But she had not
finished yet. She hurried up to the bathroom, turned on the hot water,
undressed, and put on an oilskin cap to keep her hair dry, and soon
she was splashing about with soap and sponge. Why not make herself as
attractive as she could, even if things did look dark for them just now?
A little stream of talk went on in her brain. Strange that one's
body could be so great a pleasure to another. Here he kissed you--and
here--and here--and often he seemed beside himself with joy. And do
you remember--that time? You held back and were cold often--perhaps too
often--is it too late now? Ah! he has other things to think of now. The
time is gone by when you could be comfort enough to him in all troubles.
But is it quite gone by? Oh yes; last time he came home, he hardly
seemed to notice that we had a new little girl, that he had never seen
before. Well, no doubt it must be so. He did not complain, and he
was calm and quiet, but his mind was full of a whole world of serious
things, a world where there was no room for wife and children. Will it
be the same this evening again? Will he notice that you have dressed so
carefully to please him? Will it be a joy to him any more to feel his
arms around you?
She stood in front of the big, white-framed mirror, and looked
critically at herself. No, she was no longer young as she had been. The
red in her cheeks had faded a little these last few years, and there
were one or two wrinkles that could not be hidden.
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