"Yes, I can do that; but I first thought I'd speak to you on the subject. For if I did go and live with another woman I couldn't very well desert her after getting a divorce." "You deserted me." "Why go back on that old story?" "It ain't an old story, it's the story of my life, and I haven't come to the end of it yet." "But you'll have got to the end of it if you'll do what I say." A moment later Esther said-- "I don't know what you want to get a divorce for at all. I daresay your wife would take you back if you were to ask her." "She's no children, and never will have none, and marriage is a poor look-out without children--all the worry and anxiety for nothing. What do we marry for but children? There's no other happiness. I've tried everything else--" "But I haven't." "I know all that. I know you've had a damned hard time, Esther. I've had a good week at Doncaster, and have enough money to buy my partner out; we shall 'ave the 'ouse to ourselves, and, working together, I don't think we'll 'ave much difficulty in building it up into a very nice property, all of which will in time go to the boy. I'm doing pretty well, I told you, in the betting line, but if you like I'll give it up. I'll never lay or take the odds again. I can't say more, Esther, can I? Come, say yes," he said, reaching his arm towards her. "Don't touch me," she said surlily, and drew back a step with air of resolution that made him doubt if he would be able to persuade her. "Now, Esther----" William did not finish. It seemed useless to argue with her, and he looked at the great red ash of the tallow candle. "You are the mother of my boy, so it is different; but to advise me to go and live with another woman! I shouldn't have thought it of a religious girl like you." "Religion! There's very little time for religion in the places I've had to work in." Then, thinking of Fred, she added that she had returned to Christ, and hoped He would forgive her. William encouraged her to speak of herself, remarking that, chapel or no chapel, she seemed just as severe and particular as ever. "If you won't, I can only say I am sorry; but that shan't prevent me from paying you as much a week as you think necessary for Jack's keep and his schooling. I don't want the boy to cost you anything. I'd like to do a great deal more for the boy, but I can't do more unless you make him my child." "And I can only do that by going away to live with you?" The words brought an instinctive look of desire into her eyes. "In six months we shall be man and wife.... Say yes." "I can't... I can't, don't ask me." "You're afraid to trust me, is that it?" Esther did not answer. "I can make that all right: I'll settle £500 on you and the child." She looked up; the same look was in her eyes, only modified, softened by some feeling of tenderness which had come into her heart. He put his arm round her; she was leaning against the table; he was sitting on the edge.