There was a pause after the man had finished reading. He frowned, bit his lip, and stared at the floor. At last he flung a question at his wife. "What's wrong with your knees?" She started and flushed. "They are--they are a little swollen and sore--with housework--kneeling about, you know," she murmured apologetically. "Does Pansy mention it?" "What housework have you had to do?" "Only the keep of Laburnum Villa." "But there was a servant; I saw her." "Oh, she only came for that afternoon, because I--I didn't want to let you in myself...." "... And you ask me to believe that you--_you_ have been a maid-of-all-work for the past two years?" "Oh, no, I do not ask you to believe it," came the disdainful retort. "I do not mind whether you believe it or not." He went up to her with one of his unexpected, almost violent movements, snatched the hand which hung at her side, opened it--studied its pink palm. It had been carefully tended, but it bore unmistakable marks of hard usage. "It seems to me that I have married the wrong woman," he said, letting it fall again. "It was your mother who ought to have been made to suffer." "Mother has suffered a great deal," murmured Virginia. He thrust his hands deep in his pockets, walked away, across the room, came back slowly, paused, staring at her. "Tell me, for God's sake, what made you consent to such a marriage as this?" She made a backward movement away from him, her eyes blazing, her temper high. "I did _not_ consent--I never consented to such a marriage as this!" She was in act to go out of the room. He put himself in the way. "What then? What did you expect?" "I will not speak of it to you!" "You will speak of what I please!" As she made to pass him, he took her by both arms, holding her before him. "You are to tell me what induced you to agree to marry me." "Why should I tell you when you do not believe what I say?" "You tell me--I'll believe or not, as I see fit. Out with it!" She once more checked the hysterical sobs that threatened her. "You--you had once loved mother," she said slowly. "You knew that she preferred another man. I am like her. You saw me; it brought back to you that bygone love. I supposed that you were attracted." She paused. "But what of yourself? Your own feeling in the matter? I want to get at that." "It was only a question of me," she muttered, "and it was giving myself up for them. I--you see, I could do nothing." In spite of her control sobs began to shake her voice. "It was hopeless; we were at the end----" She broke off to summon fresh nerve. He stood immovable, holding her, compelling her, as it were, to continue. "The end of your resources?"