It must
come sooner or later."
"You're talking like a fool," he declared harshly. "Do you know that I
should have to give up my seat and my clubs?"
"We could live quietly in the country."
"Country be--hanged!" he exclaimed savagely. "What use is the country
to you and me? I'd sooner put a bullet through my brain. Ruth, old
lady," he added more gently, "what's gone wrong? You're generally such
a well plucked'un! Have you--had a row with Wingrave?" he asked,
looking at her anxiously.
"No!"
"Then what is it?"
"Nothing! I've lost my nerve, I suppose!"
"You want a change! It isn't so very long to Cowes now and, thank
heavens, that'll cost us nothing. We're going on Wingrave's yacht,
aren't we?"
"Yes! We did accept."
Barrington fidgeted for a moment with a paper knife.
"Ruth," he asked, "what's wrong between you and Wingrave?"
"Nothing," she answered; "I'm afraid of him, that's all!"
"Afraid of him! Afraid of Wingrave!" he repeated.
"Yes! I do not think that he has forgotten. I think that he means to
make us suffer."
Barrington was almost dignified.
"I never heard such nonsense in my life, Ruth!" he exclaimed. "I have
watched Wingrave closely, and I have seen no trace of anything of the
sort. Nonsense! It is worse than nonsense! You must be getting
hysterical. You must get all this rubbish out of your head. To tell
you the truth--"
"Well?"
"I was thinking that you might ask Wingrave to help us a bit.
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