ring inaudible words, as if trying to
account to himself for my conduct. At length he approached me again and
said, in the tone of one who thought he was making peace:

"Look here, Mary. I think I understand you at last. You have some other
attachment--that's it, I suppose. Oh, don't think I'm blaming you. I may
be in the same case myself for all you know to the contrary. But
circumstances have been too strong for us and here we are. Well, we're
in it, and we've got to make the best of it and why shouldn't we? Lots
of people in my class are in the same position, and yet they get along
all right. Why can't we do the same? I'll not be too particular. Neither
will you. For the rest of our lives let each of us go his and her own
way. But that's no reason why we should be strangers exactly. Not on our
wedding-day at all events. You're a damned pretty woman and I'm. . . .
Well, I'm not an ogre, I suppose. We are man and wife, too. So look
here, we won't expect too much affection from each other--but let's stop
this fooling and be good friends for a little while anyway. Come, now."

Once more he took hold of me, as if to draw me back, kissing my hands as
he did so, but his gross misinterpretation of my resistance and the
immoral position he was putting me into were stifling me, and I cried:

"No, I will not. Don't you see that I hate and loathe you?"

There could be no mistaking me this time. The truth had fallen on my
husband with a shock. I think it was the last thing his pride had
expected. His face became shockingly distorted. But after a moment,
recovering himself with a cruel laugh that made my hot blood run cold,
he said:

"Nevertheless, you shall do as I wish. You are my wife, and as such you
belong to me. The law allows me to compel you and I will."

The words went shrieking through and through me. He was coming towards
me with outstretched arms, his teeth set, and his pupils fixed. In the
drunkenness of his rage he was laughing brutally.

But all my fear had left me. I felt an almost murderous impulse. I
wanted to strike him on the face.

"If you attempt to touch me I will throw myself out of the window," I
said.

"No fear of that," he said, catching me quickly in his arms.

"If you do not take your hands off me I'll shriek the house down," I
cried.

That was enough. He let me go and dropped back from me. At the next
moment I was breathing with a sense of freedom. Without resistance on my
husband's part