Closing the door, he sank into a chair and wiped the beads of perspiration from his forehead.
"He is not a man," he muttered; "he is a fiend."
Elise had entered the room.
"What is that you say?" she asked.
"Nothing," replied Clarence, evasively. "I have to go out. This evening I shall take you to the theatre."
"Indeed!"
Her eyes sparkled with pleasure, for it was not often that her husband of late had invited her out.
In happier days they were in the habit of going out together, but now Clarence left her alone with her baby.
He kissed her with some of the old-time tenderness, and the act brought the tears to her eyes.
"Oh, if you would always be like this," she said, "I should begin to feel happy again."