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〃It's your fault。 You insisted on his coming here。〃
He turned to Strickland。
〃Have mercy on her；〃 he implored him。 〃You can't let her do
anything so mad。〃
〃She can do as she chooses；〃 said Strickland。 〃She's not forced to
come。〃
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〃My choice is made；〃 she said； in a dull voice。
Strickland's injurious calm robbed Stroeve of the rest of his self…
control。 Blind rage seized him； and without knowing what he was doing
he flung himself on Strickland。 Strickland was taken by surprise and he
staggered； but he was very strong； even after his illness； and in a moment；
he did not exactly know how； Stroeve found himself on the floor。
〃You funny little man；〃 said Strickland。
Stroeve picked himself up。 He noticed that his wife had remained
perfectly still； and to be made ridiculous before her increased his
humiliation。 His spectacles had tumbled off in the struggle； and he could
not immediately see them。 She picked them up and silently handed them
to him。 He seemed suddenly to realise his unhappiness； and though he
knew he was making himself still more absurd； he began to cry。 He hid
his face in his hands。 The others watched him without a word。 They did
not move from where they stood。
〃Oh； my dear；〃 he groaned at last； 〃how can you be so cruel？〃
〃I can't help myself； Dirk；〃 she answered。
〃I've worshipped you as no woman was ever worshipped before。 If in
anything I did I displeased you； why didn't you tell me； and I'd have
changed。 I've done everything I could for you。〃
She did not answer。 Her face was set； and he saw that he was only
boring her。 She put on a coat and her hat。 She moved towards the door；
and he saw that in a moment she would be gone。 He went up to her
quickly and fell on his knees before her； seizing her hands： he
abandoned all self…respect。
〃Oh； don't go； my darling。 I can't live without you； I shall kill myself。
If I've done anything to offend you I beg you to forgive me。 Give me
another chance。 I'll try harder still to make you happy。〃
〃Get up； Dirk。 You're making yourself a perfect fool。〃
He staggered to his feet； but still he would not let her go。
〃Where are you going？〃 he said hastily。 〃You don't know what
Strickland's place is like。 You can't live there。 It would be awful。〃
〃If I don't care； I don't see why you should。〃
〃Stay a minute longer。 I must speak。 After all； you can't grudge me
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that。〃
〃What is the good？ I've made up my mind。 Nothing that you can say
will make me alter it。〃
He gulped； and put his hand to his heart to ease its painful beating。
〃I'm not going to ask you to change your mind； but I want you to listen
to me for a minute。 It's the last thing I shall ever ask you。 Don't refuse
me that。〃
She paused； looking at him with those reflective eyes of hers； which
now were so different to him。 She came back into the studio and leaned
against the table。
〃Well？〃
Stroeve made a great effort to collect himself。
〃You must be a little reasonable。 You can't live on air； you know。
Strickland hasn't got a penny。〃
〃I know。〃
〃You'll suffer the most awful privations。 You know why he took so
long to get well。 He was half starved。〃
〃I can earn money for him。〃
〃How？〃
〃I don't know。 I shall find a way。〃
A horrible thought passed through the Dutchman's mind； and he
shuddered。
〃I think you must be mad。 I don't know what has come over you。〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃Now may I go？〃
〃Wait one second longer。〃
He looked round his studio wearily； he had loved it because her
presence had made it gay and homelike； he shut his eyes for an instant；
then he gave her a long look as though to impress on his mind the picture
of her。 He got up and took his hat。
〃No； I'll go。〃
〃You？〃
She was startled。 She did not know what he meant。
〃I can't bear to think of you living in that horrible； filthy attic。 After
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all； this is your home just as much as mine。 You'll be comfortable here。
You'll be spared at least the worst privations。〃
He went to the drawer in which he kept his money and took out
several bank…notes。
〃I would like to give you half what I've got here。〃
He put them on the table。 Neither Strickland nor his wife spoke。
Then he recollected something else。
〃Will you pack up my clothes and leave them with the concierge？ I'll
come and fetch them to…morrow。〃 He tried to smile。〃 Good…bye； my dear。
I'm grateful for all the happiness you gave me in the past。〃
He walked out and closed the door behind him。 With my mind's eye I
saw Strickland throw his hat on a table； and； sitting down； begin to smoke
a cigarette。
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Chapter XXIX
I kept silence for a little while； thinking of what Stroeve had told me。
I could not stomach his weakness； and he saw my disapproval。 〃You
know as well as I do how Strickland lived；〃 he said tremulously。 〃I
couldn't let her live in those circumstances I simply couldn't。〃
〃That's your business；〃 I answered。
〃What would have done？〃 he asked。
〃She went with her eyes open。 If she had to put up with certain
inconveniences it was her own lookout。〃
〃Yes； but； you see； you don't love her。〃
〃Do you love her still？〃
〃Oh； more than ever。 Strickland isn't the man to make a woman
happy。 It can't last。 I want her to know that I shall never fail her。〃
〃Does that mean that you're prepared to take her back？〃
〃I shouldn't hesitate。 Why； she'll want me more than ever then。 When
she's