ButheronlyrealconcernwasStevie’swelfare。Heappearedtoherthoughtinthatconnectionassufficientlypeculiar’nottobetakenrashlyabroad。
Andthatwasall。Buttalkingroundthatvitalpoint，sheapproachedabsolutevehemenceinherdelivery。Meanwhile，withbrusquemovements，shearrayedherselfinanapronforthewashingupofcups。Andasifexcitedbythesoundofheruncontradictedvoice，shewentsofarastosayinatonealmosttart:
`Ifyougoabroadyou’llhavetogowithoutme。’
`YouknowIwouldn’t，’saidMrVerloc，huskily，andtheunresonantvoiceofhisprivatelifetrembledwithanenigmaticalemotion。
AlreadyMrsVerlocwasregrettingherwords。Theyhadsoundedmoreunkindthanshemeantthemtobe。Theyhadalsotheunwisdomofunnecessarythings。