"Please," she began wearily, "stop this fuss. If you want to talk, I'll talk, but there's nothing to say. Roger and I don't agree. That's all. We'll both be freer to be ourselves, apart. That's all, really."
"Rub—bish," Hilda sputtered between her lessening sobs, but a little cheered at the familiar garb of a situation in words. Silence terrified Hilda. "Nonsense, Anne. Freer to be yourselves! Nobody expects to be free when they're married."
"Nobody—listens—to—me——" James began muttering again. "I—told—you—socialist—anarchist—nobody—in my own—house—I——"
"Don't, papa, don't get all stirred up again," Hilda patted his head soothingly. "You're getting along so nice and the doctor said——"
"To—hell—doctor," he spluttered, stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and said in a quick, almost unintelligible rush, "I—won't—have it—disgrace—everybody—in—office—know——" his breath exhausted, he leaned back panting, and glared at Anne.
She returned his look quietly. In his rage and weakness he was not pitiful, only disgusting. Thin and gray and unshaven, he was like a mangy old dog, clinging to the dry bone of his respectability. Icy nausea swept Anne. The room began to move, to gyrate in mockery about her. She gripped the wall with her fingers, and the smooth coldness gave her strength.
"Listen, please, and then I don't want to talk about it any more." She knew that her words were audible because they were both looking at her, but her whole effort was concentrated in uttering them and she felt herself forming each syllable separately and throwing it at the two bewildered people before her. "We don't agree, and neither of us wishes to live like that; to hold each other, for what? I am economically independent. I can work. I don't have to stay for support. Roger will help with Rogie and we will go our own ways. We have grown apart spiritually——"
But the last word was too heavy a burden for Hilda's credulity. She went swiftly to Anne and would have put her arms about her, if Anne had not eluded.
"Don't, mamma. Please don't talk or ask me any questions. I am telling you exactly what it is."
"Anne Mitchell! Do you expect me to believe that? Grow apart spiritually! Anne—is there—don't be ashamed—to tell us—is there another woman?"