"Because it's time that you and I had things out with one another."
"What things?" Her voice sounded a little shy, but she no longer averted her eyes. They met his--brown cold and resolute, against gray kindling to passion.
"Everything. Aliette," he began to plead with her, "we can't go on like this for ever."
"Why not?"
"Because the whole position's intolerable. Either you're my wife, or you're not. I--I can't stand this sort of life."
"What sort of life?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean. Aliette," he pleaded again, "can't we make a fresh start--to-night?"
She felt her whole heart turning icy to him as she answered: "We threshed that matter out a very long time ago. I can see no use in referring to it again."
"Possibly you can't." Hector rose. Her very aloofness urged him, despite better judgment, to immediate mastery. "But you're not the only one to be considered. As your husband, I have certain rights."
"If you have, I shouldn't advise you to try and enforce them."