He knew without looking.
"It's like a fairy story," he murmured over and over again. "I'll do
anything in the world for her, as long as I live!"
Suddenly he started up. He would go down to her. He would renew his
pledges, his promises. As he opened the door to pass out to the stairs
he heard her moving in the hall below. She tried the front door. Then
the lower light went out. He heard her mounting the stairs slowly. She
was coming up to him!
When she got to a point where she could see the streak of light from
the partially open door she came to a stop. A slight shudder went over
her body. Her steps were slower after that, dragging, dejected, with
one or two complete pauses. Braddock understood. He had been listening
to that pitiful approach of the woman who was his wife. He could
almost see the expression in her face.
A sudden wave of pity swept over him. He gently closed the door and
locked it on the inside.
She came on and turned the knob, feebly, timorously.
"Good-night," he called out from the most distant corner of the room.
Fully ten seconds passed before she responded. He felt somehow that
she held her breath during that time.
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