"Pshoo--you've got no body to speak of! You put me more in mind

of a sperrit. But there seems something wrong to-night, my dear.

Husband cross?"

"No. He never is. He's gone to bed early."

"Then what is it?"

"I cannot tell you. I have done wrong to-day. And I want to

eradicate it... Well--I will tell you this--Jude has been here this

afternoon, and I find I still love him--oh, grossly! I cannot tell

you more."

"Ah!" said the widow. "I told 'ee how 'twould be!"

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"But it shan't be! I have not told my husband of his visit; it is

not necessary to trouble him about it, as I never mean to see Jude

any more. But I am going to make my conscience right on my duty to

Richard--by doing a penance--the ultimate thing. I must!"

"I wouldn't--since he agrees to it being otherwise, and it has gone

on three months very well as it is."

"Yes--he agrees to my living as I choose; but I feel it is an

indulgence I ought not to exact from him. It ought not to have been

accepted by me. To reverse it will be terrible--but I must be more

just to him. O why was I so unheroic!"

"What is it you don't like in him?" asked Mrs. Edlin curiously.

"I cannot tell you. It is something... I cannot say. The mournful

thing is, that nobody would admit it as a reason for feeling as I do;

so that no excuse is left me."

"Did you ever tell Jude what it was?"

"Never."

"I've heard strange tales o' husbands in my time," observed the widow

in a lowered voice. "They say that when the saints were upon the

earth devils used to take husbands' forms o' nights, and get poor

women into all sorts of trouble. But I don't know why that should

come into my head, for it is only a tale... What a wind and rain it

is to-night! Well--don't be in a hurry to alter things, my dear.

Think it over."

"No, no! I've screwed my weak soul up to treating him more

courteously--and it must be now--at once--before I break down!"

"I don't think you ought to force your nature. No woman ought to be

expected to."

"It is my duty. I will drink my cup to the dregs!"

Half an hour later when Mrs. Edlin put on her bonnet and shawl to

leave, Sue seemed to be seized with vague terror.




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