered.

"Afraid of me. He knows it won't pay to try my patience too far!"

"Afraid? Jimmy?" said Lily, indignant at all that foolery. "Do you think
he's done that because he's afraid?"

"And for what other reason would he have given in so soon?"

"He did it to please me, he did it for _me_, damn it, for _me_!" said
Lily. "You're rid of your lawsuit: you ought to talk differently and thank
me!"

"And why should he do it to please you? What is there between you?" asked
Trampy, looking her in the face.

"You're drunk!" said Lily furiously, with her hand ready to scratch.

"No scenes in the street!" said Trampy. "We'll go into this at home ..."

"Then I shan't come in!" said Lily, abruptly turning her back on him. "I'm
going to the theater!"

She had nothing to do on the stage; only the idea of being alone in the
room with Trampy seemed intolerable to her. At the least discussion, Lily
felt it, she would have thrown the lamp at his head, so great was her
indignation at his insolence!

She was boiling over with anger when she reached the theater. There were
people practising; it was the time for it. Lily went up to her
dressing-room, shifted things in her trunk, anyhow, for something to do.
The idea that her husband thought her capable of anything wrong made her
angry. Oh, to get a divorce, to part from him! As this could not go on for
ever, it might as well be done at once; but it would be better if there
were no fault on her part. A divorce, yes; but with the honors on her
side; a divorce in her favor! Patience, the opportunity would come! It
ought to be quite easy