Before they left the woods she must have led him through all the
gradations of domestic climate between their present frosty if
kindly winter, and summer, or, at least, a very balmy spring. From
what she knew of his temperament she guessed that once she began
to thaw he would forthwith whirl her into July. She must be
prepared to accept that, however--repellent though the thought
was--she assured herself it was most repellent. She prided herself
on her skill at catching and checking herself in self-deception;
but it somehow did not occur to her to contrast her rather
listless previous planning with the energy and interest she at
once put into this project for supreme martyrdom, as she regarded
it.
When he came back that evening she was ready. But not he; he
stalked in, sulking and blustering, tired, ignoring her, doing all
the talking himself, and departing for bed as soon as dinner was
over. She felt as if he had repulsed her, though, in fact, her
overtures were wholly internal and could not, by any chance, have
impressed him. Bitter against him and dreading the open
humiliation she would have to endure before she could make one so
self-absorbed see what she was about, she put out her light early,
with intent to rise when he did and be at breakfast before he
could finish.
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