'Well, I've no call to grumble,' he said. 'You say straight out what
you mean. No woman can do fairer than that.'
His thought recurred for a moment to Alice, whose fault had been
that she was ever ambiguous.
'It's hard to bear. I don't think I shall ever care to marry any
other woman. But you're doin' the right thing and the honest thing;
I wish all women was like you.'
At the door he turned.
'There'd be no harm if I take Mrs. Clay and the children, would
there?'
'I am sure they will thank you, Mr. Dabbs.'
It did not matter now that there was a clear understanding.
At a little distance from the house door Daniel found Mrs. Clay
waiting.
'No good,' he said cheerlessly.
'She won't go?'
'No. But I'll take you and the children, if you'll come.'
Kate did not immediately reply. A grave disappointment showed itself
in her face.
'Can't be helped,' Daniel replied to her look. 'I did my best'
Kate accepted his invitation, and they arranged the hour of meeting.
As she approached the house to enter, flow looking ill-tempered, a
woman of her acquaintance met her. After a few minutes' conversation
they walked away together.
Emma sat up till twelve o'clock. The thought on which she was
brooding was not one to make the time go lightly; it was--how much
and how various evil can be wrought by a single act of treachery.
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