his eyes � it would be easy quite easy to tell him no � yes � i was a little troubled she said feeling the warmth of his touch flow her hands dear what about she drew a deep breath the he looked puzzled what letter downstairs when we came in it was not an ordinary begging letter no what then he asked his face she noticed the change and it frightened her was he angry was he going to be angry but how absurd he was only distressed at her distress what then he repeated more gently she looked up into his eyes for an instant it was a horrible letter she whispered as she pressed her clasped hands against him his grasp on her wrists and again the stern look crossed his face horrible what do you mean she had never seen him angry � but she felt suddenly that to the guilty creature his anger would be terrible he would crush � she must be careful how she spoke i didn t mean that � only painful where is the letter let me see it oh she exclaimed shrinking away what has happened what you on a blind impulse she had backed toward the her arms against the mantel piece the fruit of the tree while she stole a secret glance at the embers nothing remained of it � no nothing but suppose it was against herself that his anger turned the idea was preposterous yet she trembled at it it was clear that she must say something at once � must somehow account for her agitation but the sense that she was � no longer in control of her face her voice � made her feel that she would tell her story badly if she told it now had she not the right to gain a to choose her own hour weakness � weakness again every delay would only increase the phantom terror now now � with her head on his breast she turned toward him and began to speak i can t show you the letter because it s not � not my secret ah he murmured relieved it s from � unlucky � whom i ve known about and whose troubles have been troubling you but can t we help she shone on him through gleaming lashes poor and ill � who needs money i mean she tried to laugh away her tears and i haven t any that s my trouble foolish child and to beg you are ashamed and so you re letting your tears cool mr s soup he had her in his arms now his kisses drying her cheek and she turned her head so that their lips met in a long pressure the fruit of the tree will a hundred dollars do he asked with a smile as he released her a hundred dollars no � she was almost sure they not but she tried to shape a murmur of thank you � thank you i hated to ask i ll write the at once no � no she protested there s no hurry but he went back to his room and she turned again the toilet table her face was painful to look at still but a light was breaking through its fear she felt le touch of in her veins how calm and the room was � and how delicious to think that er life would go on in it safely and peacefully in the id familiar way as she swept up her hair passing the comb through and flinging it over her lifted wrist she card cross the floor behind her and pause to ly something on her writing table thank you she murmured again lowering her as he passed when the door had closed on him she thrust the pin into her hair dashed some drops of on er face and went over to the writing table as she up the she saw it was for three hundred t y u ss the fruit of the tree once or twice in the days that followed found herself thinking that she had never known happiness before the old state of secure well being seemed now like a sleep but this new bliss on its sharp with fire � this thrilling conscious joy daily and snatched from fear � this was living not sleeping acknowledged her gift with almost thanks she had sent it without a word � saying to herself that pity for his situation made it possible to his and the days went on as before she was not conscious of any change save in the heightened almost artificial quality of her happiness till one day in march when mr announced that he was going for two or three weeks to a friend s shooting box in the south the of s death was approaching and knew that at that time he always himself supposing you and were to carry off till i come back perhaps you could persuade him to break away from work for once � or if that s impossible you could take her with you to she looks a little pale and the change would be good for her this was a great concession on mr s part the fruit of the tree l l and saw the pleasure in her husband s face it was the first time that his father in law had suggested s going to i m afraid i can t break away just now sir said but it will be delightful for if you ll give us while you re away take her by all means my dear fellow i always sleep on both ears when she s with your wife it was nearly three months since had left � and now she was to return there alone with her husband there would be hours of course when the child s presence was between them � 