"I don't think you realise how angry Walter is. You haven't seen his face and the look of his eyes."
He did not reply for a moment, but looked at her with a slight smile. She knew what he was thinking. Walter was the bacteriologist and occupied a subordinate position; he would hardly have the impudence to make himself a nuisance to the upper officials of the Colony.
"It's no good deceiving yourself, Charlie," she said earnestly. "If Walter has made up his mind to bring an action nothing that you or anybody else can say will have the slightest influence."
His face once more grew heavy and sulky.
"Is it his idea to make me co-respondent?"
"At first it was. At last I managed to get him to consent to let me divorce him."
"Oh, well, that's not so terrible." His manner relaxed again and she saw the relief in his eyes. "That seems to me a very good way out. After all, it's the least a man can do, it's the only decent thing."
"But he makes a condition."
He gave her an inquiring glance and he seemed to reflect.
"Of course I'm not a very rich man, but I'll do anything in my power."