She did not reply, but only looked at him. He was making up his mind.... Now was the time when any husband in the world would assert his mastery of the situation. A contemptuous phrase came into his mind: “cave-man stuff!”
As if she were reading the thoughts in his mind, her cheeks grew red and then white, and her eyes blazed dangerously. Every muscle was taut.
He took one step toward her; and in that instant a wild frightened look came into her eyes ... like that in an animal’s caught in a trap. He turned away, saw a chair before him, and sat down, sick at heart. No, he would rather fail, than succeed—that way.
When he looked up, she was standing, a little dizzily, beside the table, steadying herself with her hand.
His theory had been wrong.... It wasn’t husband and wife—it was himself and Rose-Ann.
And yet—was she despising him? Well, let her.
“How long have you been in town?” she asked, quite naturally.
“I arrived this noon,” he answered quietly.
“Then you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“No.”