He caught at the leather strap and pulled the door open for her, and as she passed out she became aware that William still admired her. It was really too bad, and she was conscious of injustice. Having destroyed her life, this man had passed out of sight and knowledge, but only to reappear when a vista leading to a new life seemed open before her.
“It was that temper of yours that did it; you wouldn’t speak to me for a fortnight. You haven’t changed, I can see that,” he said, watching Esther’s face, which did not alter until he spoke of how unhappy he had been in his marriage. “A regular brute she was—we’re no longer together, you know; haven’t been for the last three years; could not put up with ‘er. She was that—but that’s a long story.” Esther did not answer him. He looked at her anxio
