ity of the island, the sandy waste of L'Ancresse. When darkness
began to fall, no human being was in his range of sight. He stood on
one spot for nearly a quarter of an hour, watching, or appearing to
watch, the black, low-flying scud.

Their time for dining was seven. Shortly before this Widdowson entered
the house and went to the sitting-room; Monica was not there. He found
her in the bed-chamber, before the looking-glass. At the sight of his
reflected face she turned instantly.

'Monica!' He put his hands on her shoulders, whispering hoarsely,
'Monica! don't you love me?'

She looked away, not replying.

'Monica!'

And of a sudden he fell on his knees before her, clasped her about the
waist, burst into choking sobs.

'Have you no love for me? My darling! My dear, beautiful wife! Have you
begun to hate me?'

Tears came to her eyes. She implored him to rise and command himself.

'I was so violent, so brutal with you. I spoke without thinking--'

'But _why_ should you speak like that? Why are you so unreasonable? If
you forbid me to do simple things, with not the least harm in them, you
can't expect me to take it like a child. I shall resist; I can't help
it.'

He had risen and was crushing her in his arms, his hot breath on her
neck, when he began to whisper,--

'I want to keep you all to myself. I don't like these people--they
think so differently--they put such hateful ideas into your mind--they
are not the right kind of friends for you--'

'You misunderstand them, and you don't in the least understand me. Oh,
you hurt me, Edmund!'

He released her body, and took her head between his hands.

'I had rather you were dead than that you should cease to love me! You
shall go to see her; I won't say a word against it. But, Monica, be
faithful, be faithful to me!'

'Faithful to you?' she echoed in astonishment. 'What have I said or
done to put you in such a state? Because I wish to make a few friends
as all women do--'

'It's because I have lived so much alone. I have never had more than
one or two friends, and I am absurdly jealous when you want to get away
from me and amuse yourself with strangers. I can't talk to such people.
I am not suited for society. If I hadn't met you in that strange way,
by miracle, I should never have been able to marry. If I allow you to
have these friends--'

'I don't like to hear that word. Why should you say _allow_? Do you
think of me as your servant, Edmund?'

'You