第18章

Practicalandsubtleinherway，shebroughtStevietothefrontwithoutlossoftime，becauseinherthesinglenessofpurposehadtheunerringnatureandtheforceofaninstinct。

`WhatIamgoingtodotocheerupthatboyforthefirstfewdaysI’msureIdon’tknow。He’llbeworryinghimselffrommorningtillnightbeforehegetsusedtomotherbeingaway。Andhe’ssuchagoodboy。Icouldn’tdowithouthim。’

MrVerlocwentondivestinghimselfofhisclothingwiththeunnoticinginwardconcentrationofamanundressinginthesolitudeofavastandhopelessdesert。Forthusinhospitablydidthisfairearth，ourcommoninheritance，presentitselftothementalvisionofMrVerloc。Allwassostillwithoutandwithinthatthelonelytickingoftheclockonthelandingstoleintotheroomasifforthesakeofcompany。

MrVerloc，gettingintobedonhisownside，remainedproneandmutebehindMrsVerloc’sback。Histhickarmsrestedabandonedontheoutsideofthecounterpanelikedroppedweapons，likediscardedtools。Atthatmomenthewaswithinahair’sbreadthofmakingacleanbreastofitalltohiswife。Themomentseemedpropitious。Lookingoutofthecornersofhiseyes，hesawherampleshouldersdrapedinwhite，thebackofherhead，withthehairdoneforthenightinthreeplaitstiedupwithblacktapesattheends。Andheforbore。MrVerloclovedhiswifeasawifeshouldbeloved—thatis，maritally，withtheregardonehasforone’schiefpossession。Thisheadarrangedforthenight，thoseampleshoulders，hadanaspectoffamiliarsacredness—thesacrednessofdomesticpeace。Shemovednot，massiveandshapelesslikearecumbentstatueintherough;

herememberedherwide—openeyeslookingintotheemptyroom。Shewasmysterious，withthemysteriousnessoflivingbeings。Thefar—famedsecretagentΔ

ofthelateBaronStott—Wartenheim’salarmistdispatcheswasnotthemantobreakintosuchmysteries。Hewaseasilyintimidated。Andhewasalsoindolent，withtheindolencewhichissooftenthesecretofgoodnature。

Heforboretouchingthatmysteryoutoflove，timidity，andindolence。

Therewouldbealwaystimeenough。Forseveralminutesheborehissufferingssilentlyinthedrowsysilenceoftheroom。Andthenhedisturbeditbyaresolutedeclaration。

`IamgoingontheContinenttomorrow。’

Hiswifemighthavefallenasleepalready。Hecouldnottell。Asamatteroffact，MrsVerlochadheardhim。Hereyesremainedverywideopen，andshelayverystill，confirmedinherinstinctiveconvictionthatthingsdon’tbearlookingintoverymuch。AndyetitwasnothingveryunusualforMrVerloctotakesuchatrip。HerenewedhisstockfromParisandBrussels。Oftenhewentovertomakehispurchasespersonally。AlittleselectconnectionofamateurswasformingaroundtheshopinBrettStreet，asecretconnectioneminentlyproperforanybusinessundertakenbyMrVerloc，who，byamysticaccordoftemperamentandnecessity，hadbeensetaparttobeasecretagentallhislife。

Hewaitedforawhile，thenadded:`I’llbeawayaweekorperhapsafortnight。GetMrsNealetocomefortheday。’

MrsNealewasthecharwomanofBrettStreet。Victimofhermarriagewithadebauchedjoiner，shewasoppressedbytheneedsofmanyinfantchildren。Red—armed，andapronedincoarsesackinguptothearmpits，sheexhaledtheanguishofthepoorinabreathofsoap—sudsandrum，intheuproarofscrubbing，intheclatteroftinpails。

MrsVerloc，fullofdeeppurpose，spokeinthetoneoftheshallowestindifference。

`Thereisnoneedtohavethewomanhereallday。IshalldoverywellwithStevie。’

Sheletthelonelyclockonthelandingcountofffifteenticksintotheabyssofeternity，andasked:

`ShallIputthelightout？’

MrVerlocsnappedathiswifehuskily。

`Putitout。’

CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter9CHAPTER9

MrVerloc，returningfromtheContinentattheendoftendays，broughtbackamindevidentlyunrefreshedbythewondersofforeigntravelandacountenanceunlightedbythejoysofhomecoming。Heenteredintheclatteroftheshop—bellwithanairofsombreandvexedexhaustion。Hisbaginhand，hisheadlowered，hestrodestraightbehindthecounter，andlethimselffallintothechair，asthoughhehadtrampedallthewayfromDover。Itwasearlymorning。Stevie，dustingvariousobjectsdisplayedinthefrontwindows，turnedtogapeathimwithreverenceandawe。

`Here！’saidMrVerloc，givingaslightkicktothegladstonebagonthefloor;andStevieflunghimselfuponit，seizedit，boreitoffwithtriumphantdevotion。HewassopromptthatMrVerlocwasdistinctlysurprised。

Alreadyattheclatteroftheshop—bellMrsNeale，blackleadingtheparlourgrate，hadlookedthroughthedoor，andrisingfromherkneeshadgone，aproned，andgrimywitheverlastingtoil，totellMrsVerlocinthekitchenthat`therewasthemastercomeback’。

Winniecamenofartherthantheinnershopdoor。`You’llwantsomebreakfast，’

shesaidfromadistance。MrVerlocmovedhishandsslightly，asifovercomebyanimpossiblesuggestion。Butonceenticedintotheparlourhedidnotrejectthefoodsetbeforehim。Heateasifinapublicplace，hishatpushedoffhisforehead，theskirtsofhisheavyovercoathanginginatriangleoneachsideofthechair。AndacrossthelengthofthetablecoveredwithbrownoilclothWinnie，hiswife，talkedevenlyathimthewifelytalk，asartfullyadapted，nodoubt，tothecircumstancesofthisreturnasthetalkofPenelopetothereturnofthewanderingOdysseus。

MrsVerloc，however，haddonenoweavingduringherhusband’sabsence。

Butshehadhadalltheupstairsroomscleanedthoroughly，hadsoldsomewares，hadseenMrMichaelisseveraltimes。Hehadtoldherthelasttimethathewasgoingawaytoliveinacottageinthecountry，somewhereontheLondon，Chatham，andDoverline。KarlYundthadcome，too，onceledunderthearmbythat`wickedoldhouse—keeperofhis’。Hewasa`disgustingoldman’。OfComradeOssipon，whomshehadreceivedcurtly，entrenchedbehindthecounterwithastonyfaceandafar—awaygaze，shesaidnothing，hermentalreferencetotherobustanarchistbeingmarkedbyashortpause，withthefaintestpossibleblush。AndbringinginherbrotherStevieassoonasshecouldintothecurrentofdomesticevents，shementionedthattheboyhadmopedagooddeal。

`It’sallalongofmotherleavinguslikethis。’

MrVerlocneithersaid`Damn！’noryet`Steviebehanged！’AndMrsVerloc，notletintothesecretofhisthoughts，failedtoappreciatethegenerosityofthisrestraint。

`Itisn’tthathedoesn’tworkaswellasever，’shecontinued。`He’sbeenmakinghimselfveryuseful。You’dthinkhecouldn’tdoenoughforus。’

MrVerlocdirectedacasualandsomnolentglanceatStevie，whosatonhisright，delicate，pale—faced，hisrosymouthopenvacantly。Itwasnotacriticalglance。Ithadnointention。AndifMrVerlocthoughtforamomentthathiswife’sbrotherlookeduncommonlyuseless，itwasonlyadullandfleetingthought，devoidofthatforceanddurabilitywhichenablessometimesathoughttomovetheworld。Leaningback，MrVerlocuncoveredhishead。BeforehisextendedarmcouldputdownthehatSteviepounceduponit，andboreitoffreverentlyintothekitchen。AndagainMrVerlocwassurprised。

`Youcoulddoanythingwiththatboy，Adolf，’MrsVerlocsaid，withherbestairofinflexiblecalmness。`Hewouldgothroughfireforyou。

He——’

Shepausedattentive，herearturnedtowardsthedoorofthekitchen。

ThereMrsNealewasscrubbingthefloor。AtStevie’sappearanceshegroanedlamentably，havingobservedthathecouldbeinducedeasilytobestowforthebenefitofherinfantchildrentheshillinghissisterWinniepresentedhimwithfromtimetotime。Onallfoursamongstthepuddles，wetandbegrimed，likeasortofamphibiousanddomesticanimallivinginashbinsanddirtywater，sheutteredtheusualexordium;`It’sallverywellforyou，keptdoingnothing，likeagentleman。’Andshefolloweditwiththeeverlastingplaintofthepoor，patheticallymendacious，miserablyauthenticatedbythehorriblebreathofcheaprumandsoap—suds。Shescrubbedhard，snufflingallthetime，andtalkingvolubly。Andshewassincere。

Andoneachsideofherthinrednoseherbleared，mistyeyesswamintears，becauseshefeltreallythewantofsomesortofstimulantinthemorning。

IntheparlourMrsVerlocobserved，withknowledge:

`There’sMrsNealeatitagainwithherharrowingtalesaboutherlittlechildren。Theycan’tbeallsolittleasshemakesthemout。Someofthemmustbebigenoughbynowtotrytodosomethingforthemselves。ItonlymakesStevieangry。’

Thesewordswereconfirmedbyathudasofafiststrikingthekitchentable。InthenormalevolutionofhissympathySteviehadbecomeangryondiscoveringthathehadnoshillinginhispocket。InhisinabilitytorelieveatonceMrsNeale’s`little’uns’privations，hefeltthatsomebodyshouldbemadetosufferforit。MrsVerlocroseandwentintothekitchento`stopthatnonsense’。Andshediditfirmlybutgently。ShewaswellawarethatdirectlyMrsNealereceivedhermoneyshewentroundthecornertodrinkardentspiritsinameanandmustypublic—house—theunavoidablestationontheviadolorosaofherlife。MrsVerloc’scommentuponthispracticehadanunexpectedprofundity，ascomingfromapersondisinclinedtolookunderthesurfaceofthings。`Ofcourse，whatisshetodotokeepup？IfIwerelikeMrsNealeIexpectIwouldn’tactanydifferent。’

Intheafternoonofthesameday，asMrVerloc，comingwithastartoutofthelastofalongseriesofdozesbeforetheparlourfire，declaredhisintentionofgoingoutforawalk，Winniesaidfromtheshop:

`Iwishyouwouldtakethatboyoutwithyou，Adolf。’

ForthethirdtimethatdayMrVerlocwassurprised。Hestaredstupidlyathiswife。Shecontinuedinhersteadymanner。Theboy，wheneverhewasnotdoinganything，mopedinthehouse。Itmadeheruneasy;itmadehernervous，sheconfessed。AndthatfromthecalmWinniesoundedlikeexaggeration。

Butintruth，Steviemopedinthestrikingfashionofanunhappydomesticanimal。Hewouldgouponthedarklanding，tositontheflooratthefootofthetallclock，withhiskneesdrawnupandhisheadinhishands。

Tocomeuponhispallidface，withitsbigeyesgleaminginthedusk，wasdiscomposing;tothinkofhimuptherewasuncomfortable。

MrVerlocgotusedtothestartlingnoveltyoftheidea。HewasFondofhiswifeasamanshouldbe—thatis，generously。Butaweightyobjectionpresenteditselftohismind，andheformulatedit。

`He’lllosesightofmeperhaps，andgetlostinthestreet，’hesaid。

MrsVerlocshookherheadcompetently。

`Hewon’t。Youdon’tknowhim。Thatboyjustworshipsyou。Butifyoushouldmisshim——’

MrsVerlocpausedforamoment，butonlyforamoment。

`Youjustgoon，andhaveyourwalkout。Don’tworry。He’llbeallright。

He’ssuretoturnupsafeherebeforeverylong。’

ThisoptimismprocuredforMrVerlochisfourthsurpriseoftheday。

`Ishe？’hegrunteddoubtfully。Butperhapshisbrother—in—lawwasnotsuchanidiotashelooked。Hiswifewouldknowbest。Heturnedawayhisheavyeyes，sayinghuskily:`Well，lethimcomealong，then，’andrelapsedintotheclutchesofblackcare，thatperhapspreferstositbehindahorseman，butknowsalsohowtotreadcloseontheheelsofpeoplenotsufficientlywellofftokeephorses—likeMrVerloc，forinstance。

Winnie，attheshopdoor，didnotseethisfatalattendantuponMrVerloc’swalks。Shewatchedthetwofiguresdownthesqualidstreet，onetallandburly，theotherslightandshort，withathinneck，andthepeakedshouldersraisedslightlyunderthelargesemi—transparentears。Thematerialoftheirovercoatswasthesame，theirhatswereblackandroundinshape。

Inspiredbythesimilarityofwearingapparel，MrsVerlocgavereintoherfancy。

`Mightbefatherandson，’shesaidtoherself。ShethoughtalsothatMrVerlocwasasmuchofafatheraspoorStevieeverhadinhislife。

Shewasawarealsothatitwasherwork。Andwithpeacefulprideshecongratulatedherselfonacertainresolutionshehadtakenafewyearsbefore。Ithadcosthersomeeffort，andevenafewtears。

ShecongratulatedherselfstillmoreonobservinginthecourseofdaysthatMrVerlocseemedtobetakingkindlytoStevie’scompanionship。Now，whenreadytogooutforhiswalk，MrVerloccalledaloudtotheboy，inthespirit，nodoubt，inwhichamaninvitestheattendanceofthehouseholddog，though，ofcourse，inadifferentmanner。InthehouseMrVerloccouldbedetectedstaringcuriouslyatStevieagooddeal。Hisowndemeanourhadchanged。Taciturnstill，hewasnotsolistless。MrsVerlocthoughtthathewasratherjumpyattimes。Itmighthavebeenregardedasanimprovement。

AstoStevie，hemopednolongeratthefootoftheclock，butmutteredtohimselfincornersinsteadinathreateningtone。Whenasked`Whatisityou’resaying，Stevie？’hemerelyopenedhismouth，andsquintedathissister。Atoddtimesheclenchedhisfistswithoutapparentcause，andwhendiscoveredinsolitudewouldbescowlingatthewall，withthesheetofpaperandthepencilgivenhimfordrawingcircleslyingblankandidleonthekitchentable。Thiswasachange，butitwasnoimprovement。

MrsVerloc，includingallthesevagariesunderthegeneraldefinitionofexcitement，begantofearthatSteviewashearingmorethanwasgoodforhimofherhusband’sconversationswithhisfriends。Duringhis`walks’

MrVerloc，ofcourse，metandconversedwithvariouspersons。Itcouldhardlybeotherwise。Hiswalkswereanintegralpartofhisoutdooractivities，whichhiswifehadneverlookeddeeplyinto。MrsVerlocfeltthatthepositionwasdelicate，butshefaceditwiththesameimpenetrablecalmnesswhichimpressedandevenastonishedthecustomersoftheshopandmadetheothervisitorskeeptheirdistancealittlewonderingly。No！ShefearedthattherewerethingsnotgoodforStevietohearof，shetoldherhusband。

Itonlyexcitedthepoorboy，becausehecouldnothelpthembeingso。

Nobodycould。

Itwasintheshop。MrVerlocmadenocomment。Hemadenoretort，andyettheretortwasobvious。ButherefrainedfrompointingouttohiswifethattheideaofmakingSteviethecompanionofhiswalkswasherown，andnobodyelse’s。Atthatmoment，toanimpartialobserver，MrVerlocwouldhaveappearedmorethanhumaninhismagnanimity。Hetookdownasmallcardboardboxfromashelf，peepedintoseethatthecontentswereallright，andputitdowngentlyonthecounter。Nottillthatwasdonedidhebreakthesilence，totheeffectthatmostlikelySteviewouldprofitgreatlybybeingsentoutoftownforawhile;onlyhesupposedhiswifecouldnotgetonwithouthim。

`Couldnotgetonwithouthim！’repeatedMrsVerloc，slowly。`Icouldn’tgetonwithouthimifitwereforhisgood！Theidea！Ofcourse，Icangetonwithouthim。Butthere’snowhereforhimtogo。’

MrVerlocgotoutsomebrownpaperandaballofstring;andmeanwhilehemutteredthatMichaeliswaslivinginalittlecottageinthecountry。

Michaeliswouldn’tmindgivingSteviearoomtosleepin。Therewerenovisitorsandnotalkthere。Michaeliswaswritingabook。

MrsVerlocdeclaredheraffectionforMichaelis;mentionedherabhorrenceofKarlYundt，`nastyoldman’;andofOssiponshesaidnothing。AstoStevie，hecouldbenootherthanverypleased。MrMichaeliswasalwayssoniceandkindtohim。Heseemedtoliketheboy。Well，theboywasagoodboy。

`You，too，seemtohavegrownquitefondofhimoflate，’sheadded，afterapause，withherinflexibleassurance。

MrVerloc，tyingupthecardboardboxintoaparcelforthepost，brokethestringbyaninjudiciousjerk，andmutteredseveralswearwordsconfidentiallytohimself。Thenraisinghistonetotheusualhuskymutter，heannouncedhiswillingnesstotakeStevieintothecountryhimself，andleavehimsafewithMichaelis。

Hecarriedoutthisschemeontheverynextday。Stevieofferednoobjection。

Heseemedrathereager，inabewilderedsortofway。HeturnedhiscandidgazeinquisitivelytoMrVerloc’sheavycountenanceatfrequentintervals，especiallywhenhissisterwasnotlookingathim。Hisexpressionwasproud，apprehensive，andconcentrated，likethatofasmallchildentrustedforthefirsttimewithaboxofmatchesandthepermissiontostrikealight。

ButMrsVerloc，gratifiedbyherbrother’sdocility，recommendedhimnottodirtyhisclothesundulyinthecountry。AtthisSteviegavehissister，guardian，andprotectoralook，whichforthefirsttimeinhislifeseemedtolackthequalityofperfectchildliketrustfulness。Itwashaughtilygloomy。MrsVerlocsmiled。

`Goodnessme！Youneedn’tbeoffended。Youknowyoudogetyourselfveryuntidywhenyougetachance，Stevie。’

MrVerlocwasalreadygonesomewaydownthestreet。

Thusinconsequenceofhermother’sheroicproceedings，andofherbrother’sabsenceonthisvillegiature，MrsVerlocfoundherselfoftenerthanusualallalonenotonlyintheshop，butinthehouse。ForMrVerlochadtotakehiswalks。ShewasalonelongerthanusualonthedayoftheattemptedbomboutrageinGreenwichPark，becauseMrVerlocwentoutveryearlythatmorninganddidnotcomebacktillnearlydusk。Shedidnotmindbeingalone。Shehadnodesiretogoout。Theweatherwastoobad，andtheshopwascosierthanthestreets。Sittingbehindthecounterwithsomesewing，shedidnotraisehereyesfromherworkwhenMrVerlocenteredintheaggressiveclatterofthebell。Shehadrecognizedhissteponthepavementoutside。

Shedidnotraisehereyes，butasMrVerloc，silent，andwithhishatrammeddownuponhisforehead，madestraightfortheparlourdoor，shesaid，serenely:

`Whatawretchedday。You’vebeenperhapstoseeStevie？’

`No！Ihaven’t，’saidMrVerloc，softly，andslammedtheglazedparlourdoorbehindhimwithunexpectedenergy。

ForsometimeMrsVerlocremainedquiescent，withherworkdroppedinherlap，beforesheputitawayunderthecounterandgotuptolightthegas。Thisdone，shewentintotheparlouronherwaytothekitchen。MrVerlocwouldwanthisteapresently。Confidentofthepowerofhercharms，Winniedidnotexpectfromherhusbandinthedailyintercourseoftheirmarriedlifeaceremoniousamenityofaddressandcourtlinessofmanner;

vainandantiquatedformsatbest，probablyneververyexactlyobserved，discardednowadayseveninthehighestspheres，andalwaysforeigntothestandardsofherclass。Shedidnotlookforcourtesiesfromhim。Buthewasagoodhusband，andshehadaloyalrespectforhisrights。

MrsVerlocwouldhavegonethroughtheparlourandontoherdomesticdutiesinthekitchenwiththeperfectserenityofawomansureofthepowerofhercharms。Butaslight，veryslight，andrapidrattlingsoundgrewuponherhearing。Bizarreandincomprehensible，itarrestedMrsVerloc’sattention。Thenasitscharacterbecameplaintotheearshestoppedshort，amazedandconcerned。Strikingamatchontheboxsheheldinherhand，sheturnedonandlighted，abovetheparlourtable，oneofthetwogas—burners，which，beingdefective，firstwhistledasifastonished，andthenwentonpurringcomfortablylikeacat。

MrVerloc，againsthisusualpractice，hadthrownoffhisovercoat。

Itwaslyingonthesofa。Hishat，whichhemustalsohavethrownoff，restedoverturnedundertheedgeofthesofa。Hehaddraggedachairinfrontofthefireplace，andhisfeetplantedinsidethefender，hisheadheldbetweenhishands，hewashanginglowovertheglowinggrate。Histeethrattledwithanungovernableviolence，causinghiswholeenormousbacktotrembleatthesamerate。MrsVerlocwasstartled。

`You’vebeengettingwet，’shesaid。

`Notvery，’MrVerlocmanagedtofalterout，inaprofoundshudder。

Byagreatefforthesuppressedtherattlingofhisteeth。

`I’llhaveyoulaiduponmyhands，’shesaid，withgenuineuneasiness。

`Idon’tthinkso，’remarkedMrVerloc，snufflinghuskily。

Hehadcertainlycontrivedsomehowtocatchanabominablecoldbetweenseveninthemorningandfiveintheafternoon。MrsVerloclookedathisbowedback。

`Wherehaveyoubeentoday？’sheasked。

`Nowhere，’answeredMrVerlocinalow，chokednasaltone。Hisattitudesuggestedaggrievedsulksorasevereheadache。Theunsufficiencyanduncandidnessofhisanswerbecamepainfullyapparentinthedeadsilenceoftheroom。

Hesnuffledapologetically，andadded:`I’vebeentothebank。’

MrsVerlocbecameattentive。

`Youhave！’shesaid，dispassionately。`Whatfor？’

MrVerlocmumbled，withhisnoseoverthegrate，andwithmarkedunwillingness:

`Drawthemoneyout！’

`Whatdoyoumean？Allofit？’

`Yes。Allofit。’

MrsVerlocspreadoutwithcarethescantytablecloth，gottwoknivesandtwoforksoutofthetabledrawer，andsuddenlystoppedinhermethodicalproceedings。

`Whatdidyoudothatfor？’

`Maywantitsoon，’snuffledvaguelyMrVerloc，whowascomingtotheendofhiscalculatedindiscretions。

`Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，’remarkedhiswifeinatoneperfectlycasual，butstandingstock—stillbetweenthetableandthecupboard。

`Youknowyoucantrustme，’MrVerlocremarkedtothegrate，withhoarsefeeling。

MrsVerlocturnedslowlytowardsthecupboard，sayingwithdeliberation:

`Oh，yes。Icantrustyou。’

Andshewentonwithhermethodicalproceedings。Shelaidtwoplates，gotthebread，thebutter，goingtoandfroquietlybetweenthetableandthecupboardinthepeaceandsilenceofherhome。Onthepointoftakingoutthejam，shereflectedpractically:`Hewillbefeelinghungry，havingbeenawayallday，’andshereturnedtothecupboardoncemoretogetthecoldbeef。Shesetitunderthepurringgas—jet，andwithapassingglanceathermotionlesshusbandhuggingthefire，shewent（downtwosteps）intothekitchen。Itwasonlywhencomingback，carvingknifeandforkinhand，thatshespokeagain。

`IfIhadn’ttrustedyouIwouldn’thavemarriedyou。’

Bowedundertheovermantel，MrVerloc，holdinghisheadinbothhands，seemedtohavegonetosleep。Winniemadethetea，andcalledoutinanundertone:

`Adolf。’

MrVerlocgotupatonce，andstaggeredalittlebeforehesatdownatthetable。Hiswife，examiningthesharpedgeofthecarvingknife，placeditonthedish，andcalledhisattentiontothecoldbeef。Heremainedinsensibletothesuggestion，withhischinonhisbreast。

`Youshouldfeedyourcold，’MrsVerlocsaid，dogmatically。

Helookedup，andshookhishead。Hiseyeswerebloodshotandhisfacered。Hisfingershadruffledhishairintoadissipateduntidiness。Altogetherhehadadisreputableaspect，expressiveofthediscomfort，theirritation，andthegloomfollowingaheavydebauch。ButMrVerlocwasnotadebauchedman。Inhisconducthewasrespectable。Hisappearancemighthavebeentheeffectofafeverishcold。Hedrankthreecupsoftea，butabstainedfromfoodentirely。HerecoiledfromitwithsombreaversionwhenurgedbyMrsVerloc，whosaidatlast:

`Aren’tyourfeetwet？Youhadbetterputonyourslippers。Youaren’tgoingoutanymorethisevening。’

MrVerlocintimatedbymorosegruntsandsignsthathisfeetwerenotwet，andthatanyhowhedidnotcare。Theproposalastoslipperswasdisregardedasbeneathhisnotice。Butthequestionofgoingoutintheeveningreceivedanunexpecteddevelopment。ItwasnotofgoingoutintheeveningthatMrVerlocwasthinking。Histhoughtsembracedavasterscheme。FrommoodyandincompletephrasesitbecameapparentthatMrVerlochadbeenconsideringtheexpediencyofemigrating。ItwasnotveryclearwhetherhehadinhismindFranceorCalifornia。

Theutterunexpectedness，improbability，andinconceivablenessofsuchaneventrobbedthisvaguedeclarationofallitseffect。MrsVerloc，asplacidlyasifherhusbandhadbeenthreateningherwiththeendoftheworld，said:

`Theidea！’

MrVerlocdeclaredhimselfsickandtiredofeverything，andbesides—Sheinterruptedhim。

`You’veabadcold。’

ItwasindeedobviousthatMrVerlocwasnotinhisusualstate，physicallyorevenmentally。Asombreirresolutionheldhimsilentforawhile。Thenhemurmuredafewominousgeneralitiesonthethemeofnecessity。

`Willhaveto，’repeatedWinnie，sittingcalmlyback，withfoldedarms，oppositeherhusband。`Ishouldliketoknowwho’stomakeyou。Youain’taslave。Nooneneedbeaslaveinthiscountry—anddon’tyoumakeyourselfone。’Shepaused，andwithinvincibleandsteadycandour:`Thebusinessisn’tsobad，’shewenton。`You’veacomfortablehome。’

Sheglancedallroundtheparlour，fromthecornercupboardtothegoodfireinthegrate。Ensconcedcosilybehindtheshopofdoubtfulwares，withthemysteriouslydimwindow，anditsdoorsuspiciouslyajarintheobscureandnarrowstreet，itwasinallessentialsofdomesticproprietyanddomesticcomfortarespectablehome。HerdevotedaffectionmissedoutofitherbrotherStevie，nowenjoyingadampvillegiatureintheKentishlanesunderthecareofMrMichaelis。Shemissedhimpoignantly，withalltheforceofherprotectingpassion。Thiswastheboy’shome，too—theroof，thecupboard，thestokedgrate。OnthisthoughtMrsVerlocrose，andwalkingtotheotherendofthetable，saidinthefullnessofherheart:

`Andyouarenottiredofme。’

MrVerlocmadenosound。Winnieleanedonhisshoulderfrombehind，andpressedherlipstohisforehead。Thusshelingered。Notawhisperreachedthemfromtheoutsideworld。Thesoundoffootstepsonthepavementdiedoutinthediscreetdimnessoftheshop。Onlythegas—jetabovethetablewentonpurringequablyinthebroodingsilenceoftheparlour。

DuringthecontactofthatunexpectedandlingeringkissMrVerloc，grippingwithbothhandstheedgesofhischair，preservedahieraticimmobility。

Whenthepressurewasremovedheletgothechair，rose，andwenttostandbeforethefireplace。Heturnednolongerhisbacktotheroom。Withhisfeaturesswollenandanairofbeingdrugged，hefollowedhiswife’smovementswithhiseyes。

MrsVerlocwentaboutserenely，clearingupthetable。Hertranquilvoicecommentedontheideathrownoutinareasonableanddomestictone。

Itwouldn’tstandexamination。Shecondemneditfromeverypointofview。