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           Hesatstaringoutintothestreet,feelinghiswifebesidehimasasilentwatchfulinterrogation,andkeepinghiseyessteadilyfixedonthepassinghouses.Attheirdoorshecaughtherskirtinthestepofthecarriage,andfellagainsthim."Didyouhurtyourself?"heasked,steadyingherwithhisarm."No;butmypoordress—seehowI’vetornit!"sheexclaimed.Shebenttogatherupamud-stainedbreadth,andfollowedhimupthestepsintothehall.Theservantshadnotexpectedthemsoearly,andtherewasonlyaglimmerofgasontheupperlanding.Archermountedthestairs,turnedupthelight,andputamatchtothebracketsoneachsideofthelibrarymantelpiece.Thecurtainsweredrawn,andthewarmfriendlyaspectoftheroomsmotehimlikethatofafamiliarfacemetduringanunavowableerrand.Henoticedthathiswifewasverypale,andaskedifheshouldgethersomebrandy."Oh,no,"sheexclaimedwithamomentaryflush,asshetookoffhercloak."Buthadn’tyoubettergotobedatonce?"sheadded,asheopenedasilverboxonthetableandtookoutacigarette.Archerthrewdownthecigaretteandwalkedtohisusualplacebythefire."No;myheadisnotasbadasthat."Hepaused."Andthere’ssomethingIwanttosay;somethingimportant—thatImusttellyouatonce."Shehaddroppedintoanarmchair,andraisedherheadashespoke."Yes,dear?"sherejoined,sogentlythathewonderedatthelackofwonderwithwhichshereceivedthispreamble."May—"hebegan,standingafewfeetfromherchair,andlookingoveratherasiftheslightdistancebetweenthemwereanunbridgeableabyss.