”Youarestillmywife，”saidSoames。Whyhesaidthat，whathemeantbyit，heknewneitherwhenhespokenorafter。Itwasatruismalmostpreposterous，butitseffectwasstartling。Sherosefromthewindow-seat，andstoodforamomentperfectlystill，lookingathim。Hecouldseeherbosomheaving。Thensheturnedtothewindowandthrewitopen。”Whydothat?”hesaidsharply。”You’llcatchcoldinthatdress。I’mnotdangerous。”Andheutteredalittlesadlaugh。
Sheechoedit——faintly，bitterly。”Itwas——habit。””Ratheroddhabit，”saidSoamesasbitterly。”Shutthewindow！”
Sheshutitandsatdownagain。Shehaddevelopedpower，thiswoman——this——wifeofhis！Hefeltitissuingfromherasshesatthere，inasortofarmour。Andalmostunconsciouslyheroseandmovednearer；hewantedtoseetheexpressiononherface。Hereyesmethisunflinching。Heavens！howcleartheywere，andwhatadarkbrownagainstthatwhiteskin，andthatburnt-amberhair！
Andhowwhitehershoulders。
Funnysensationthis！Heoughttohateher。”Youhadbettertellme，”hesaid；”it’stoyouradvantagetobefreeaswellastomine。Thatoldmatteristooold。””Ihavetoldyou。””Doyoumeantotellmetherehasbeennothing——nobody?””Nobody。Youmustgotoyourownlife。”