"You look terrible," he said as he put his arm around her. "I'm sorry. You made me do this to you. I didn't want to. It's all over now, don't cry."
She thought that she was going to faint.
"Thank you for receiving me," she said, according to the formula. "I am the Abandoned of Yan, of the Estate...."
"Stop it!" he said. "I know who you are! Stop it!"
"Do you have children at your estate?" She asked it as one asks a polite, social question.
"They'll be there when we get home," he said. "Don't do this. I didn't know it would hurt that much. I wouldn't have done it if I had. They're your children again now." He held her shoulders as he looked at her.
"I came to you with twenty-eight demerits," she said. "Shall I work them off before I come to your estate?"
"Please, stop it!" he said. "They were paid when you accepted. I waited here all night. No one else could have claimed you. Please, come on home now?" He handed her a brand-new wife-status card.
"Thank you," she said. "I shall try to deserve the opportunity which you restore to me." He smiled as she recited the formula and took his arm. Yet he did not look as if he felt like smiling.
"Come home," he said. "Come home now. I'll not hurt you again." He led her back to their estate.