As she meditated, at about nine o clock, he opened the door and came in, slinking, and yet sulky. She said not a word. He took off his coat, and slunk to his armchair, where he began to take off his boots.

`You'd better fetch your bundle before you take your boots off,' she said quietly.

`You may thank your stars I've come back tonight,' he said, looking up from under his dropped head, sulkily, trying to be impressive.

`Why, where should you have gone? You daren't even get your parcel through the yard-end,' she said.

He looked such a fool she was not even angry with him. He continued to take his boots off and prepare for bed.

`I don't know what's in your blue handkerchief,' she said. `But if you leave it the children shall fetch it in the morning.'

Whereupon he got up and went out of the house, returning presently and crossing the kitchen with averted face, hurrying upstairs. As Mrs Morel saw him slink quickly through the inner doorway, holding his bundle, she laughed to herself; but her heart was bitter, because she had loved him.