"You aren't afraid to be left in the house alone, miss? I shan't be far away."
"No. I am expecting Mr. Alden. I'll let him in, and can make the tea myself."
Esther ran up the area steps and walked quickly down the street, as if she were going on an errand. William crossed the road and was soon alongside of her.
"Don't be so 'ard on a chap," he said. "Just listen to reason."
"I don't want to listen to you; you can't have much to say that I care for."
Her tone was still stubborn, but he perceived that it contained a change of humour.
"Come for a little walk, and then, if you don't agree with what I says, I'll never come after you again."
"You must take me for a fool if you think I'd pay attention to your promises."
"Esther, hear me out; you're very unforgiving, but if you'd hear me out----"
"You can speak; no one's preventing you that I can see."
"I can't say it off like that; it is a long story. I know that I've behaved badly to you, but it wasn't as much my fault as you think; I could explain a good lot of it."
"I don't care about your explanations. If you've only got explanations----"
"Yes, and you too, Esther. The mother can't be separated from the child."
"If you talk that snappish I shall never get out what I've to say. I've treated you badly, and it is to make up for the past as far as I can--"
"And how do you know that you aren't doing harm by coming after me?"
"You mean you're keeping company with a chap and don't want me?"
"You don't know I'm not a married woman; you don't know what kind of situation I'm in. You comes after me just because it pleases your fancy, and don't give it a thought that you mightn't get me the sack, as you got it me before."
"There's no use nagging; just let's go where we can have a talk, and then if you aren't satisfied you can go your way and I can go mine. You said I didn't know that you wasn't married. I don't, but if you aren't, so much the better. If you are, you've only to say so and I'll take my hook. I've done quite enough harm, without coming between you and your husband."
William spoke earnestly, and his words came so evidently from his heart that Esther was touched against her will.
"I don't see what odds it can make to you whether I'm married or not. If I ain't married, you are."