"It's quite obvious that it would be much easier to nurse him here," I said, "but of course it would be very inconvenient.I have an idea that someone will have to be with him day and night.""My love, it's not you who would shirk a little trouble." "If he comes here, I shall go," said Mrs.Stroeve violently."I don't recognize you.You're so good and kind.""Oh, for goodness sake, let me be.You drive me to distraction."Then at last the tears came.She sank into a chair, and buried her face in her hands.Her shoulders shook convulsively.In a moment Dirk was on his knees beside her, with his arms round her, kissing her, calling her all sorts of pet names, and the facile tears ran down his own cheeks.Presently she released herself and dried her eyes.
"Leave me alone," she said, not unkindly; and then to me, trying to smile:"What must you think of me?"Stroeve, looking at her with perplexity, hesitated.His forehead was all puckered, and his red mouth set in a pout.He reminded me oddly of an agitated guinea-pig.
"Then it's No, darling?" he said at last.
She gave a gesture of lassitude.She was exhausted.
"The studio is yours.Everything belongs to you.If you want to bring him here, how can I prevent you?"A sudden smile flashed across his round face.
"Then you consent?I knew you would.Oh, my precious."Suddenly she pulled herself together.She looked at him with haggard eyes.She clasped her hands over her heart as though its beating were intolerable.
"Oh, Dirk, I've never since we met asked you to do anything for me." "You know there's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do for you.""I beg you not to let Strickland come here.Anyone else you like.Bring a thief, a drunkard, any outcast off the streets, and I promise you I'll do everything I can for them gladly.But I beseech you not to bring Strickland here.""But why?"
"I'm frightened of him.I don't know why, but there's something in him that terrifies me. He'll do us some great harm.I know it. I feel it.If you bring him here it can only end badly.""But how unreasonable!"
"No, no.I know I'm right.Something terrible will happen to us." "Because we do a good action?"She was panting now, and in her face was a terror which was inexplicable.I do not know what she thought.I felt that she was possessed by some shapeless dread which robbed her of all self-control.As a rule she was so calm; her agitation now was amazing.Stroeve looked at her for a while with puzzled consternation.
"You are my wife; you are dearer to me than anyone in the world.No one shall come here without your entire consent."She closed her eyes for a moment, and I thought she was going to faint.I was a little impatient with her; I had not suspected that she was so neurotic a woman.Then I heard Stroeve's voice again.It seemed to break oddly on the silence.
"Haven't you been in bitter distress once when a helping hand was held out to you? You know how much it means.Couldn't you like to do someone a good turn when you have the chance?"The words were ordinary enough, and to my mind there was in them something so hortatory that I almost smiled.I was astonished at the effect they had on Blanche Stroeve.She started a little, and gave her husband a long look.His eyes were fixed on the ground.I did not know why he seemed embarrassed.A faint colour came into her cheeks, and then her face became white -- more than white, ghastly; you felt that the blood had shrunk away from the whole surface of her body; and even her hands were pale.A shiver passed through her.The silence of the studio seemed to gather body, so that it became an almost palpable presence.I was bewildered.
"Bring Strickland here, Dirk.I'll do my best for him." "My precious," he smiled.
He wanted to take her in his arms, but she avoided him.
"Don't be affectionate before strangers, Dirk," she said."It makes mefeel such a fool."
Her manner was quite normal again, and no one could have told that so shortly before she had been shaken by such a great emotion.
