Their time for dining was seven.  Shortly before this Widdowson entered the house and went to the sitting-room; Monica was not there.  He found her in the bed-chamber, before the looking-glass.  At the sight of his reflected face she turned instantly.

‘Monica!’ He put his hands on her shoulders, whispering hoarsely, ‘Monica! don’t you love me?’

She looked away, not replying.

‘Monica!’

And of a sudden he fell on his knees before her, clasped her about the waist, burst into choking sobs.

’Have you no love for me?  My darling!  My dear, beautiful wife!  Have you begun to hate me?’

Tears came to her eyes.  She implored him to rise and command himself.

‘I was so violent, so brutal with you.  I spoke without thinking—­’

’But why should you speak like that?  Why are you so unreasonable?  If you forbid me to do simple things, with not the least harm in them, you can’t expect me to take it like a child.  I shall resist; I can’t help it.’

He had risen and was crushing her in his arms, his hot breath on her neck, when he began to whisper,—­

’I want to keep you all to myself.  I don’t like these people—­they think so differently—­they put such hateful ideas into your mind—­they are not the right kind of friends for you—­’

’You misunderstand them, and you don’t in the least understand me.  Oh, you hurt me, Edmund!’

He released her body, and took her head between his hands.

’I had rather you were dead than that you should cease to love me!  You shall go to see her; I won’t say a word against it.  But, Monica, be faithful, be faithful to me!’

‘Faithful to you?’ she echoed in astonishment.  ’What have I said or done to put you in such a state?  Because I wish to make a few friends as all women do—­’

’It’s because I have lived so much alone.  I have never had more than one or two friends, and I am absurdly jealous when you want to get away from me and amuse yourself with strangers.  I can’t talk to such people.  I am not suited for society.  If I hadn’t met you in that strange way, by miracle, I should never have been able to marry.  If I allow you to have these friends—­’

’I don’t like to hear that word.  Why should you say allow?  Do you think of me as your servant, Edmund?’

’You know how I think of you.  It is I who am your servant, your slave.’

‘Oh, I can’t believe that!’ She pressed her handkerchief to her cheeks, and laughed unnaturally.  ’Such words don’t mean anything.  It is you who forbid and allow and command, and—­’

’I will never again use such words.  Only convince me that you love me as much as ever.’

‘It is so miserable to begin quarrelling—­’

’Never again!  Say you love me!  Put your arms round my neck—­press closer to me—­’

She kissed his cheek, but did not utter a word.