They entered the parlour, and sat down in silence. "Angelica!" he said abruptly, with a frown. "Why did you leave me?" "I wanted to----” "I was amazed. I was _shocked_. You behaved----” He hesitated for a moment, then went on severely: "You behaved like a light woman. I thought you were faithful and constant and sincere; and then, after _one week_----” "But what kind of a week was it?" cried Angelica. "I’m not a rich man, but I did the best I could for you." "You know what I mean! In that awful little road-house, with you shutting yourself up in the bedroom all the time and leaving me there alone for all those men to laugh at!" "I had to write." "You hadn’t any business to write. You might have thought a little bit how I’d feel. If you couldn’t pay any attention to me, you shouldn’t----” "Did you bring me here to reproach me?" he demanded. "Because if you did, I’ve had enough." "No, I didn’t mean to scold you," she answered, hurriedly, recalled to the necessity for placating him. "No--I just wanted to see you." Her face, which had become so pinched, so colourless, was covered with a vivid flush. The conciliatory words almost stuck in her throat; but apparently Vincent didn’t observe her emotion. "I’m not disposed to endure much more from you--upon my word, I’m not!" he went on. "The way you went off, simply leaving me a note to say that you thought you’d go home--making a fool of me! I was naïve enough to imagine we were to spend our lives together. I thought we’d stay for a month or so in that beautiful little mountain inn, fishing, tramping, reading, talking----” "You hardly spoke to me all day long. I had to sit down-stairs in the dining-room with those fishermen." "How was I to know that you had no resources? Besides, it was rainy, and we couldn’t have gone out, anyway; but the very day you left the weather cleared. I was really disgusted with you, Angelica. You behaved abominably!" "Well, Vincent," she said, "you’ll have to excuse that, and be a good friend to me, because I need some money." He jumped to his feet. "You’re shameless!" he said. "I’m shocked!" "No--listen! There’s going to be a baby!" she cried, in desperation. He was a little taken aback for a moment. He gave a hasty glance at her poor desperate young face, and then looked away. "There!" he said, taking a leather wallet out of his pocket and throwing it on the table. "Take it! It’s all I’ve got. My God, you can’t get the better of a woman! They have it all their own way in this world. They make us pay, and pay dear, for their follies!" Angelica stared at him, astounded. "_I’m_ supposed to be the guilty one," he went on. "_I’m_ the one who’s held responsible--why, the good Lord only knows. _I’m_ the one to pay!" "As for _me_," said Angelica, "it’s just a picnic, isn’t it?" "You’re fulfilling your natural destiny--at my expense." "Oh!" she cried. "I wish to God I could throw the money back in your face, Vincent!"