Not that the victory was gained in a moment. There were times when he went back; times when, had he but recognised it, he needed her. He was still resentful, in a sense; still felt, in fact, that what she had done had been but something of a repayment for what he had done for her; more than that, despite himself, he resented the fact that she had seen him in such a condition, and had been able to help him. Yet, on the other hand, that, in a zig-zag fashion, brought about in him a determination to work--if only to show her that he could work without her direct aid. She came again; and then a more generous mood was on him that urged him half-shamefacedly to thank her. She came in brightly and yet hesitatingly, as though not certain what she would find; relief was in her face in an instant when she saw the difference in him. So for a moment they looked at each other, with the gulf that had narrowed for a time between them widening again. "It's all right, you see," said Jimmy after a moment or two, and without turning his head to look at her. "I've pulled straight; I'm working hard once more." "Of course--I knew you would, Jimmy," she replied. "I'm not going to apologise--or make excuses----" "Oh--please!" She held out hands of entreaty towards him. "Things went all wrong with me; they'd have been worse but for you. I don't know what you found me like"--the words were hard to say, but he spoke them doggedly--"I only know how you left me. And I've done lots of work--good work, too--since then, Moira." "Oh, I'm glad," she said shyly. "And I didn't do anything--not any more than another might have done." He paced up and down the room for a moment or two, with bent head; then began to talk as though he had some difficulty in saying what he had determined to say--as though it were forced from him in a measure. She stood straight and slim and tall, looking at him; for a time, after he had finished speaking, she did not reply. "The new play's all right, I believe; at any rate my man says so, and backs his opinion with money. Things seem to be going better with me--since--since you came to me. It's been a bit of a muddle, I know, old lady; but I like to treat people as people treat me; and you've been the one that has behaved well to me--the only one that hasn't deserted me. The pity and the tragedy of it is that you and I are just two lonely people--not loving anyone very much--and yet forced to remain lonely. I've been thinking about it rather carefully, Moira, from a practical common-sense point of view, and I don't see why we shouldn't cheat Fate, in a manner of speaking, and come together. I'm not speaking on the impulse of the moment. I'm simply saying what I've thought about very carefully. We're married; you're Mrs. James Larrance; and I've no doubt the child is a sweet little thing; we'll bring her up nicely. There'll be plenty of money, and we shall live where you like. What do you think of it?"