That had been
monstrous, contemptible! She realized it now. But that, too, was beyond
remedy. Her only hope left was that in his fury he would set her free,
and that without injury to Jerry. She had not the faintest notion how he
would set about it; but doubtless he would not keep her long in
ignorance. He would be more eager now than she had ever been to snap
asunder the chain that bound them to each other. Yes, she was quite,
quite sure that he would never want to see her again.
CHAPTER X
Jerry's dinner was not, for some reason, quite the success he had
anticipated.
Nan made no complaint of the cooking, but she ate next to nothing, to the
grief of his hospitable soul. She was tired, of course, but there was
something in her manner that he could not fathom. She was silent and
unresponsive. There was almost an air of tragedy about her that made her
so unfamiliar that he felt as if he were entertaining a stranger. He did
not like the change. His old domineering, impetuous playfellow was
infinitely easier to understand. He did not feel at ease with this quiet,
white-faced woman, who treated him with such wholly unaccustomed
courtesy.
"I say," he said, when the meal was ended, "let's go upstairs and have a
smoke. I can clear away after you have gone to bed. Or do you want to go
to bed now? It's nearly nine, so you may if you like."
She thanked him, and declined.
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