“He was left quivering in the midst of his devastation, quivering, panting, like some slim, wild animal at bay.
“The storm that had swept across him was too much for his nerves; the expression on his face changed; he sank down in the corner, letting the chair fall, and hiding his face in his hands.
“‘There, it’s over,’ he wailed, ‘don’t be afraid, Ruth, I won’t touch you. Only let me go away now; it’s this life has done for me. I can’t live with you. You can keep the children, you can keep the farm; I’m going away, right away, where you’ll never hear of me again. Only let me go.’
“It seemed to be his dominating idea.
“She moved across to him, but he leaped up and to one side before she could touch him.
“‘Keep away!’ he cried warningly.
“He reached the door; paused there one brief, intense moment.
“‘You’ll hear from me from London,’ he uttered.
“He seemed to her exactly like a swift animal, scared and untamed, checked for one instant in its flight.
“‘I’ll never trouble you more.’