“About the Eighth Year.”
“What about it?”
“It’s well known, she says, that the Eighth Year is the most dangerous one in marriage. It is then that the pull comes, when the wife has found out her husband.”
“Found out her husband?”
“And found out herself.”
Herbert spoke roughly. He was not in a mood for such mysteries.
“Look here,” he said. “I can’t listen to all this nonsense. Go and dress yourself.”
“I want to talk to you, Herbert,” said Clare very earnestly. “I must talk to you before it’s too late.”
“It’s too late now,” said Herbert. “Halfpast six. I must fetch that whisky and buy a few flowers. I shall have to put on my boots again and splash about in the mud in these trousers. Confound it!”
“Before you go you must listen, Herbert,” said Clare, with a sign of emotion. “Perhaps you won’t have another chance.”