第140章

Shesternlymadethesignofrefusal：sheresolutelyopenedthedoortoleavehim。“DoyouwantyourConfessionback？“heasked。

Sheclosedthedoor，stolidlysubmissiveinaninstant；andcrossedtothepartitionwall。

Sheliftedtheloosestripsofpaperoneithersideofthewall——pointedthroughthehollowedplace——anddrewbackagaintotheotherendoftheroom。

Heroseandwalkedunsteadilyfromthechairtothefootofhisbed。Holdingbythewood-workofthebed；hewaitedalittle。

Whilehewaited，hebecameconsciousofachangeinthestrangesensationsthatpossessedhim。Afeelingasofabreathofcoldairpassedovertherightsideofhishead。Hebecamesteadyagain：hecouldcalculatehisdistances：hecouldputhishandsthroughthehollowedplace，anddrawasidethelightcurtains，hangingfromthehookintheceilingovertheheadofherbed。Hecouldlookathissleepingwife。

Shewasdimlyvisible，bythelightofthecandleplacedattheotherendofherroom。Thewornandwearylookhaddisappearedfromherface。Allthathadbeenpurestandsweetestinit，intheby-gonetime，seemedtoberenewedbythedeepsleepthatheldhergently。Shewasyoungagaininthedimlight：shewasbeautifulinhercalmrepose。Herheadlaybackonthepillow。

Herupturnedfacewasinapositionwhichplacedhercompletelyatthemercyofthemanunderwhoseeyesshewassleeping——themanwhowaslookingather，withthemercilessresolutioninhimtotakeherlife。

Afterwaitingawhile，hedrewback。“She’smorelikeachildthanawomanto-night，“hemutteredtohimselfunderhisbreath。

HeglancedacrosstheroomatHesterDethridge。Thelightedcandlewhichshehadbroughtupstairswithherwasburningneartheplacewhereshestood。“Blowitout，“hewhispered。Shenevermoved。Herepeatedthedirection。Thereshestood，deaftohim。

Whatwasshedoing？Shewaslookingfixedlyintooneofthecornersoftheroom。

Heturnedhisheadagaintowardthehollowedplaceinthewall。

Helookedatthepeacefulfaceonthepillowoncemore。Hedeliberatelyrevivedhisownvindictivesenseofthedebtthatheowedher。“Butforyou，“hewhisperedtohimself，“Ishouldhavewontherace：butforyou，Ishouldhave