He could not think of the man who had clothed Rosalind’s soul—who had kept alive something that was precious. He could not hate the man. But there was no place in his thoughts for him.
Suppose, after all, Rosalind belonged to the man who saw her soul and clothed it? Suppose Rosalind belonged to him!... Very well—he should not have her!
He helped her from the car with her bundles, and as he fitted the key in the door the wind struck them fiercely; they were almost blown in with the force of it as the door opened. They stood in the hall, laughing, safe—the wind shut out——There was a quick color in her face, and it lifted to him, laughing freshly, like a girl’s.
They were together. She had not looked at him like that for years.
He pondered on the look as she went about getting supper. He watched her come and go and wondered awkwardly whether he might not offer to go out and help. He went at last into the kitchen; she was putting coal on the fire and he took the hod from her, throwing on the coal.
She looked at him, puzzled. “Are you in a hurry for supper, Eldridge?”
“Oh—No.” He went back to the living-room, and talked a little with the children, amusing them quietly. He had a home sense, a feeling that the room was a kind of presence; the wind howling outside could not touch them..
And when Rosalind came in and they sat at the table and he looked across to her shyly, almost like a boy, he wished he knew what would please her best. He could not keep his eyes off her hand as it grasped the handle of the teapot and poured his tea. It seemed such a mysterious hand with the roughened finger pricks—and the little gentle hand inside that did no work. He wanted to take the hand, to touch it.... Of course, a man would not take his wife’s hand—like that. He could see the startled look in Rosalind’s eyes if he should reach out.... There was a long road to travel—and he did not know the way.
But he could begin softly with clothes—and touch her hand later perhaps. She should have beautiful things———He had told her to buy the fur-lined coat.
He pictured her in it—the coat that his money should buy—he saw her wrapped in it, and he sat still thinking of her and of the coat his money should buy. Then the door opened and he looked up.