. His eyes were
red, and he looked at her as though he priced her, with such an
expression of disdaining a cheap thing that she learnt, in that moment,
the pain of all poor women dishonoured. Yet she followed him and made
him turn to her.

"What have you been doing?" she said. "I have been waiting for so long."

There came on his face the sneering look she had not lately seen, and in
his throat he made noises that for a little while did not come to words.

"Ah! I've been into town, too; you little devil, pranking yourself out,
coming to me so soft and gentle--kissing--Here!" He took her by the
wrist and dragged the ring from her and made to throw it into the night.
"But no," he said slowly. "No. I think not. Come here again. You shall
wear it; you shall wear it to your dying day."

"I'm willing to," she said. His arm was round her, hurting her. "Tell me
what's the matter, George."

He gripped her fiercely and let her go so that she staggered.

"Get back! I don't want to touch you!" Then he mimicked her. "'Won't you
ever learn to trust me?' I'd learnt. I'd have given you my soul to care
for. I--I'd done it--and you took it to the doctor!"

"No," she said. "I took my own." She was shaking; her bare feet were ice
cold. "George--"

"You lied about him! Yes, you did! You who are forever talking about
honesty!"

"I didn't lie. I didn't tell you the whole truth, but now I will, though
I've never asked for any of your confessions. I shouldn't like to hear
them. I suppose you saw me this afternoon?"

"Ay, I did. I saw you turn and run like a rabbit to that man's house.
I'd come to meet you, my God! I was happy. You'd my ring at last. I
followed you. I waited. I saw you come out, white, shaking, the way
you're shaking now." He dropped into a chair. "Dirt! Dirt!" he moaned.

She made a sad little gesture at that word and began to walk up and down
the room. The grey dressing gown was slung about her shoulders like a
shawl, and he watched the moving feet.

"And then you went and had a drink," she said. "Yes. I don't blame you.
That's what I was having, too. And my thirst is quenched. I'm not going
to be thirsty any more. I had a long drink of the freshest, loveliest
water, but I'll never taste it again. I'll never forget it either." For
a time there was no sound but that of her bare feet on the bare floor.
"What did you think I was doing there?" she whispered, and her pace grew
faster.

His tone insulted her. "God kn