第61章

LeavingthewidowonthelandingSueturnedtothechamberwhichhadbeenhersexclusivelysinceherarrivalatMarygreen，andpushingtothedoorkneltdownbythebedforaminuteortwo。Shethenarose，andtakinghernight-gownfromthepillowundressedandcameouttoMrs。Edlin。

Amancouldbeheardsnoringintheroomopposite。ShewishedMrs。Edlingood-night，andthewidowenteredtheroomthatSuehadjustvacated。

Sueunlatchedtheotherchamberdoor，and，asifseizedwithfaintness，sankdownoutsideit。Gettingupagainshehalfopenedthedoor，andsaid`Richard。’Asthewordcameoutofhermouthshevisiblyshuddered。

Thesnoringhadquiteceasedforsometime，buthedidnotreply。

Sueseemedrelieved，andhurriedbacktoMrs。Edlin’schamber。`Areyouinbed，Mrs。Edlin？’sheasked。

`No，dear，’saidthewidow，openingthedoor。`Ibeoldandslow，andittakesmealongwhiletoun-ray。Ihan’tunlacedmyjumpsyet。’

`I-don’thearhim！Andperhaps-perhaps——’

`What，child？’

`Perhapshe’sdead！’shegasped。`Andthen-Ishouldbefree，andIcouldgotoJude！……Ah-no-Iforgother-andGod！’

`Let’sgoandhearken。No-he’ssnoringagain。Buttherainandthewindissoloudthatyoucanhardlyhearanythingbutbetweenwhiles。’

Suehaddraggedherselfback。`Mrs。Edlin，good-nightagain！I

amsorryIcalledyouout。’Thewidowretreatedasecondtime。

Thestrained，resignedlookreturnedtoSue’sfacewhenshewasalone。`Imustdoit-Imust！Imustdrinktothedregs！’shewhispered。

`Richard！’shesaidagain。

`Hey-what？Isthatyou，Susanna？’

`Yes。’

`Whatdoyouwant？Anythingthematter？Waitamoment。’Hepulledonsomearticlesofclothing，andcametothedoor。`Yes？’

`WhenwewereatShastonIjumpedoutofthewindowratherthanthatyoushouldcomenearme。Ihaveneverreversedthattreatmenttillnow-whenIhavecometobegyourpardonforit，andaskyoutoletmein。’

`Perhapsyouonlythinkyououghttodothis？Idon’twishyoutocomeagainstyourimpulses，asIhavesaid。’

`ButIbegtobeadmitted。’Shewaitedamoment，andrepeated，`Ibegtobeadmitted！Ihavebeeninerror-evento-day。Ihaveexceededmyrights。Ididnotmeantotellyou，butperhapsIought。Isinnedagainstyouthisafternoon。’

`How？’

`ImetJude！Ididn’tknowhewascoming。And——’

`Well？’

`Ikissedhim，andlethimkissme。’

`Oh-theoldstory！’

`Richard，Ididn’tknowweweregoingtokisseachothertillwedid！’

`Howmanytimes？’

`Agoodmany。Idon’tknow。Iamhorrifiedtolookbackonit，andtheleastIcandoafteritistocometoyoulikethis。’

`Come-thisisprettybad，afterwhatI’vedone！Anythingelsetoconfess？’

`No。’Shehadbeenintendingtosay：`Icalledhimmydarlinglove。’But，asacontritewomanalwayskeepsbackalittle，thatportionofthesceneremaineduntold。Shewenton：`Iamnevergoingtoseehimanymore。Hespokeofsomethingsofthepast：anditovercameme。Hespokeof-thechildren。But，asIhavesaid，Iamglad-almostgladImean-thattheyaredead，Richard。Itblotsoutallthatlifeofmine！’

`Well-aboutnotseeinghimagainanymore。Come-youreallymeanthis？’TherewassomethinginPhillotson’stonenowwhichseemedtoshowthathisthreemonthsofremarriagewithSuehadsomehownotbeensosatisfactoryashismagnanimityoramativepatiencehadanticipated。

`Yes，yes！’

`Perhapsyou’llswearitontheNewTestament？’

`Iwill。’

HewentbacktotheroomandbroughtoutalittlebrownTestament。

`Nowthen：SohelpyouGod！’

Sheswore。

`Verygood！’

`NowIsupplicateyou，Richard，towhomIbelong，andwhomIwishtohonourandobey，asIvowed，toletmein。’

`Thinkitoverwell。Youknowwhatitmeans。Havingyoubackinthehousewasonething-thisanother。Sothinkagain。’

`Ihavethought-Iwishthis