Winifred，whohadlearnedself-containmentinahardschool，lookedupathim，andsaid：”Spanishfilly！DoyoumeanthatgirlwesawdancinginthePandemoniumBallet?Well，youareathiefandablackguard。”Ithadbeenthelaststrawonasorelyloadedconsciousness；reachingupfromhischairDartieseizedhiswife’sarm，andrecallingtheachievementsofhisboyhood，twistedit。
Winifredenduredtheagonywithtearsinhereyes，butnomurmur。
Watchingforamomentofweakness，shewrencheditfree；thenplacingthediningtablebetweenthem，saidbetweenherteeth：”Youarethelimit，Monty。”Undoubtedlytheinceptionofthatphrase——
soisEnglishformedunderthestressofcircumstances。LeavingDartiewithfoamonhisdarkmoustacheshewentupstairs，and，afterlockingherdoorandbathingherarminhotwater，layawakeallnight，thinkingofherpearlsadorningtheneckofanother，andoftheconsiderationherhusbandhadpresumablyreceivedtherefor。
Themanoftheworldawokewithasenseofbeinglosttothatworld，andadimrecollectionofhavingbeencalleda’limit。’Hesatforhalfanhourinthedawnandthearmchairwherehehadsleptperhapstheunhappiesthalf-hourhehadeverspent，foreventoaDartiethereissomethingtragicaboutanend。Andheknewthathehadreachedit。Neveragainwouldhesleepinhisdining-roomandwakewiththelightfilteringthroughthosecurtainsboughtbyWinifredatNickensandJarveyswiththemoneyofJames。Neveragaineatadevilledkidneyatthatrose-woodtable，afterarollinthesheetsandahotbath。Hetookhisnotecasefromhisdresscoatpocket。Fourhundredpounds，infivesandtens——theremainderoftheproceedsofhishalfofSleeve-links，soldlastnight，cashdown，toGeorgeForsyte，who，havingwonovertherace，hadnotconceivedthesuddendisliketotheanimalwhichhehimselfnowfelt。TheballetwasgoingtoBuenosAiresthedayafterto-morrow，andhewasgoingtoo。Fullvalueforthepearlshadnotyetbeenreceived；hewasonlyatthesoup。