"Ah. You are wise, my little wife. I went out to get a breath of fresh air."
"You have been to Dr. Marlow's. Margaret Jupp called, and she said she saw you turn into his house. You went to ask him whether I should get well. He told you No: for he knows I shall not. Was it not so?"
She leaned a little forward to look at him. He suddenly clasped her to his breast with a gush of passionate tenderness, and his hot tears fell upon her face.
"Oh, my darling! my darling!"
"It must be," she softly whispered. "There is no appeal against it now."
"Clara, if we are indeed to part, at least let perfect confidence be restored between us," he resumed, controlling his emotion with an effort. "What is the trouble that has been upon you?"
"The trouble?"
"Some of them are hinting at such a thing," he said, thinking of the doctor and of Miss Jupp: "I must know from you what it is."
"Need you ask?"
"Yes. For I cannot comprehend it. My darling, you must tell me."