"It's only me. I had to see you to-night on——"
She drew an easier breath, and asked him to come in.
William had expected a rougher reception. The tone in which Esther invited him in was almost genial, and there was no need of so many excuses; but he had come prepared with excuses, and a few ran off his tongue before he was aware.
"Well," said Esther, "it is rather late. I was just going up to bed; but you can tell me what you've come about, if it won't take long."
"It won't take long…. I've seen my solicitor this afternoon, and he says that I shall find it very difficult to get a divorce."
"So you can't get your divorce?"
"Are you glad?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean? You must be either glad or sorry."
"I said what I mean. I am not given to telling lies." Esther set the large tin candlestick, on which a wick was spluttering, on the kitchen table, and William looked at her inquiringly. She was always a bit of a mystery to him. And then he told her, speaking very quickly, how he had neglected to secure proofs of his wife's infidelity at the time; and as she had lived a circumspect although a guilty life ever since, the solicitor thought that it would be difficult to establish a case against her.