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to keep firm, poor darling—because she’s always had so much to face. She didn’t know how to please you and didn’t realize when she was displeasing you. — She was in the dark, always; for I always knew. Nothing was lost on me. You and I saw eye to eye, while she had to walk on in the dark and trust me.—And she has trusted me. She’s never once faltered or turned away; till yesterday; when you pushed her too far.’

‘Oh; I pushed her too far yesterday? How did Hester put that to you? What form did her arraignment of me take;—and of you?—For Celia informed me that she was angry with you, too.’

‘She was angry with me because you garbled my interpretation of her to suit your own purposes. She told me that she’d gone to you, as I asked her to, to beg your pardon, and that you had sneered at her and thrown her contrition in her face. She told me that you hated her and that she could bear it no longer. It was the truth, Mother. Even Celia sees it. Even Celia sees that you hate my wife.’

‘Clive,’ said Monica, ‘I must talk to you now.’ It was growing dark. His flashing face was dim to her as he stood there, leaning back, his arms tightly folded across his chest. Monica leaned forward and