Itmightbebetterforhimnow，ifonlyhecouldbringhimselftosomesoftnessofheart。Softlysheclosedthedoor，andplacingthecandleonthemantle—shelf，softlyshekneltbesidehim，andsoftlytouchedhishandwithhers。Hedidnotstirnorutterasingleword，butseemedtoclutchathisthinlocksmoreviolentlythanbefore。Thenshekneelingthere，aloud，butwithalowvoice，withherthinhandsclasped，utteredaprayerinwhichsheaskedherGodtoremovefromherhusbandthebitternessofthathour。Helistenedtillshehadfinished，andthenroseslowlytohisfeet。’Itisinvain，’saidhe，’itisallinvain。
Itisallinvain。’Thenhereturnedbacktotheparlour，andseatinghimselfagaininthearm—chair，remainedtherewithoutspeakingtillpastmidnight。Atlast，whenshetoldhimthatsheherselfwasverycold，andremindedhimthatforthelasthourtherehadbeennofire，stillspeechless，hewentupwithhertotheirbed。
Earlyonthefollowingmorningshecontrivedtolethimknowthatshewasabouttosendaneighbour’ssonoverwithanotetoMrWalker，fearingtourgehimfurthertochangehismind；buthopingthathemightexpresshispurposeofdoingsowhenheheardthattheletterwastobesent；buthetooknonoticewhateverofherwords。AtthismomenthewasreadingGreekwithhisdaughter，orratherrebukingherbecauseshecouldnotbeinducedtoreadherGreek。
’Oh，papa，’thepoorgirlsaid，’don’tscoldmenow。Iamsounhappybecauseofallofthis。’
’AndamInotunhappy？’hesaid，asheclosedthebook。’MyGod，whathaveIdoneagainstthee，thatmylinesshouldbecastinsuchterribleplaces？’