InthesetermsdidMrVerlocdeclarehisthirstforrevenge。Itwasaveryappropriaterevenge。ItwasinharmonywiththepromptingsofMrVerloc’sgenius。Ithadalsotheadvantageofbeingwithintherangeofhispowersandofadjustingitselfeasilytothepracticeofhislife，whichhadconsistedpreciselyinbetrayingthesecretandunlawfulproceedingsofhisfellowmen。Anarchistsordiplomatswereallonetohim。MrVerlocwastemperamentallynorespecterofpersons。Hisscornwasequallydistributedoverthewholefieldofhisoperations。Butasamemberofarevolutionaryproletariat—whichheundoubtedlywas—henourishedaratherinimicalsentimentagainstsocialdistinction。
`Nothingonearthcanstopmenow，’headded，andpaused，lookingfixedlyathiswife，whowaslookingfixedlyatablankwall。
Thesilenceinthekitchenwasprolonged，andMrVerlocfeltdisappointed。
Hehadexpectedhiswifetosaysomething。ButMrsVerloc’slips，composedintheirusualform，preservedastatuesqueimmobilityliketherestofherface。AndMrVerlocwasdisappointed。Yettheoccasiondidnot，herecognized，demandspeechfromher。Shewasawomanofveryfewwords。
Forreasonsinvolvedintheveryfoundationofhispsychology。，MrVerlocwasinclinedtoputhistrustinanywomanwhohadgivenherselftohim。
Thereforehetrustedhiswife。Theiraccordwasperfect，butitwasnotprecise。Itwasatacitaccord，congenialtoMrsVerloc’sincuriosityandtoMrVerloc’shabitsofmind，whichwereindolentandsecret。Theyrefrainedfromgoingtothebottomoffactsandmotives。
Thisreserve，expressing，inaway，theirprofoundconfidenceineachother，introducedatthesametimeacertainelementofvaguenessintotheirintimacy。Nosystemofconjugalrelationsisperfect。MrVerlocpresumedthathiswifehadunderstoodhimbuthewouldhavebeengladtohearhersaywhatshethoughtatthemoment。Itwouldhavebeenacomfort。
Therewereseveralreasonswhythiscomfortwasdeniedhim。Therewasaphysicalobstacle:MrsVerlochadnotsufficientcommandoverhervoice。
Shedidnotseeanyalternativebetweenscreamingandsilence，andinstinctivelyshechosethesilence。WinnieVerlocwastemperamentallyasilentperson。
Andtherewastheparalysingatrocityofthethoughtwhichoccupiedher。
Hercheekswereblanched，herlipsashy，herimmobilityamazing。AndshethoughtwithoutlookingatMrVerloc:`Thismantooktheboyawaytomurderhim。Hetooktheboyfromhishometomurderhim。Hetooktheboyawayfrommetomurderhim！’
MrsVerloc’swholebeingwasrackedbythatinconclusiveandmaddeningthought。Itwasinherveins，inherbones，intherootsofherhair。Mentallysheassumedthebiblicalattitudeofmourning—thecoveredface，therentgarments;thesoundofwailingandlamentationfilledherhead。Butherteethwereviolentlyclenched，andhertearlesseyeswerehotwithrage，becauseshewasnotasubmissivecreature。Theprotectionshehadextendedoverherbrotherhadbeeninitsoriginofafierceandindignantcomplexion。
Shehadtolovehimwithamilitantlove。Shehadbattledforhim—evenagainstherself。Hislosshadthebitternessofdefeat，withtheanguishofabaffledpassion。Itwasnotanordinarystrokeofdeath。Moreover，itwasnotdeaththattookSteviefromher。ItwasMrVerlocwhotookhimaway。Shehadseenhim。Shehadwatchedhim，withoutraisingahand，taketheboyaway。Andshehadlethimgo，like—likeafool—ablindfool。
Thenafterhehadmurderedtheboyhecamehometoher。Justcamehomelikeanyothermanwouldcomehometohiswife……
ThroughhersetteethMrsVerlocmutteredatthewall:`AndIthoughthehadcaughtacold。’MrVerlocheardthesewordsandappropriatedthem。
`Itwasnothing，’hesaid，moodily。`Iwasupset。Iwasupsetonyouraccount。
MrsVerloc，turningherheadslowly，transferredherstarefromthewalltoherhusband’sperson。MrVerloc，withthetipsofhisfingersbetweenhislips，waslookingontheground。
`Can’tbehelped，’hemumbled，lettinghishandfall。`Youmustpullyourselftogether。You’llwantallyourwitsaboutyou。Itisyouwhobroughtthepoliceaboutourears。Nevermind，Iwon’tsayanythingmoreaboutit，’continuedMrVerloc，magnanimously。`Youcouldn’tknow。’
`Icouldn’t，’breathedoutMrsVerloc。Itwasasifacorpsehadspoken。
MrVerloctookupthethreadofhisdiscourse。
`Idon’tblameyou。I’llmakethemsitup。Onceunderlockandkeyitwillbesafeenoughformetotalk—youunderstand。Youmustreckononmebeingtwoyearsawayfromyou，’hecontinued，inatoneofsincereconcern。
`Itwillbeeasierforyouthanforme。You’llhavesomethingtodo，whileI—Lookhere，Winnie，whatyoumustdoistokeepthisbusinessgoingfortwoyears。Youknowenoughforthat。You’veagoodheadonyou。I’llsendyouwordwhenit’stimetogoabouttryingtosell。You’llhavetobeextracareful。Thecomradeswillbekeepinganeyeonyouallthetime。
You’llhavetobeasartfulasyouknowhow，andascloseasthegrave。
Noonemustknowwhatyouaregoingtodo。IhavenomindtogetaknockontheheadorastabinthebackdirectlyIamletout。’
ThusspokeMrVerloc，applyinghismindwithingenuityandforethoughttotheproblemsofthefuture。Hisvoicewassombre，becausehehadacorrectsentimentofthesituation。Everythingwhichhedidnotwishtopasshadcometopass。Thefuturehadbecomeprecarious。Hisjudgement，perhaps，hadbeenmomentarilyobscuredbyhisdreadofMrVladimir’struculentfolly。
Amansomewhatoverfortymaybeexcusablythrownintoconsiderabledisorderbytheprospectoflosinghisemployment，especiallyifthemanisasecretagentofpoliticalpolice，dwellingsecureintheconsciousnessofhishighvalueandintheesteemofhighpersonages。Hewasexcusable。
Nowthethinghadendedinacrash。MrVerlocwascool;buthewasnotcheerful。Asecretagentwhothrowshissecrecytothewindsfromdesireofvengeance，andflauntshisachievementsbeforethepubliceye，becomesthemarkfordesperateandbloodthirstyindignations。Withoutundulyexaggeratingthedanger，MrVerloctriedtobringitclearlybeforehiswife’smind。
Herepeatedthathehadnointentionoflettingtherevolutionistsdoawaywithhim。
Helookedstraightintohiswife’seyes。Theenlargedpupilsofthewomanreceivedhisstareintotheirunfathomabledepths。
`Iamtoofondofyouforthat，’hesaid，withalittlenervouslaugh。
AfaintflushcolouredMrsVerloc’sghastlyandmotionlessface。Havingdonewiththevisionsofthepast，shehadnotonlyheard，buthadalsounderstoodthewordsutteredbyherhusband。Bytheirextremedisaccordwithhermentalconditionthesewordsproducedonheraslightlysuffocatingeffect。MrsVerloc’smentalconditionhadthemeritofsimplicity;butitwasnotsound。Itwasgovernedtoomuchbyafixedidea。Everynookandcrannyofherbrainwasfilledwiththethoughtthatthisman，withwhomshehadlivedwithoutdistasteforsevenyears，hadtakenthe`poorboy’awayfromherinordertokillhim—themantowhomshehadgrownaccustomedinbodyandmind;themanwhomshehadtrusted，tooktheboyawaytokillhim！Initsform，initssubstance，initseffect，whichwasuniversal，alteringeventheaspectofinanimatethings，itwasathoughttositstillandmarvelatforeverandever。MrsVerlocsatstill。Andacrossthatthought（notacrossthekitchen）theformofMrVerlocwenttoandfro，familiarlyinhatandovercoat，stampingwithhisbootsuponherbrain。Hewasprobablytalking，too;butMrsVerloc’sthoughtforthemostpartcoveredthevoice。
Nowandthen，however，thevoicewouldmakeitselfheard。Severalconnectedwordsemergedattimes。Theirpurportwasgenerallyhopeful。OneachoftheseoccasionsMrsVerloc’sdilatedpupils，losingtheirfar—offfixity，followedherhusband’smovementswiththeeffectofblackcareandimpenetrableattention。Wellinformeduponallmattersrelatingtohissecretcalling，MrVerlocauguredwellforthesuccessofhisplansandcombinations。Hereallybelievedthatitwouldbeuponthewholeeasyforhimtoescapetheknifeofinfuriatedrevolutionists。Hehadexaggeratedthestrengthoftheirfuryandthelengthoftheirarm（forprofessionalpurposes）toooftentohavemanyillusionsonewayortheotter。Fortoexaggeratewithjudgementonemustbinbymeasuringwithnicety。Heknewalsohowmuchvirtueandhowmuchinfamyisforgottenintwoyears—twolongyears。
Hisfirstreallyconfidentialdiscoursetohiswifewasoptimisticfromconviction。Healsothoughtitgoodpolicytodisplayalltheassurancehecouldmuster。Itwouldputheartintothepoorwoman。Onhisliberation，whichharmonizingwiththewholetenorofhislife，wouldbesecret，ofcourse，theywouldvanishtogetherwithoutlossoftime。Astocoveringupthetracks，hebeggedhiswifetotrusthimforthat。Heknewhowitwastobedonesothatthedevilhimself——
Hewavedhishand。Heseemedtoboast。Hewishedonlytoputheartintoher。Itwasabenevolentintention，butMrVerlochadthemisfortunenottobeinaccordwithhisaudience。
Theself—confidenttonegrewuponMrsVerloc’searwhichletmostofthewordsgoby;forwhatwerewordstohernow？Whatcouldwordsdotoherforgoodorevilinthefaceofherfixedidea？Herblackglancefollowedthatmanwhowasassertinghisimpunity—themanwhohadtakenpoorSteviefromhometokillhimsomewhere。MrsVerloccouldnotrememberexactlywhere，butherheartbegantobeatveryperceptibly。
MrVerloc，inasoftandconjugaltone，wasnowexpressinghisfirmbeliefthattherewereyetagoodfewyearsofquietlifebeforethemboth。
Hedidnotgointothequestionofmeans。Aquietlifeitmustbeand，asitwere，nestlingintheshade，concealedamongmenwhosefleshisgrass;
modest，likethelifeofviolets。ThewordsusedbyMrVerlocwere:`Lielowforabit。’AndfarfromEngland，ofcourse。ItwasnotclearwhetherMrVerlochadinhismindSpainorSouthAmerica;butatanyratesomewhereabroad。
Thislastword，fallingintoMrsVerloc’sear，producedadefiniteimpression。
Thismanwastalkingofgoingabroad。Theimpressionwascompletelydisconnected;
andsuchistheforceofmentalhabitthatMrsVerlocatonceandautomaticallyaskedherself:`AndwhatofStevie？’
Itwasasortofforgetfulness;butinstantlyshebecameawarethattherewasnolongeranyoccasionforanxietyonthatscore。Therewouldneverbeanyoccasionanymore。Thepoorboyhadbeentakenoutandkilled。
Thepoorboywasdead。
ThisshakingpieceofforgetfulnessstimulatedMrsVerloc’sintelligence。
ShebegantoperceivecertainconsequenceswhichwouldhavesurprisedMrVerloc。Therewasnoneedforhernowtostaythere，inthatkitchen，inthathouse，withthatman—sincetheboywasgoneforever。Noneedwhatever。
AndonthatMrsVerlocroseasifraisedbyaspring。Butneithercouldsheseewhattherewastokeepherintheworldatall。Andthisinabilityarrested，her。MrVerlocwatchedherwithmaritalsolicitude。
`You’relookingmorelikeyourself，’hesaid，uneasily。Somethingpeculiarintheblacknessofhiswife’seyesdisturbedhisoptimism。AtthatprecisemomentMrsVerlocbegantolookuponherselfasreleasedfromallearthlyties。Shehadherfreedom。Hercontractwithexistence，asrepresentedbythatmanstandingoverthere，wasatanend。Shewasafreewoman。HadthisviewbecomeinsomewayperceptibletoMrVerlochewouldhavebeenextremelyshocked。InhisaffairsoftheheartMrVerlochadbeenalwayscarelesslygenerous，yetalwayswignootherideathanthatofbeinglovedforhimself。Uponthismatter，hisethicalnotionsbeinginagreementwithhisvanity，hewascompletelyincorrigible。Thatthisshouldbesointhecaseofhisvirtuousandlegalconnectionhewasperfectlycertain。Hehadgrownolder，fatter，heavier，inthebeliefthathelackednofascinationforbeinglovedforhisownsake。WhenhesawMrsVerlocstartingtowalkoutofthekitchenwithoutawordhewasdisappointed。
`Whereareyougoingto？’hecalledoutrathersharply。`Upstairs？’
MrsVerlocinthedoorwayturnedatthevoice。Aninstinctofprudencebornoffear，theexcessivefearofbeingapproachedandtouchedbythatman，inducedhertonodathimslightly（fromtheheightoftwosteps]，withastirofthelipswhichtheconjugaloptimismofMrVerloctookforawananduncertainsmile。
`That’sright，’heencouragedhergruffly。`Restandquiet’swhatyouwant。Goon。Itwon’tbelongbeforeIamwithyou。’
MrsVerloc，thefreewomanwhohadhadreallynoideawhereshewasgoingto，obeyedthesuggestionwithrigidsteadiness。
MrVerlocwatchedher。Shedisappearedupthestairs。Hewasdisappointed。
Therewasthatwithinhimwhichwouldhavebeenmoresatisfiedifshehadbeenmovedtothrowherselfuponhisbreast。Buthewasgenerousandindulgent。
Winniewasalwaysundemonstrativeandsilent。NeitherwasMrVerlochimselfprodigalofendearmentsandwordsasarule。Butthiswasnotanordinaryevening。Itwasanoccasionwhenamanwantstobefortifiedandstrengthenedbyopenproofsofsympathyandaffection。MrVerlocsighed，andputoutthegasinthekitchen。MrVerloc’ssympathywithhiswifewasgenuineandintense。Italmostbroughttearsintohiseyesashestoodintheparlourreflectingonthelonelinesshangingoverherhead。InthismoodMrVerlocmissedStevieverymuchoutofadifficultworld。Hethoughtmournfullyofhisend。Ifonlythatladhadnotstupidlydestroyedhimself！
Thesensationofunappeasablehunger，notunknownafterthestrainofahazardousenterprisetoadventurersoftougherfibrethanMrVerloc，overcamehimagain。Thepieceofroastbeef，laidoutinthelikenessoffunerealbakedmeatsforStevie’sobsequies，offereditselflargelytohisnotice。AndMrVerlocagainpartook。Hepartookravenously，withoutrestraintanddecency，cuttingthicksliceswiththesharpcarvingknife，andswallowingthemwithoutbread。InthecourseofthatrefectionitoccurredtoMrVerlocthathewasnothearinghiswifemoveaboutinthebedroomasheshouldhavedone。ThethoughtoffindingherperhapssittingonthebedinthedarknotonlycutMrVerloc’sappetite，butalsotookfromhimtheinclinationtofollowherupstairsjustyet。Layingdownthecarvingknife，MrVerloclistenedwithcarewornattention。
Hewascomfortedbyhearinghermoveatlast。Shewalkedsuddenlyacrosstheroom，andthrewthewindowup。Afteraperiodofstillnessupthere，duringwhichhefiguredhertohimselfwithherheadout，heheardthesashbeingloweredslowly。Thenshemadeafewsteps，andsatdown。EveryresonanceofthishousewasfamiliartoMrVerloc，whowasthoroughlydomesticated。
Whennextheheardhiswife’sfootstepsoverheadheknew，aswellasifhehadseenherdoingit，thatshehadbeenputtingonherwalkingshoes。
MrVerlocwriggledhisshouldersslightlyatthisominoussymptom，andmovingawayfromthetable，stoodwithhisbacktothefireplace，hisheadononeside，andgnawingperplexedlyatthetipsofhisfingers。Hekepttrackofhermovementsbythesound。Shewalkedhereandthereviolently，withabruptstoppages，nowbeforethechestofdrawers，theninfrontofthewardrobe。Animmenseloadofweariness，theharvestofadayofshocksandsurprises，weighedMrVerloc’senergiestotheground。
Hedidnotraisehiseyestillheheardhiswifedescendingthestairs。
Itwasashehadguessed，shewasdressedforgoingout。
MrsVerlocwasafreewoman。ShehadthrownopenthewindowofthebedroomeitherwiththeintentionofscreamingMurder！Help！orofthrowingherselfout。Forshedidnotexactlyknowwhatusetomakeofherfreedom。Herpersonalityseemedtohavebeentornintotwopieces，whosementaloperationsdidnotadjustthemselvesverywelltoeachother。Thestreet，silentanddesertedfromendtoend，repelledherbytakingsideswiththatmanwhowassocertainofhisimpunity。Shewasafraidtoshoutlestnooneshouldcome。Obviouslynoonewouldcome。Herinstinctofself—preservationrecoiledfromthedepthofthefallintothatsortofslimy，deeptrench。MrsVerlocclosedthewindow，anddressedherselftogooutintothestreetbyanotherway。Shewasafreewoman。Shehaddressedherselfthoroughly，downtothetyingofablackveiloverherface。Assheappearedbeforehiminthelightoftheparlour，MrVerlocobservedthatshehadevenherlittlehandbaghangingfromherleftwrist……Flyingofftohermother，ofcourse。
Thethoughtthatwomenwerewearisomecreaturesafterallpresenteditselftohisfatiguedbrain。Buthewastoogeneroustoharbouritformorethananinstant。Thisman，hurtcruellyinhisvanity，remainedmagnanimousinhisconduct，allowinghimselfnosatisfactionofabittersmileorofacontemptuousgesture。Withtruegreatnessofsoul，heonlyglancedatthewoodenclockonthewall，andsaidinaperfectlycalmbutforciblemanner:
`Fiveandtwentyminutespasteight，Winnie。There’snosenseingoingovertheresolate。Youwillnevermanagetogetbacktonight。’
BeforehisextendedhandMrsVerlochadstoppedshort。Headded，heavily:
`Yourmotherwillbegonetobedbeforeyougetthere。Thisisthesortofnewsthatcanwait。’
NothingwasfurtherfromMrsVerloc’sthoughtsthangoingtohermother。
Sherecoiledatthemereidea，andfeelingachairbehindher，sheobeyedthesuggestionofthetouch，andsatdown。Herintentionhadbeensimplytogetoutsidethedoorforever。Andifthisfeelingwascorrect，itsmentalformtookanunrefinedshapecorrespondingtoheroriginandstation。
`Iwouldratherwalkthestreetsallthedaysofmylife，’shethought。
Butthiscreature，whosemoralnaturehadbeensubjectedtoashockofwhich，inthephysicalorder，themostviolentearthquakeofhistorycouldonlybeafaintandlanguidrendering，wasatthemercyofmeretrifles，ofcasualcontacts。Shesatdown。Withherhatandveilshehadtheairofavisitor，ofhavinglookedinonMrVerlocforamoment。Herinstantdocilityencouragedhim，whilstheraspectofonlytemporaryandsilentacquiescenceprovokedhimalittle。
`Letmetellyou，Winnie，’hesaidwithauthority，`thatyourplaceisherethisevening。Hangitall！youbroughtthedamnedpolicehighandlowaboutmyears。Idon’tblameyou—butit’syourdoingallthesame。
You’dbettertakethisconfoundedhatoff。Ican’tletyougoout，oldgirl，’headdedinasoftenedvoice。
MrsVerloc’smindgotholdofthatdeclarationwithmorbidtenacity。
`ThemanwhohadtakenStevieoutfromunderherveryeyestomurderhiminalocalitywhosenamewasatthemomentnotpresenttohermemorywouldnotallowhertogoout。Ofcoursehewouldn’t。NowhehadmurderedSteviehewouldneverlethergo。Hewouldwanttokeepherfornothing。Andonthischaracteristicreasoning，havingalltheforceofinsanelogic，MrsVerloc’sdisconnectedwitswenttoworkpractically。Shecouldslipbyhim，openthedoor，runout。Buthewoulddashoutafterher，seizeherroundthebody，dragherbackintotheshop。Shecouldscratch，kick，andbite—andstab，too;butforstabbingshewantedaknife。MrsVerlocsatstillunderherblackveil，inherownhouse，likeamaskedandmysteriousvisitorofimpenetrableintentions。
MrVerloc’smagnanimitywasnotmorethanhuman。Shehadexasperatedhimatlast。
`Can’tyousaysomething？Youhaveyourowndodgesforvexingaman。
Oh，yes！Iknowyourdeaf—and—dumbtrick。I’veseenyouatitbeforetoday。
Butjustnowitwon’tdo。Andtobeginwith，takethisdamnedthingoff。
Onecan’ttellwhetheroneistalkingtoadummyortoalivewoman。’
Headvanced，andstretchingouthishand，draggedtheveiloff，unmaskingastillunreadableface，againstwhichhisnervousexasperationwasshatteredlikeaglassbubbleSungagainstarock。`That’sbetter，’hesaid，tocoverhismomentaryuneasiness，andretreatedbacktohisoldstationbythemantelpiece。Itneverenteredhisheadthathiswifecouldgivehimup。
Hefeltalittleashamedofhimself，forhewasfondandgenerous。Whatcouldhedo？Everythinghadbeensaidalready。Heprotestedvehemently。
`Byheavens！YouknowthatIhuntedhighandlow。Irantheriskofgivingmyselfawaytofindsomebodyforthataccursedjob。AndItellyouagainIcouldn’tfindanyonecrazyenoughorhungenough。Whatdoyoutakemefor—amurderer，orwhat？Theboyisgone。DoyouthinkIwantedhimtoblowhimselfup？He’sgone。Histroublesareover。Oursarejustgoingtobegin，Itellyou，preciselybecausehedidblowhimselfup。I
don’tblameyou。Butjusttrytounderstandthatitwasapureaccident;
asmuchanaccidentasifhehadbeenrunoverbyabuswhilecrossingthestreet。’
Hisgenerositywasnotinfinite，becausehewasahumanbeing—andnotamonster，asMrsVerlocbelievedhimtobe。Hepaused，andasnarlliftinghismoustachesaboveagleamofwhiteteethgavehimtheexpressionofareflectivebeast，notverydangerous—aslowbeastwithasleekhead，gloomierthanaseal，andwithahuskyvoice。
`Andwhenitcomestothat，it’sasmuchyourdoingasmine。That’sso……Youmayglareasmuchasyoulike。Iknowwhatyoucandointhatway。StrikemedeadifIeverwouldhavethoughtoftheladforthatpurpose。
ItwasyouwhokeptonshovinghiminmywaywhenIwashalfdistractedwiththeworryofkeepingthelotofusoutoftrouble。Whatthedevilmadeyou？Onewouldthinkyouweredoingitonpurpose。AndIamdamnedifIknowthatyoudidn’t。There’snosayinghowmuchofwhat’sgoingonyouhavegotholdofontheslywithyourinfernaldon’t—care—a—damnwayoflookingnowhereinparticular，andsayingnothingatall……’
Hishusky，domesticvoiceceasedforawhile。MrsVerlocmadenoreply。
Beforethatsilencehefeltashamedofwhathehadsaid。Butasoftenhappenstopeacefulmenindomestictiffs，beingashamedhepushedanotherpoint。
`Youhaveadevilishwayofholdingyourtonguesometimes，’hebeganagain，withoutraisinghisvoice。`Enoughtomakesomemengomad。It’sluckyforyouthatIamnotsoeasilyputoutassomeofthemwouldbebyyourdeaf—and—dumbsulks。Iamfondofyou。Butdon’tyougotoofar。
Thisisn’tthetimeforit。Weoughttobethinkingofwhatwe’vegottodo。AndIcan’tletyougoouttonight，gallopingofftoyourmotherwithsomecrazytaleorotheraboutme。Iwon’thaveit。Don’tyoumakeanymistakeaboutit:ifyouwillhaveitthatIkilledtheboy，thenyou’vekilledhimasmuchasI。’
Insincerityoffeelingandopennessofstatement，thesewordswentfarbeyondanythingthathadeverbeensaidinthishome，keptuponthewagesofasecretindustryekedoutbythesaleofmoreorlesssecretwares:thepoorexpedientsdevisedbyamediocremankindforpreservinganimperfectsocietyfromthedangersofmoralandphysicalcorruption，bothsecret，too，oftheirkind。TheywerespokenbecauseMrVerlochadfelthimselfreallyoutraged;butthereticentdecenciesofthishomelife，nestlinginashadystreetbehindashopwherethesunnevershone，remainedapparentlyundisturbed。MrsVerlocheardhimoutwithperfectpropriety，andthenrosefromherchairinherhatandjacketlikeavisitorattheendofacall。Sheadvancedtowardsherhusband，onearmextendedasifforasilentleave—taking。Hernetveildanglingdownbyoneendoftheleftsideofherfacegaveanairofdisorderlyformalitytoherrestrainedmovements。Butwhenshearrivedasfarasthehearthrug，MrVerlocwasnolongerstandingthere。Hehadmovedoffinthedirectionofthesofa，withoutraisinghiseyestowatchtheeffectofhistirade。Hewastired，resignedinatrulymaritalspirit。Buthefelthurtinthetenderspotofhissecretweakness。Ifshewouldgoonsulkinginthatdreadfuloverchargedsilence—whythenshemust。Shewasamasterinthatdomesticart。MrVerlocflunghimselfheavilyuponthesofa，disregardingasusualthefateofhishat，which，asifaccustomedtotakecareofitself，madeforasafeshelterunderthetable。
Hewastired。Thelastparticleofhisnervousforcehadbeenexpendedinthewondersandagoniesofthisdayfullofsurprisingfailurescomingattheendofaharassingmonthofschemingandinsomnia。Hewastired。
Amanisn’tmadeofstone。Hangeverything！MrVerlocreposedcharacteristically，cladinhisoutdoorgarments。Onesideofhisopenovercoatwaslyingpartlyontheground。MrVerlocwallowedonhisback。Buthelongedforamoreperfectrest—forsleep—forafewhoursofdeliciousforgetfulness。
Thatwouldcomelater。Provisionallyherested。Andhethought:`Iwishshewouldgiveoverthisdamnednonsense。It’sexasperating。’
TheremusthavebeensomethingimperfectinMrsVerloc’ssentimentofregainedfreedom。Insteadoftakingthewayofthedoorsheleanedback，withhershouldersagainstthetabletofthemantelpiece，asawayfarerrestsagainstafence。Atingeofwildnessinheraspectwasderivedfromtheblackveilhanginglikearagagainsthercheek，andfromthefixityofherblackgazewherethelightoftheroomwasabsorbedandlostwithoutthetraceofasinglegleam。Thiswoman，capableofabargainthemeresuspicionofwhichwouldhavebeeninfinitelyshockingtoMrVerloc’sideaoflove，remainedirresolute，asifscrupulouslyawareofsomethingwantingonherpartfortheformalclosingofthetransaction。
OnthesofaMrVerlocwriggledhisshouldersintoperfectcomfort，andfromthefullnessofhisheartemittedawishwhichwascertainlyaspiousasanythinglikelytocomefromsuchasource。
`Iwishtogoodness，’hegrowled，huskily，`IhadneverseenGreenwichParkoranythingbelongingtoit。’
Theveiledsoundfilledthesmallroomwithitsmoderatevolume，welladaptedtothemodestnatureofthewish。Thewavesofairoftheproperlength，propagatedinaccordancewithcorrectmathematicalformulas，flowedaroundalltheinanimatethingsintheroom，lappedagainstMrsVerloc’sheadasifithadbeenaheadofstone。Andincredibleasitmayappear，theeyesofMrsVerlocseemedtogrowstilllarger。TheaudiblewishofMrVerloc’soverflowingheartflowedintoanenemyplaceinhiswife’smemory。GreenwichPark。Apark！That’swheretheboywaskilled。Apark—smashedbranches，tornleaves，gravel，bitsofbrotherlyfleshandbone，allspoutinguptogetherinthemannerofafirework。Sherememberednowwhatshehadheard，andsheremembereditpictorially。Theyhadtogatherhimupwiththeshovel。Tremblingalloverwithirrepressibleshudders，shesawbeforehertheveryimplementwithitsghastlyloadscrapedupfromtheground。MrsVerlocclosedhereyesdesperately，throwinguponthatvisionthenightofhereyelids，whereafterarain—likefallofmangledlimbsthedecapitatedheadofStevielingeredsuspendedalone，andfadingoutslowlylikethelaststarofapyrotechnicdisplay。MrsVerlocopenedhereyes。
Herfacewasnolongerstony。Anybodycouldhavenotedthesubtlechangeonherfeatures，inthestareofhereyes，givingheranewandstartlingexpression;anexpressionseldomobservedbycompetentpersonsundertheconditionsofleisureandsecuritydemandedforthoroughanalysis，butwhosemeaningcouldnotbemistakenataglance。MrsVerloc’sdoubtsastotheendofthebargainnolongerexisted;herwitsnolongerdisconnected，wereworkingunderthecontrolofherwill。ButMrVerlocobservednothing。