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With a faint smile of pity； the nurse went back into the room。 We heard
her low voice； and then； in a voice I did not recognise the answer：
〃No。 No。 No。〃
The nurse came out again and shook her head。
〃Was that she who spoke then？〃 I asked。 〃Her voice sounded so
strange。〃
〃It appears that her vocal cords have been burnt by the acid。〃
Dirk gave a low cry of distress。 I asked him to go on and wait for me
at the entrance； for I wanted to say something to the nurse。 He did not
ask what it was； but went silently。 He seemed to have lost all power of
will； he was like an obedient child。
〃Has she told you why she did it？〃 I asked。
〃No。 She won't speak。 She lies on her back quite quietly。 She
doesn't move for hours at a time。 But she cries always。 Her pillow is all
wet。 She's too weak to use a handkerchief； and the tears just run down
her face。〃
It gave me a sudden wrench of the heart…strings。 I could have killed
Strickland then； and I knew that my voice was trembling when I bade the
nurse goodbye。
I found Dirk waiting for me on the steps。 He seemed to see nothing；
and did not notice that I had joined him till I touched him on the arm。
We walked along in silence。 I tried to imagine what had happened to
drive the poor creature to that dreadful step。 I presumed that Strickland
knew what had happened； for someone must have been to see him from
the police； and he must have made his statement。 I did not know where
he was。 I supposed he had gone back to the shabby attic which served
him as a studio。 It was curious that she should not wish to see him。
Perhaps she refused to have him sent for because she knew he would
refuse to come。 I wondered what an abyss of cruelty she must have
looked into that in horror she refused to live。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XXXVI
The next week was dreadful。 Stroeve went twice a day to the
hospital to enquire after his wife； who still declined to see him； and came
away at first relieved and hopeful because he was told that she seemed to
be growing better； and then in despair because； the complication which the
doctor had feared having ensued； recovery was impossible。 The nurse
was pitiful to his distress； but she had little to say that could console him。
The poor woman lay quite still； refusing to speak； with her eyes intent； as
though she watched for the coming of death。 It could now be only the
question of a day or two； and when； late one evening； Stroeve came to see
me I knew it was to tell me she was dead。 He was absolutely exhausted。
His volubility had left him at last； and he sank down wearily on my sofa。
I felt that no words of condolence availed； and I let him lie there quietly。
I feared he would think it heartless if I read； so I sat by the window；
smoking a pipe； till he felt inclined to speak。
〃You've been very kind to me；〃 he said at last。 〃Everyone's been very
kind。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 I said； a little embarrassed。
〃At the hospital they told me I might wait。 They gave me a chair； and
I sat outside the door。 When she became unconscious they said I might
go in。 Her mouth and chin were all burnt by the acid。 It was awful to
see her lovely skin all wounded。 She died very peacefully； so that I didn't
know she was dead till the sister told me。〃
He was too tired to weep。 He lay on his back limply； as though all
the strength had gone out of his limbs； and presently I saw that he had
fallen asleep。 It was the first natural sleep he had had for a week。
Nature； sometimes so cruel； is sometimes merciful。 I covered him and
turned down the light。 In the morning when I awoke he was still asleep。
He had not moved。 His gold…rimmed spectacles were still on his nose。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XXXVII
The circumstances of Blanche Stroeve's death necessitated all manner
of dreadful formalities； but at last we were allowed to bury her。 Dirk and
I alone followed the hearse to the cemetery。 We went at a foot…pace； but on
the way back we trotted； and there was something to my mind singularly
horrible in the way the driver of the hearse whipped up his horses。 It
seemed to dismiss the dead with a shrug of the shoulders。 Now and then I
caught sight of the swaying hearse in front of us； and our own driver urged
his pair so that we might not remain behind。 I felt in myself； too； the
desire to get the whole thing out of my mind。 I was beginning to be
bored with a tragedy that did not really concern me； and pretending to
myself that I spoke in order to distract Stroeve； I turned with relief to other
subjects。
〃Don't you think you'd better go away for a bit？〃 I said。 〃There can be
no object in your staying in Paris now。〃
He did not answer； but I went on ruthlessly：
〃Have you made any plans for the immediate future？〃
〃No。〃
〃You must try and gather together the threads again。 Why don't you go
down to Italy and start working？〃
Again he made no reply； but the driver of our carriage came to my
rescue。 Slackening his pace for a moment； he leaned over and spoke。 I
could not hear what he said； so I put my head out of the window。 he
wanted to know where we wished to be set down。 I told him to wait a
minute。
〃You'd better come and have lunch with me；〃 I said to Dirk。 〃I'll tell
him to drop us in the Place Pigalle。〃
〃I'd rather not。 I want to go to the studio。〃
I hesitated a moment。
〃Would you like me to come with you？〃 I asked then。
〃No； I should prefer to be alone。〃
〃All right。〃
I gave the driver the necessary direction； and in renewed silence we
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The Moon and Sixpence
drove on。 Dirk had not been to the studio since the wretched mo