“No, my beloved, it is not better. Will you not think it over? Will you—” he held her hand. “We are so happy, we shall be always. It will last, I swear it will—”
The cab stopped and she got out.
She gave herself a little shake as she went up in the lift. How perilously near giving in she had been! What would it be to her to lose the lover? A husband is a poor exchange. No, she would be firm.
The little flat looked very pretty, there were flowers everywhere. Her two maids welcomed her with smiles and blushes. Lunch was ready.
Mrs. Herbert went to take off her hat. Her own room was decorated with white flowers; it was a dear little white and green room.
“I should like to wash my hands,” said her husband meekly.
“Yes, you may. I will show you my room. Now that we are married I can show you everything. There is a delightful sensation of freedom as well as of bondage in matrimony.”
She took him into her room and left him there.
“That is my spare room,” she said, and pointed to a door. “It will be your room when I ask you to stay here.”
“There is something unusually novel in being asked to stay with one’s wife. It is as if you had me on approval.”