"Will, don't be mad and wicked, and go and take your life."
"Why not? D'you think there's vaarlue in it to me now?"
He spoke quite quietly, but he looked gray, haggard, terrible, his
clothes all stained and dirty from his open-air bed.
"Will, for mercy's sake--"
He shook her off, and began to count his money.
"I must keep this," he said. "I'll pay it back later to the right
quarter--along with the equivalent of what I burnt."
When he had finished packing he told her that he would settle with the
lodging-house keeper, and he gave her a few shillings.
"That's enough to get you home with."
Then he picked up his bag and went out.
VIII
Mavis had bought a cheap blue veil to protect her face, and being,
moreover, fortunate enough to find an empty compartment in the through
coach to Rodchurch Road, she did not suffer during the journey from
too curious observation of strangers. She was going home, exactly as
if nothing had happened. Her husband had said that she was to go, and
what else could she do but obey him?
When the station omnibus pulled up outside the post office, Mr.
Ridgett caught sight of her, and gallantly came to assist her in
alighting. Evidently he noticed nothing strange about her appearance.
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