“No, none. I must earn a living somehow. I’ve no money, and no friends, except you, and I’ve no right to bother you. I suppose you think I’m mad to run away like this—but the life there—it wasn’t life—it was killing me.
“I don’t set up to judge people; don’t talk like that. The first thing is—you mustn’t stop in this dingy hole.”
“We must hunt up some decent rooms somewhere. This place would kill you.”
“Decent rooms—with a decent rent! You forget I’m a working woman. The first thing to do is to find a way to earn my living.”
He hesitated for a moment; was she playing with him, or talking in innocent earnestness?
“What about your husband?” he asked abruptly.
“Edward? I left a letter for him, telling him I had gone away and that—nothing on earth would persuade me to go back.”
Her hands clinched as she answered: “Nothing could ever persuade me to go back to him. What would be the use of it? To begin it all over again? There would be no change; he couldn’t change, and I couldn’t—not as he would want me to. He’ll be miserable at first, but soon he’ll be all the better for my being away. He never loved me really; it’s only his work he loves.”
“I dare say. But he’d only preach again if he found me.”
“Love him? I thought I did when I married him, and didn’t know what he was. I was a girl then and knew nothing. Gradually I came to hate him. I couldn’t help it; you don’t know how heartlessly cruel a _good_ man can be—they’re so utterly selfish. But don’t let’s waste time on what has been. When I shut the door there last night, I shut it on the past. Now—what am I to do now? Can you help me? Do you know of any work I could do? Or how I could get it?”
“Let me think,” he said, walking slowly up and down the room. “Why—why did you not keep your promise to come and see me at my studio?”
“No; please don’t ask me. I could make up an excuse—lie to you, but—I shouldn’t like to tell you even the most innocent fib. So please don’t ask. All I can tell you,” she said, looking up at him as he stood beside her, “is that I had a very good reason.”
Their eyes met fully, and she dropped hers quickly and turned away.
“I went down to see you last night—just after you had left,” he said. “I—well, I wanted you to help me.”