“Oh, you fool of a boy!” she said, “How could you! How long do you think you’re going to stand this!”
“Julie,” he assured her, solemnly, “I’ve never been so happy before in my life.”
It was true. In this ugly little place, in the midst of increasing and pressing worry over money, he had been content. He had believed that he had returned to something simpler and better than his old life. He didn’t recognise it as a degradation. That is indeed the Minnie method. She had drugged him, stupefied him with a sort of low comfort. Only now, with Julie beside him, did doubts begin to arise.
Julie stared at him.
“I don’t believe it,” she said, bluntly, “You’re not going to pretend you’re fond of that awful dowdy little——”
“I say, Julie! You’re——”
“Be honest, then. I’m awfully sorry for you. Can’t you get a divorce or something?”
“I’m not joking, Julie. She’s my wife, and I—really I can’t tell you what I think of her——”
“I’ll tell you what I think of her. She’s a nasty, sneaky, hypocritical devil. I could see it at once. She’s——” Julie cast about for an expression, “She’s like a bad nun.”
“Stop it, Julie! You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”