Page:Restless Earth.djvu/31

The words, uttered softly and gently, had surprised him. He had expected condemnation unheard; and that Grace had failed to be so unjust roused a curious resentment in him.

“What do you expect me to tell you?” he had countered sullenly.

“That which you think I should be told, Jimmy.”

There had been silence in the room then for a long time. He had lain still, staring unseeingly at the door panels, flushing hotly under his wife’s steady gaze.

“Nothing, Jimmy?” she had pleaded softly.

He had remained silent, sullen.

At last Grace had risen suddenly, lifting her shoulders and spreading her hands in a pitiful gesture of resignation as she had crossed to the door again. She turned upon the threshold and he had looked up into her eyes for the first time. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her gaze steady and resolute. She had fought her battle in the lonely night and her soft mouth had firmed in defeat.

“Breakfast will be ready in five minutes,” she had said in the same quiet tone. “Please do not get up. I will bring yours here. I am lunching with Mrs. Warden to-day, so perhaps you had better lunch in town; unless you would prefer that I leave something in the oven for you. I doubt if I shall be home before five. I have some shopping to do this afternoon, and I have to arrange for a carter. It may be as well if I get the tickets to-day, too. It will save a rush in the morning.”

He had risen upon his elbow at that.

“Tickets? What tickets?”

“Our rail tickets—mine and Joan’s. We are leaving by the mail for Wanganui to-morrow. I planned our—our holiday during the night. A fortnight in Wanganui, then a fortnight in Napier, and after that I—I suppose it doesn’t matter where we go. Joan will be of school age next year, and I may as well see as much of the country as possible before then.”