Gyp sat motionless, cut to the heart. She was soiled, and spoiled for
him! Of course! And yet a sense of injustice burned in her. Her heart
had never been touched; it was his utterly. But that was not enough for
a man--he wanted an untouched body, too. That she could not give; he
should have thought of that sooner, instead of only now. And, miserably,
she, too, stared before her, and her face hardened.
A little boy came and stood still in front of them, regarding her with
round, unmoving eyes. She was conscious of a slice of bread and jam in
his hand, and that his mouth and cheeks were smeared with red. A woman
called out: "Jacky! Come on, now!" and he was hauled away, still looking
back, and holding out his bread and jam as though offering her a bite.
She felt Summerhay's arm slipping round her.
"It's over, darling. Never again--I promise you!"
Ah, he might promise--might even keep that promise. But he would suffer,
always suffer, thinking of that other. And she said:
"You can only have me as I am, Bryan. I can't make myself new for you; I
wish I could--oh, I wish I could!"
"I ought to have cut my tongue out first! Don't think of it! Come home
to me and have tea--there's no one there. Ah, do, Gyp--come!"
He took her hands and pulled her up. And all else left Gyp but the joy
of being close to him, going to happiness.
IX
Fiorsen, passing Markey like a blind man, made his way out into the
street, but had not gone a hundred yards before he was hurrying back.
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