Moreover, she did not in truth seriously regard him as a brute. She regarded him as an unreasonable creature, something like a baby, to be humoured in the inessentials of a matter of which the essentials were now definitely in her favour. His taunt that she went blundering into a thing, and that she knew naught of business, amused her. She knew her own business, and knew it profoundly. The actual situation was a proof of that. As for abstract principles of business, the conventions and etiquette of it--her lips condescendingly curled. After all, what had she done to merit this fury? Nothing! Nothing! What could it matter whether the negotiations were begun instantly or in a week’s or a month’s time? (Edwin would have dilly-dallied probably for three months, or six). She had merely said a few harmless words, offered a suggestion. And now he desired to tear her limb from limb and eat her alive. It was comical! Impossible for her to be angry, in her triumph! It was too comical! She had married an astounding personage.... But she had married him. He was hers. She exulted in the possession of him. His absurd peculiarities did not lower him in her esteem. She had a perfect appreciation of his points, including his general wisdom. But she was convinced that she had a special and different and superior kind of wisdom.
"And a nice thing you’ve let Maggie in for!" Edwin broke out afresh after a spell of silent walking.
"Let Maggie in for?" she exclaimed lightly.
"Albert ought never to have known anything of it until it was all settled. He will be yarning away to her about how he can use her money for her, and what he gets hold of she’ll never see again,--you may bet your boots on that. If you’d left it to me I could have fixed things up for her in advance. But no! In you must go! Up to the neck! And ruin everything!"
"Oh!" she said reassuringly. "You’ll be able to look after Maggie all right."
He sniffed, and settled down into embittered disgust, quickening somewhat his speed up the slope of Acre Lane.
"Please don’t walk so fast, Edwin," she breathed, just like a nice little girl. "I can’t keep up with you."
In spite of his enormous anger he could not refuse such a request. She was getting the better of him again. He knew it; he could see through the devices. With an irritated swing of his body he slowed down to suit her.