She pushed the disorder of letters backward with a gesture of
irritation. "It was a risk marrying you. Every one said so; you had been
splendid with me, but before that--you told me yourself--you'd switched
from this girl to that.... You had something up with 'Thea Meade, I
never asked what.... And the girls while you were in college, Nellie
Tolliver and the rest. I never minded them; that was before I knew you.
But this.... Do you think I have no shame, even if you haven't?"
"What a lot of side about nothing! Here I merely meet a young lady, take
her riding, drop by to see her--what's wrong in that?"
Her low, tense indictment went on, partly to herself. "I always promised
myself that I wouldn't marry a ladies' man. It isn't so much what
you've done in this case, as the tendency," she continued illogically.
"If everything was above-board, why didn't you tell me that you were
with her yesterday afternoon and night?"
"Because it was my business, and not yours." His tones rose angrily.
"Must I render an account to you for every minute of my time? Can't I
have some self-respect left? Do you expect to keep me tied to your
apron-strings all my life?"
"You needn't tell me, Pelham Judson, that you took her riding to show
her the scenery. I know you better--by now. She made a few large eyes at
you; you thought at once that you saw your soul-mate. Told her you were
misunderstood at home, of course--that she could understand you." He
failed completely to detect the scorn, intended to wither his defense.
"What if I did? It's true, isn't it? We get along finely on lots of
things, Jane; but there are some things in which we can't agree."
"We both agree, I suppose, that the marriage agreement doesn't call for
you to make love to other girls, when you are married to me. Of course,
you kissed her----"
"What if I did?" His retort slipped from his lips too quickly; he wished
at once that he had held it back. "There's surely no harm----"
"I won't dare hold up my head in her sight!"
"We're grown men and women, Jane. We're not old fogies. We realize,
surely, that love can't be bought and sold, to be locked up forever in a
marriage license. Love must be free; and when it comes----"
"You can have your 'love' as free as you wish, Pelham. Only, count me
out of it." She rose, the commotion stirred by her quick motion setting
the loose sheets flying, drifting to the new carpet they had been so
proud of a week ago. Furious, she stooped to pick them up, her ire
mounting as the unexpected enormity of his conduct became apparent.
"You talk like a fool, Jane. I haven't done anything----"
"I'll tell you what you've done. You've let a passing fancy for a woman
make you forget that you're my husband. I won't share you with another
woman, even if she will."
"Why, last night, when I came home, you were as loving----"
Her glance bayoneted him. "I've told you before of that Allie Durfield,
the poor girl who'd ended up on Butler's Avenue. I've told you the
bitterness with which she said, 'You engaged girls cause us the trouble.
After your man's spent an evening with you, we pay for it.' I didn't
understand her then; I do now. You spend the evening with this woman,
then come home ... you call me loving! I wonder you can look me in the
face!"
"You exaggerate everything, as usual. We haven't done a thing----"
"You've kissed her."
"That was nothing."
"It's this much. Either you give me your word now that you will not see
her again, or--see only her ... and whoever else your fancy dictates.
I'm through. I'll go back to Mrs. Anderson's and let you ... let
you...." Her voice broke; she tumbled weakly, weeping and distraught,
against the couch.
He was at her side in an instant. She rose, flinging the tears flying.
"Keep away! How _dare_ you touch me! I suppose you thought I'd cry and
make up?... Will you give me your word?" There was a plaintive affection
even through the sternness. "Dearest, we can't have our marriage on a
rotten foundation."
He fumed to the front door and back, the discarded magazine rustling
unnoticed upon the scattered letters. "I'll do anything in reason, Jane.
But this is unreasonable, and you know it. You mustn't carry your
penchant for running away from situations too far." She flushed at the
reference. "I'll agree, of course, not to be unfaithful; but you can't
choose whom I may and may not speak to. Common decency----It's
ridiculous."
"We can't have a half-way marriage. This has gone too far.... Make your
choice. You can't burn both ends of your candle...."
"Anything within reason, Jane."
"You'll promise, then?"
"No." The cruel monosyllable crushed the joy rising in her voice. "It's
too ridiculous," he repeated.
There was a dangerous hush in her voice. "You understand the
alternative? I leave to-morrow."
"If you're bound to be foolish, I can't stop you. I won't force you to
stay here."
"I should say not!"
"You'll come to your senses soon enough. A good night's sleep will cure
your tantrum."
Casually he jerked a match against the sole of his shoe. The sputtering
head spun smokily into the carpet. He stamped it out, and lit another.
Shielding the flame from the night breeze, he relit his pipe. When he
looked up, she had left the room.
He knocked considerately on her door at breakfast time. A muffled voice
told him that she had a headache, and was not coming out. Well, if she
was going to act that way! She was bound to see the matter more
reasonably. Probably she was ashamed now to admit that she had been
wrong.
He was glad that he had only admitted one kiss....
Disturbed at the thought of the unfinished quarrel, he ran out
unannounced to the house for lunch. Voluble Lily, her eyes rolling,
informed him that Miss' Jane had left an hour before, and that her trunk
had gone too. "An' she said dat you'ud know whar she had gone, Mr.
Judson."
"That's all right, Lily. You needn't have supper for me to-night."
Angry with himself, with the inquisitive negro, with the fascination of
Louise, which had precipitated this, most of all with headstrong Jane,
he shot past the traffic policeman into the swirl of the city. He would
show his wife that she couldn't keep him under her little finger!