warm water all ready."

She stood in front of her mistress, broad, awkward and yet capable. Dion
felt certain this woman meant to get rid of him because she was aware
that her mistress wanted him to go. He had always realized that Sonia
knew Mrs. Clarke better than any other woman did. As for himself--she
had never shown any feeling towards him. He did not know whether she
liked him or disliked him. But now he knew that he disliked her.

He looked almost menacingly at her.

"Your mistress can't go at present," he said. "Her hand is all right. It
was only a scratch."

Sonia looked at her mistress.

"Sonia is quite right," said Mrs. Clarke, getting up. "And as the water
is warm I will go. Good-by."

"I will stay here till you have finished," he said, still looking at
Sonia.

"It's getting very late. We might finish our talk to-morrow."

"I will stay."

After a slight pause Mrs. Clarke, whose face was still discolored with
red, turned to the maid and said:

"Go away, Sonia."

Sonia went away very slowly. At the door she stopped for a moment and
looked round. Then she disappeared, and the door closed slowly and as if
reluctantly behind her.

"Now what did you mean?" Dion said.

He got up.

"What did you mean?"

"Simply this, that my husband ought to have won his case."

"Ah!"

He stood with his hands hanging at his sides, looking impassive, with
his head bent and the lids drooping over his eyes. She waited--for her
freedom. She did not mind the disgust which she felt like an emanation
in the darkening room, if only it would carry him far enough in hatred
of her. Would it do that?

There was a very long silence between them. During it he remained
motionless. With his hanging hands and his drooping head he looked, she
thought, almost as much like a puppet as like a man. His whole body had
a strange aspect of listlessness, almost of feebleness. Yet she knew how
muscular and powerful he still was, although he had long ago ceased from
taking care of his body. The silence lasted so long, and he stood so
absolutely still, that she began to feel uneasy, even faintly afraid.
The nerves in her body were tingling. They could have braced themselves
to encounter violence, but this immobility and dumbness tormented them.
She wanted to speak, to move, but she felt obliged to wait for him.
At last he looked up. He came to her, lifted his hands and laid them
heavily on her emaciated shoulders.

"So that's what yo