Rickie nodded.
“Bad, this sort of thing.”
“I didn’t know of this particular thing. She acted as if she had forgotten him. Perhaps she had, and you woke him up. There are queer tricks in the world. She is overstrained. She has probably been plotting ever since you burst in last night.”
“Against me?”
“Yes.”
Stephen stood irresolute. “I suppose you and she pulled together?” He said at last.
“Get away from us, man! I mind losing you. Yet it’s as well you don’t stop.”
“Oh, THAT’S out of the question,” said Stephen, brushing his cap.
“If you’ve guessed anything, I’d be obliged if you didn’t mention it. I’ve no right to ask, but I’d be obliged.”
He nodded, and walked slowly along the landing and down the stairs. Rickie accompanied him, and even opened the front door. It was as if Agnes had absorbed the passion out of both of them. The suburb was now wrapped in a cloud, not of its own making. Sigh after sigh passed along its streets to break against dripping walls. The school, the houses were hidden, and all civilization seemed in abeyance. Only the simplest sounds, the simplest desires emerged. They agreed that this weather was strange after such a sunset.