After awhile, she said:
"Besides, if you do get well here--and you're going to. I don't doubt
that for a moment--think how splendid it will be to know you've done it
without the sort of restrictions, and treatments you'd get in a Home.
Doing it just by your own strength is great, Louis."
He saw that, and was happier, but he could not break out of his morbid
introspection. Even after they had said good night and she was in the
hinterland of sleep, he wakened her by sitting up and lighting a
cigarette.
"Can't you sleep?" she murmured drowsily.
"I'm thinking about you," he said gloomily. "Marcella, I was a cad to
bring you out here into the backblocks, just because I wanted to escape
temptation. You need civilization just now--you need all the comforts of
civilization--care and--Oh the million things a woman needs."
"Oh, Louis, do be quiet!" she said, "all I need at this moment is a good
sleep."
He lay down again for ten minutes. Once more he started up, dragging the
blanket right away from her.
"How can you expect me to sleep? Marcella, what right had I to make you
have a child? We've no money."
"They don't cost anything," she said wide-awake now.
He made a gesture of impatience.
"We've no home--you've no attention."
She sighed.
"Listen to me, Louis, and then, my dear, for ever hold your peace.
Pages:
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416