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while she grew calmer。
〃It's no good making a fool of myself；〃 she said； drying her eyes。 〃The
only thing is to decide what is the best thing to do。〃
She went on； talking somewhat at random； now of the recent past； then
of their first meeting and their marriage； but presently I began to form a
fairly coherent picture of their lives； and it seemed to me that my surmises
had not been incorrect。 Mrs。 Strickland was the daughter of an Indian
civilian； who on his retirement had settled in the depths of the country； but
it was his habit every August to take his family to Eastbourne for change
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of air； and it was here； when she was twenty； that she met Charles
Strickland。 He was twenty…three。 They played together； walked on the
front together； listened together to the nigger minstrels； and she had made
up her mind to accept him a week before he proposed to her。 They lived
in London； first in Hampstead； and then； as he grew more prosperous； in
town。 Two children were born to them。
〃He always seemed very fond of them。 Even if he was tired of me； I
wonder that he had the heart to leave them。 It's all so incredible。 Even
now I can hardly believe it's true。〃
At last she showed me the letter he had written。 I was curious to see it；
but had not ventured to ask for it。
〃MY DEAR AMY；
〃CHARLES STRICKLAND。〃
〃Not a word of explanation or regret。 Don't you think it's
inhuman？〃
〃It's a very strange letter under the circumstances；〃 I replied。
〃There's only one explanation； and that is that he's not himself。 I don't
know who this woman is who's got hold of him； but she's made him into
another man。 It's evidently been going on a long time。〃
〃What makes you think that？〃
〃Fred found that out。 My husband said he went to the club three or
four nights a week to play bridge。 Fred knows one of the members； and
said something about Charles being a great bridge…player。 The man was
surprised。 He said he'd never even seen Charles in the card…room。 It's
quite clear now that when I thought Charles was at his club he was with
her。〃
I was silent for a moment。 Then I thought of the children。
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〃It must have been difficult to explain to Robert；〃 I said。
〃Oh； I never said a word to either of them。 You see； we only came up
to town the day before they had to go back to school。 I had the presence of
mind to say that their father had been called away on business。〃
It could not have been very easy to be bright and careless with that
sudden secret in her heart； nor to give her attention to all the things that
needed doing to get her children comfortably packed off。 Mrs。
Strickland's voice broke again。
〃And what is to happen to them； poor darlings？ How are we going to
live？〃
She struggled for self…control； and I saw her hands clench and
unclench spasmodically。 It was dreadfully painful。
〃Of course I'll go over to Paris if you think I can do any good； but you
must tell me exactly what you want me to do。〃
〃I want him to come back。〃
〃I understood from Colonel MacAndrew that you'd made up your
mind to divorce him。〃
〃I'll never divorce him；〃 she answered with a sudden violence。 〃Tell
him that from me。 He'll never be able to marry that woman。 I'm as
obstinate as he is； and I'll never divorce him。 I have to think of my
children。〃
I think she added this to explain her attitude to me； but I thought it was
due to a very natural jealousy rather than to maternal solicitude。
〃Are you in love with him still？〃
〃I don't know。 I want him to come back。 If he'll do that we'll let
bygones be bygones。 After all； we've been married for seventeen years。
I'm a broadminded woman。 I wouldn't have minded what he did as long
as I knew nothing about it。 He must know that his infatuation won't last。
If he'll come back now everything can be smoothed over； and no one will
know anything about it。〃
It chilled me a little that Mrs。 Strickland should be concerned with
gossip； for I did not know then how great a part is played in women's life
by the opinion of others。 It throws a shadow of insincerity over their most
deeply felt emotions。
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It was known where Strickland was staying。 His partner； in a violent
letter； sent to his bank； had taunted him with hiding his whereabouts： and
Strickland； in a cynical and humourous reply； had told his partner exactly
where to find him。 He was apparently living in an Hotel。
〃I've never heard of it；〃 said Mrs。 Strickland。 〃But Fred knows it
well。 He says it's very expensive。〃
She flushed darkly。 I imagined that she saw her husband installed in
a luxurious suite of rooms； dining at one smart restaurant after another；
and she pictured his days spent at race…meetings and his evenings at the
play。
〃It can't go on at his age；〃 she said。 〃After all； he's forty。 I could
understand it in a young man； but I think it's horrible in a man of his years；
with children who are nearly grown up。 His health will never stand it。〃
Anger struggled in her breast with misery。
〃Tell him that our home cries out for him。 Everything is just the
same； and yet everything is different。 I can't live without him。 I'd
sooner kill myself。 Talk to him about the past； and all we've gone
through together。 What am I to say to the children when they ask for him？
His room is exactly as it was w