It was in consequence of this that he had his first violent scene with Ethel. Smarting with humiliation and unwilling to go back to the hotel, he went home that afternoon earlier than usual. He found Ethel dressing to go out. As a rule she lay about in a Mother Hubbard, barefoot, with a flower in her dark hair; but now, in white silk stockings and high-heeled shoes, she was doing up a pink muslin dress which was the newest she had.
"You're making yourself very smart," he said. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the Crossleys."
"I'll come with you."
"Why?" she asked coolly.
"I don't want you to gad about by yourself all the time."
"You're not asked."
"I don't care a damn about that. You're not going without me."
"You'd better lie down till I'm ready."
She thought he was drunk and if he once settled himself on the bed would quickly drop off to sleep. He sat down on a chair and began to smoke a cigarette. She watched him with increasing irritation: When she was ready he got up. It happened by an unusual chance that there was no one in the bungalow. Brevald was working on the plantation and his wife had gone into Apia. Ethel faced him.