What it would have meant for her and for me!
She would never have hated me then, never. Biffen, am I base or
contemptible? She thinks so. That's how poverty has served me. If
you had seen her, how she looked at me, when we met the other
day, you would understand well enough why I couldn't live with
her now, not if she entreated me to. That would make me base if
you like. Gods! how ashamed I should be if I yielded to such a
temptation! And once--'
He had worked himself to such intensity of feeling that at length
his voice choked and tears burst from his eyes.
'Come out, and let us have a walk,' said Biffen.
On leaving the house they found themselves in a thick fog,
through which trickled drops of warm rain. Nevertheless, they
pursued their purpose, and presently were seated in one of the
boxes of a small coffee-shop. Their only companion in the place
was a cab-driver, who had just finished a meal, and was now
nodding into slumber over his plate and cup. Reardon ordered
fried ham and eggs, the luxury of the poor, and when the
attendant woman was gone away to execute the order, he burst into
excited laughter.
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