“And you think that I don’t count at all!” He laughed bitterly. “Those children are as much my children as yours, and I propose to have something to say about the way they are taken care of.” He glanced angrily at Helen, who remained silent. “You can be pretty exasperating at times, Helen. What do you propose to do with the children when we go back to Washington?” “I am not going back to Washington,” she replied, in a low voice. “What?” he exclaimed in astonishment. “I am not going back to Washington.” “What do you mean by that?” “We can’t afford----” “Can’t afford! I’m sick of hearing that expression. You’ve used it a thousand times in the past six months. You make me feel as if I were a pauper or a thief.” “I was going to say that we couldn’t afford to live in Washington as we’ve been living,” she continued, as if she had not heard him. “When you leave here I shall take the children to my place in Waverly and pass the Winter there.” “_My_ place!” he repeated, coldly. He turned away. “Yes, it is your place.” “Did you send for me to speak about the children?” “No, I wanted to consult you about the house in Washington. I have a chance to lease it for two years. Senator Wadsworth is looking for a place, and he said the other day he’d take the house whenever I wanted to rent it. I had told him I didn’t feel sure of going back, and, of course, I knew how you hated the place,” he concluded, harshly. “If you prefer to live somewhere else, I’m willing.” “I have made up my mind not to go back,” said Helen. “And may I ask how long you propose to keep away from Washington? Do you intend to cut yourself off from my political life altogether?” “You know why I want to cut myself off from it,” Helen replied, her voice trembling. “I should think I did! You’ve rubbed that in enough. I suppose you realize what people will say?” “There are plenty of Congressmen’s wives who don’t go to Washington with their husbands.” “But you’ve taken part in the life. You’ve been conspicuous.” “You can say that I didn’t feel equal to entertaining this Winter, and I stayed at home to take care of my children. It will be true, too.” He looked at her with solicitude in his face. “Do you mean that you are ill, Helen?” “I’m sick. I’m sick of living,” she broke out. “But for the children, I could wish that I----” “Then _I_ don’t count in your feelings or in your life?” He hesitated, and when he spoke again it was in a tone of patience that betrayed the restraint he was putting on himself. “Helen, I think I have been pretty lenient with you so far, and if I let go now and then you can’t blame me. Since that night in Washington, the night of your ball, you’ve been a changed woman. You keep the children away from me as if you were afraid I’d contaminate them. You have cut down our expenses and forced us all to live as if we were on the verge of poverty. You’ve made our house as gloomy as a tomb. Now, I warn you, look out! Do you understand?” “Yes.”