THE AWAKENING
For a moment she felt the foundations of the moral and physical world sinking beneath her feet.Dizziness swept her senses.She gripped the table, leaning heavily against it, her eye watching the door with feverish terror for Jim's appearance.
She had never fainted in her life.It was absurd, but the room was swimming now in a dim blur.Again she gripped the table and set her teeth.She simply would not give up.Why should she leap to the worst possible explanation of the jewels? The hatred of old Ella for Jim and the furious antagonism of Jane Anderson had poisoned her mind, after all.It was infamous that she could suspect her husband of crime merely because two silly women didn't like him.
He could explain the jewels.He, of course, asked no questions of the pawn-broker.They were probably sold at auction and he bought them.
It seemed an eternity from the time Jim's foot step echoed on the little porch until he pushed the door open and hastily entered, his arms piled with lap- robes, coats and the dress-suit case in his hand.
He walked with quick, firm step, threw the coats and robes on the couch and placed the suit-case at its head.He hadn't turned toward her and his face was still in profile while he removed the gloves from his pockets, threw them on the robes, and drew the scarlet woolen neckpiece from his throat.
She was studying him now with new terror-stricken eyes.Never had she seen his jaw look so big and brutal.Never had the droop of his eyelids suggested such menace.Never had the contrast of his slender hands and feet suggested such hideous possibilities.
"Merciful God! No! No!" she kept repeating in her soul while her dilated eyes stared at him in sheer horror of the suggestion which the jewels had roused.
She drew a deep breath and strangled the idea by her will.
"I'll at least be as fair as a jury," she thought grimly."I'll not condemn him without a hearing."Jim suddenly became aware of the menace of her silence.She had not moved a muscle, spoken or made the slightest sound since he had entered.He had merely taken in the room at a glance and had seen her standing in precisely the same place beside the table.
He saw now that she was leaning heavily against it.
He raised his head and faced her with a sudden, bold stare, and his voice rang in tones of sharp command.
"Well?"
She tried to speak and failed.She had not yet sufficiently mastered her emotions.
"What's the matter?" he growled."Jim----" she gasped.
He took a step toward her with set teeth."You've been in that bag--Well?"Her face was white, her voice husky."Those jewels, Jim----"A cunning smile played about his mouth and he shook his head.
"I tried to keep my little secret from you till Christmas morning; but you're on to my curves now, Kiddo, and I'll have to 'fess up----""You bought them for me?" she asked with trembling eagerness.
"Who else do you reckon I'd buy 'em for? I was going to surprise you, too, tomorrow morning.You've spoiled the fun."She had slipped close to his side and he could hear her quick intake of breath.
"That's--so--sweet of you, Jim.I'm sorry--I-- spoiled the surprise-- you'd--planned----""Oh, what's the difference!" he broke in carelessly."It's all the same five minutes after, anyhow.Well, don't you like 'em? Why don't you say something?""They're wonderful, Jim.Where--where--did you buy them?" He held her gaze in silence for an instant and fenced.
"Isn't that a funny question, Kiddo?" he said in low tones."I once heard the old man I worked with in the shop say that you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.""I just want to know," she insisted.
"I'm not going to tell you!" he said with a dry laugh."Why not?""Because you keep asking." "You wish to tease me?" "Maybe.""Please!"
"Why do you want to know?Are you afraid they're fakes?" "No, they're beautiful--they're wonderful.""Well, if you don't want them," he broke in angrily, "I'll keep them.I'll sell them.""Don't tease me, Jim!" she begged."I don't mind if you bought them at a pawn-shop--if that's why you won't tell me.That is the reason, isn't it? Honestly, isn't it?"She asked the question with eager intensity.She had persuaded herself that it was so and the horror had been lifted.She pressed close with smiling, trembling lips:
