Upon my word,
John, it is enough to cure any girl of the marriage fever to see Squire
Atherton and his friend Ashby and Roper of Roper's Mills and Coates of
Coates Mills and the like. And if it was an understood thing in our
marriage that I should suffer and perhaps die in order that a new lot of
cotton-spinners be born, why was it not so stated in the bond?"
"My dear Jane, the trial to which you propose to subject me, I cannot
discuss tonight. You have said all I can bear at present. It has been a
long, long, hard day. God help me! Good night!" Then he bowed his head
and slowly left the room.
Jane was astonished, but his white face, the sad, yonderly look in his
eyes, and the way in which he bit his lower lip went like a knife to her
heart.
She sat still, speechless, motionless. She had not expected either his
prompt denial of her position or its powerful effect on him physically.
Never before had she seen John show any symptoms of illness, and his
sudden collapse of bodily endurance, his evident suffering and
deliberate walk frightened her.
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