"How did it go off? Have you settled with Apps?"
He nodded.
"It's all over now—I've touched bottom."
"Nonsense, Ben. You mustn't say that. After all there's nothing extraordinary about a mortgage—uncle had one for years on a bit of his farm at Rowfant. Besides, think of all you've got left."
He laughed bitterly. "I äun't got much left."
Then suddenly he turned towards her as she sat there by him, her head bowed over her work—her delicate, rather impertinent nose outlined against the firelight, her cheek and neck bewitched with running shadows.
"But I've got you."
A great tenderness transported him, a great melting. He put his arm round her waist, and made as if to pull her close.
She drew back from him with a shudder.
It was only for a moment—the next she yielded. But he had seen her reluctance, felt the shiver of repulsion go through her limbs. He rose, and pushed back his chair.