But she only stirred restlessly.
He put his face down to hers.
‘Darling, think of our happiness, how can we go on living if you persist in breaking up everything like this. There must be a head, Dot, in everything, there must be obedience. What would a ship be without a captain, or [p 103] ]soldiers without their chief, an office with no one in authority? And the husband must be the head of the wife. Darling, say you will obey me in this.’
But Dot could not. All her pleading had gone for nothing, why should she listen to Larrie’s? She moved his arms away and stood up, her eyes dry and bright again.
‘You have refused me the only thing I have ever asked specially since we were married, Larrie,’ she said.
‘You will stay?’ he said.
‘You profess to love me, and then you act like a tyrant to me. Why should you always have your way in things?’
There was a red spot on her cheek.
‘You will obey me, Dot?’
She walked restlessly up and down the room. She moved some ornaments on the mantelpiece and put the curtains straight with trembling fingers. She remembered she ought to be dressing even now. In two hours the concert would begin, and if she gave in her opportunity would be gone for [p 104] ]ever, and just because Larrie was obstinate and stupid!