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“I’llhavetostaynow。“Histonewasdryandlifeless。Ithadareproachinitthatcutthewifedeep-deepasthefountainoftears；
andshewentacrosstheroomandkneltatthebedside，buryingherfaceintheclothesonthefeetofherchildren，andsobbedsilently。
Themansatwithbenthead，lookingintotheglowingcoal，whistlingthroughhisteeth，alookofsullenresignationandenduranceonhisfacethathadneverbeentherebefore。Hisveryattitudewasalienandominous。
Neitherspokeforalongtime。Atlastheroseandbegantakingoffhiscoatandvest。
“Well，Isupposethere’snothingtodobutgotobed。“
Shedidnotstir-shemighthavebeenasleepsofarasanysoundormotionwasconcerned。Hewentofftothebedinthelittleparlor，andshestillkneltthere，herheartfullofanger，bitterness，sorrow。
Thesunnyuneventfulnessofherpastlifemadethisgreatstormthemoreterrifying。Hertrustinherhusbandhadbeenabsolute。A
farmer’sdaughter，thebankclerkhadseemedtohertheequalofanygentlemanintheworld-herworld；andwhensheknewhisdelicacy，hisunfailingkindness，andhisaboundinggoodnature，shehadacceptedhimasthefatherofherchildren，andthiswasthefirstrevelationtoherofhisinherentmoralweakness。
Hermindwentoverthewholegroundagainandagain，inasortofblindingrush。Shewasconvincedofhislackofhonormorebyhistone，hisinflections，thanbyhiswords。Hislackofdeepregret，hisreadinesstoleavehertobearthewholeshockofthediscovery-
thesewereinhisflippanttones；andeverytimeshethoughtofthemthehotbloodsurgedoverher。Atsuchmomentsshehatedhim，andherwhiteteethclenched。
Tothesemoodssucceededothers，whensherememberedhissmile，thedimpleinhischin，histendercareforthesick，hisbuoyancy，hissongstothechildren-Howcouldhesitthere，withthechildrenonhisknees，andplantorunaway，leavingthemdisgraced？
Shewenttobedatlastwiththebabies，andwiththeirsoft，warmlittlebodiestouchinghersidefellasleep，pondering，sufferingasonlyamotherandwifecansufferwhendistrustanddoubtofherhusbandsupplantconfidenceandadoration。
IV
Thechildrenawakenedherbytheirdelightedcooingandkissing。
Itwasagreatevent，thiswakingtofindmammaintheirbed。Itwashardlylight，ofadullgraymorning；andwiththechildrentumblingaboutoverher，feelingthepressureofthewarmlittlehandsandsoftlips，shewentoverthewholesituationagain，andatlastsettleduponheraction。
Sherose，shookdownthecoalinthestoveinthesittingroom，andstartedafireinthekitchen；thenshedressedthechildrenbythecoalburner。Theelderofthem，assoonasdressed，ranintowake“Poppa“whilethemotherwentaboutbreakfast-getting。
Sanfordcameoutofhisbedroomunwontedlygloomy，greetingthechildreninasubduedmaimer。Heshiveredashesatbythefireandstirredthestoveasifhethoughttheroomwascold。Hisfacewaspaleandmoist。
“Breakfastisready，James，“calledMrs。Sanfordinatonewhichshemeanttobehabitual，butwhichhadacadenceofsadnessinit。
Someway，hefoundithardtolookatherashecameout。Shebusiedherselfwithplacingthechildrenatthetable，inordertoconcealherownemotion。
“Idon’tbelieveI’lleatanymeatthismorning，Nellie。Iain’tverywell。“
Sheglancedathimquickly，keenly。“What’sthematter？“
“Id’know。Mystomachiskindofupsetbythisfailureo’mine。I’mingreatshapetogodowntothebankthismorningandfacethemfellows。“
“It’sgottobedone。“
“Iknowit；butthatdon’thelpmeany。“Hetriedtosmile。
Shemused，whilethebabyhammeredonhistinplate。“You’vegottogodown。Ifyoudon’t-Iwill，“saidsheresolutely。“
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