'Ask me or not, as you please, when you are
ready to go there. I can't talk about it.'
'I shall not ask you,' he replied. 'I will have no woman slave
dragging out a weary life with me. Either you are my willing
wife, or you are nothing to me.'
'I am married to you, and that can't be undone. I repeat that I
shan't refuse to obey you. I shall say no more.'
She moved to a distance, and there seated herself, half turned
from him.
'I shall never ask you to come,' said Reardon, breaking a short
silence. 'If our married life is ever to begin again it must be
of your seeking. Come to me of your own will, and I shall never
reject you. But I will die in utter loneliness rather than ask
you again.'
He lingered a few moments, watching her; she did not move. Then
he took his hat, went in silence from the room, and left the
house.
It rained harder than before. As no trains were running at this
hour, he walked in the direction where he would be likely to meet
with an omnibus. But it was a long time before one passed which
was any use to him. When he reached home he was in cheerless
plight enough; to make things pleasanter, one of his boots had
let in water abundantly.
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