InthesetermsdidMrVerlocdeclarehisthirstforrevenge。Itwasaveryappropriaterevenge。ItwasinharmonywiththepromptingsofMrVerloc’sgenius。Ithadalsotheadvantageofbeingwithintherangeofhispowersandofadjustingitselfeasilytothepracticeofhislife，whichhadconsistedpreciselyinbetrayingthesecretandunlawfulproceedingsofhisfellowmen。Anarchistsordiplomatswereallonetohim。MrVerlocwastemperamentallynorespecterofpersons。Hisscornwasequallydistributedoverthewholefieldofhisoperations。Butasamemberofarevolutionaryproletariat—whichheundoubtedlywas—henourishedaratherinimicalsentimentagainstsocialdistinction。
　　`Nothingonearthcanstopmenow，’headded，andpaused，lookingfixedlyathiswife，whowaslookingfixedlyatablankwall。
　　Thesilenceinthekitchenwasprolonged，andMrVerlocfeltdisappointed。
　　Hehadexpectedhiswifetosaysomething。ButMrsVerloc’slips，composedintheirusualform，preservedastatuesqueimmobilityliketherestofherface。AndMrVerlocwasdisappointed。Yettheoccasiondidnot，herecognized，demandspeechfromher。Shewasawomanofveryfewwords。
　　Forreasonsinvolvedintheveryfoundationofhispsychology。，MrVerlocwasinclinedtoputhistrustinanywomanwhohadgivenherselftohim。
　　Thereforehetrustedhiswife。Theiraccordwasperfect，butitwasnotprecise。Itwasatacitaccord，congenialtoMrsVerloc’sincuriosityandtoMrVerloc’shabitsofmind，whichwereindolentandsecret。Theyrefrainedfromgoingtothebottomoffactsandmotives。
　　Thisreserve，expressing，inaway，theirprofoundconfidenceineachother，introducedatthesametimeacertainelementofvaguenessintotheirintimacy。Nosystemofconjugalrelationsisperfect。MrVerlocpresumedthathiswifehadunderstoodhimbuthewouldhavebeengladtohearhersaywhatshethoughtatthemoment。Itwouldhavebeenacomfort。
　　Therewereseveralreasonswhythiscomfortwasdeniedhim。Therewasaphysicalobstacle:MrsVerlochadnotsufficientcommandoverhervoice。
　　Shedidnotseeanyalternativebetweenscreamingandsilence，andinstinctivelyshechosethesilence。WinnieVerlocwastemperamentallyasilentperson。
　　Andtherewastheparalysingatrocityofthethoughtwhichoccupiedher。
　　Hercheekswereblanched，herlipsashy，herimmobilityamazing。AndshethoughtwithoutlookingatMrVerloc:`Thismantooktheboyawaytomurderhim。Hetooktheboyfromhishometomurderhim。Hetooktheboyawayfrommetomurderhim！’
　　MrsVerloc’swholebeingwasrackedbythatinconclusiveandmaddeningthought。Itwasinherveins，inherbones，intherootsofherhair。Mentallysheassumedthebiblicalattitudeofmourning—thecoveredface，therentgarments;thesoundofwailingandlamentationfilledherhead。Butherteethwereviolentlyclenched，andhertearlesseyeswerehotwithrage，becauseshewasnotasubmissivecreature。Theprotectionshehadextendedoverherbrotherhadbeeninitsoriginofafierceandindignantcomplexion。
　　Shehadtolovehimwithamilitantlove。Shehadbattledforhim—evenagainstherself。Hislosshadthebitternessofdefeat，withtheanguishofabaffledpassion。Itwasnotanordinarystrokeofdeath。Moreover，itwasnotdeaththattookSteviefromher。ItwasMrVerlocwhotookhimaway。Shehadseenhim。Shehadwatchedhim，withoutraisingahand，taketheboyaway。Andshehadlethimgo，like—likeafool—ablindfool。
　　Thenafterhehadmurderedtheboyhecamehometoher。Justcamehomelikeanyothermanwouldcomehometohiswife……
　　ThroughhersetteethMrsVerlocmutteredatthewall:`AndIthoughthehadcaughtacold。’MrVerlocheardthesewordsandappropriatedthem。
　　`Itwasnothing，’hesaid，moodily。`Iwasupset。Iwasupsetonyouraccount。
　　MrsVerloc，turningherheadslowly，transferredherstarefromthewalltoherhusband’sperson。MrVerloc，withthetipsofhisfingersbetweenhislips，waslookingontheground。
　　`Can’tbehelped，’hemumbled，lettinghishandfall。`Youmustpullyourselftogether。You’llwantallyourwitsaboutyou。Itisyouwhobroughtthepoliceaboutourears。Nevermind，Iwon’tsayanythingmoreaboutit，’continuedMrVerloc，magnanimously。`Youcouldn’tknow。’
　　`Icouldn’t，’breathedoutMrsVerloc。Itwasasifacorpsehadspoken。
　　MrVerloctookupthethreadofhisdiscourse。
　　`Idon’tblameyou。I’llmakethemsitup。Onceunderlockandkeyitwillbesafeenoughformetotalk—youunderstand。Youmustreckononmebeingtwoyearsawayfromyou，’hecontinued，inatoneofsincereconcern。
　　`Itwillbeeasierforyouthanforme。You’llhavesomethingtodo，whileI—Lookhere，Winnie，whatyoumustdoistokeepthisbusinessgoingfortwoyears。Youknowenoughforthat。You’veagoodheadonyou。I’llsendyouwordwhenit’stimetogoabouttryingtosell。You’llhavetobeextracareful。Thecomradeswillbekeepinganeyeonyouallthetime。
　　You’llhavetobeasartfulasyouknowhow，andascloseasthegrave。
　　Noonemustknowwhatyouaregoingtodo。IhavenomindtogetaknockontheheadorastabinthebackdirectlyIamletout。’
　　ThusspokeMrVerloc，applyinghismindwithingenuityandforethoughttotheproblemsofthefuture。Hisvoicewassombre，becausehehadacorrectsentimentofthesituation。Everythingwhichhedidnotwishtopasshadcometopass。Thefuturehadbecomeprecarious。Hisjudgement，perhaps，hadbeenmomentarilyobscuredbyhisdreadofMrVladimir’struculentfolly。
　　Amansomewhatoverfortymaybeexcusablythrownintoconsiderabledisorderbytheprospectoflosinghisemployment，especiallyifthemanisasecretagentofpoliticalpolice，dwellingsecureintheconsciousnessofhishighvalueandintheesteemofhighpersonages。Hewasexcusable。
　　Nowthethinghadendedinacrash。MrVerlocwascool;buthewasnotcheerful。Asecretagentwhothrowshissecrecytothewindsfromdesireofvengeance，andflauntshisachievementsbeforethepubliceye，becomesthemarkfordesperateandbloodthirstyindignations。Withoutundulyexaggeratingthedanger，MrVerloctriedtobringitclearlybeforehiswife’smind。
　　Herepeatedthathehadnointentionoflettingtherevolutionistsdoawaywithhim。
　　Helookedstraightintohiswife’seyes。Theenlargedpupilsofthewomanreceivedhisstareintotheirunfathomabledepths。
　　`Iamtoofondofyouforthat，’hesaid，withalittlenervouslaugh。
　　AfaintflushcolouredMrsVerloc’sghastlyandmotionlessface。Havingdonewiththevisionsofthepast，shehadnotonlyheard，buthadalsounderstoodthewordsutteredbyherhusband。Bytheirextremedisaccordwithhermentalconditionthesewordsproducedonheraslightlysuffocatingeffect。MrsVerloc’smentalconditionhadthemeritofsimplicity;butitwasnotsound。Itwasgovernedtoomuchbyafixedidea。Everynookandcrannyofherbrainwasfilledwiththethoughtthatthisman，withwhomshehadlivedwithoutdistasteforsevenyears，hadtakenthe`poorboy’awayfromherinordertokillhim—themantowhomshehadgrownaccustomedinbodyandmind;themanwhomshehadtrusted，tooktheboyawaytokillhim！Initsform，initssubstance，initseffect，whichwasuniversal，alteringeventheaspectofinanimatethings，itwasathoughttositstillandmarvelatforeverandever。MrsVerlocsatstill。Andacrossthatthought（notacrossthekitchen）theformofMrVerlocwenttoandfro，familiarlyinhatandovercoat，stampingwithhisbootsuponherbrain。Hewasprobablytalking，too;butMrsVerloc’sthoughtforthemostpartcoveredthevoice。
　　Nowandthen，however，thevoicewouldmakeitselfheard。Severalconnectedwordsemergedattimes。Theirpurportwasgenerallyhopeful。OneachoftheseoccasionsMrsVerloc’sdilatedpupils，losingtheirfar—offfixity，followedherhusband’smovementswiththeeffectofblackcareandimpenetrableattention。Wellinformeduponallmattersrelatingtohissecretcalling，MrVerlocauguredwellforthesuccessofhisplansandcombinations。Hereallybelievedthatitwouldbeuponthewholeeasyforhimtoescapetheknifeofinfuriatedrevolutionists。Hehadexaggeratedthestrengthoftheirfuryandthelengthoftheirarm（forprofessionalpurposes）toooftentohavemanyillusionsonewayortheotter。Fortoexaggeratewithjudgementonemustbinbymeasuringwithnicety。Heknewalsohowmuchvirtueandhowmuchinfamyisforgottenintwoyears—twolongyears。
　　Hisfirstreallyconfidentialdiscoursetohiswifewasoptimisticfromconviction。Healsothoughtitgoodpolicytodisplayalltheassurancehecouldmuster。Itwouldputheartintothepoorwoman。Onhisliberation，whichharmonizingwiththewholetenorofhislife，wouldbesecret，ofcourse，theywouldvanishtogetherwithoutlossoftime。Astocoveringupthetracks，hebeggedhiswifetotrusthimforthat。Heknewhowitwastobedonesothatthedevilhimself——
　　Hewavedhishand。Heseemedtoboast。Hewishedonlytoputheartintoher。Itwasabenevolentintention，butMrVerlochadthemisfortunenottobeinaccordwithhisaudience。
　　Theself—confidenttonegrewuponMrsVerloc’searwhichletmostofthewordsgoby;forwhatwerewordstohernow？Whatcouldwordsdotoherforgoodorevilinthefaceofherfixedidea？Herblackglancefollowedthatmanwhowasassertinghisimpunity—themanwhohadtakenpoorSteviefromhometokillhimsomewhere。MrsVerloccouldnotrememberexactlywhere，butherheartbegantobeatveryperceptibly。
　　MrVerloc，inasoftandconjugaltone，wasnowexpressinghisfirmbeliefthattherewereyetagoodfewyearsofquietlifebeforethemboth。
　　Hedidnotgointothequestionofmeans。Aquietlifeitmustbeand，asitwere，nestlingintheshade，concealedamongmenwhosefleshisgrass;
　　modest，likethelifeofviolets。ThewordsusedbyMrVerlocwere:`Lielowforabit。’AndfarfromEngland，ofcourse。ItwasnotclearwhetherMrVerlochadinhismindSpainorSouthAmerica;butatanyratesomewhereabroad。
　　Thislastword，fallingintoMrsVerloc’sear，producedadefiniteimpression。
　　Thismanwastalkingofgoingabroad。Theimpressionwascompletelydisconnected;
　　andsuchistheforceofmentalhabitthatMrsVerlocatonceandautomaticallyaskedherself:`AndwhatofStevie？’
　　Itwasasortofforgetfulness;butinstantlyshebecameawarethattherewasnolongeranyoccasionforanxietyonthatscore。Therewouldneverbeanyoccasionanymore。Thepoorboyhadbeentakenoutandkilled。
　　Thepoorboywasdead。
　　ThisshakingpieceofforgetfulnessstimulatedMrsVerloc’sintelligence。
　　ShebegantoperceivecertainconsequenceswhichwouldhavesurprisedMrVerloc。Therewasnoneedforhernowtostaythere，inthatkitchen，inthathouse，withthatman—sincetheboywasgoneforever。Noneedwhatever。
　　AndonthatMrsVerlocroseasifraisedbyaspring。Butneithercouldsheseewhattherewastokeepherintheworldatall。Andthisinabilityarrested，her。MrVerlocwatchedherwithmaritalsolicitude。
　　`You’relookingmorelikeyourself，’hesaid，uneasily。Somethingpeculiarintheblacknessofhiswife’seyesdisturbedhisoptimism。AtthatprecisemomentMrsVerlocbegantolookuponherselfasreleasedfromallearthlyties。Shehadherfreedom。Hercontractwithexistence，asrepresentedbythatmanstandingoverthere，wasatanend。Shewasafreewoman。HadthisviewbecomeinsomewayperceptibletoMrVerlochewouldhavebeenextremelyshocked。InhisaffairsoftheheartMrVerlochadbeenalwayscarelesslygenerous，yetalwayswignootherideathanthatofbeinglovedforhimself。Uponthismatter，hisethicalnotionsbeinginagreementwithhisvanity，hewascompletelyincorrigible。Thatthisshouldbesointhecaseofhisvirtuousandlegalconnectionhewasperfectlycertain。Hehadgrownolder，fatter，heavier，inthebeliefthathelackednofascinationforbeinglovedforhisownsake。WhenhesawMrsVerlocstartingtowalkoutofthekitchenwithoutawordhewasdisappointed。
　　`Whereareyougoingto？’hecalledoutrathersharply。`Upstairs？’
　　MrsVerlocinthedoorwayturnedatthevoice。Aninstinctofprudencebornoffear，theexcessivefearofbeingapproachedandtouchedbythatman，inducedhertonodathimslightly（fromtheheightoftwosteps]，withastirofthelipswhichtheconjugaloptimismofMrVerloctookforawananduncertainsmile。
　　`That’sright，’heencouragedhergruffly。`Restandquiet’swhatyouwant。Goon。Itwon’tbelongbeforeIamwithyou。’
　　MrsVerloc，thefreewomanwhohadhadreallynoideawhereshewasgoingto，obeyedthesuggestionwithrigidsteadiness。
　　MrVerlocwatchedher。Shedisappearedupthestairs。Hewasdisappointed。
　　Therewasthatwithinhimwhichwouldhavebeenmoresatisfiedifshehadbeenmovedtothrowherselfuponhisbreast。Buthewasgenerousandindulgent。
　　Winniewasalwaysundemonstrativeandsilent。NeitherwasMrVerlochimselfprodigalofendearmentsandwordsasarule。Butthiswasnotanordinaryevening。Itwasanoccasionwhenamanwantstobefortifiedandstrengthenedbyopenproofsofsympathyandaffection。MrVerlocsighed，andputoutthegasinthekitchen。MrVerloc’ssympathywithhiswifewasgenuineandintense。Italmostbroughttearsintohiseyesashestoodintheparlourreflectingonthelonelinesshangingoverherhead。InthismoodMrVerlocmissedStevieverymuchoutofadifficultworld。Hethoughtmournfullyofhisend。Ifonlythatladhadnotstupidlydestroyedhimself！
　　Thesensationofunappeasablehunger，notunknownafterthestrainofahazardousenterprisetoadventurersoftougherfibrethanMrVerloc，overcamehimagain。Thepieceofroastbeef，laidoutinthelikenessoffunerealbakedmeatsforStevie’sobsequies，offereditselflargelytohisnotice。AndMrVerlocagainpartook。Hepartookravenously，withoutrestraintanddecency，cuttingthicksliceswiththesharpcarvingknife，andswallowingthemwithoutbread。InthecourseofthatrefectionitoccurredtoMrVerlocthathewasnothearinghiswifemoveaboutinthebedroomasheshouldhavedone。ThethoughtoffindingherperhapssittingonthebedinthedarknotonlycutMrVerloc’sappetite，butalsotookfromhimtheinclinationtofollowherupstairsjustyet。Layingdownthecarvingknife，MrVerloclistenedwithcarewornattention。
　　Hewascomfortedbyhearinghermoveatlast。Shewalkedsuddenlyacrosstheroom，andthrewthewindowup。Afteraperiodofstillnessupthere，duringwhichhefiguredhertohimselfwithherheadout，heheardthesashbeingloweredslowly。Thenshemadeafewsteps，andsatdown。EveryresonanceofthishousewasfamiliartoMrVerloc，whowasthoroughlydomesticated。
　　Whennextheheardhiswife’sfootstepsoverheadheknew，aswellasifhehadseenherdoingit，thatshehadbeenputtingonherwalkingshoes。
　　MrVerlocwriggledhisshouldersslightlyatthisominoussymptom，andmovingawayfromthetable，stoodwithhisbacktothefireplace，hisheadononeside，andgnawingperplexedlyatthetipsofhisfingers。Hekepttrackofhermovementsbythesound。Shewalkedhereandthereviolently，withabruptstoppages，nowbeforethechestofdrawers，theninfrontofthewardrobe。Animmenseloadofweariness，theharvestofadayofshocksandsurprises，weighedMrVerloc’senergiestotheground。
　　Hedidnotraisehiseyestillheheardhiswifedescendingthestairs。
　　Itwasashehadguessed，shewasdressedforgoingout。
　　MrsVerlocwasafreewoman。ShehadthrownopenthewindowofthebedroomeitherwiththeintentionofscreamingMurder！Help！orofthrowingherselfout。Forshedidnotexactlyknowwhatusetomakeofherfreedom。Herpersonalityseemedtohavebeentornintotwopieces，whosementaloperationsdidnotadjustthemselvesverywelltoeachother。Thestreet，silentanddesertedfromendtoend，repelledherbytakingsideswiththatmanwhowassocertainofhisimpunity。Shewasafraidtoshoutlestnooneshouldcome。Obviouslynoonewouldcome。Herinstinctofself—preservationrecoiledfromthedepthofthefallintothatsortofslimy，deeptrench。MrsVerlocclosedthewindow，anddressedherselftogooutintothestreetbyanotherway。Shewasafreewoman。Shehaddressedherselfthoroughly，downtothetyingofablackveiloverherface。Assheappearedbeforehiminthelightoftheparlour，MrVerlocobservedthatshehadevenherlittlehandbaghangingfromherleftwrist……Flyingofftohermother，ofcourse。
　　Thethoughtthatwomenwerewearisomecreaturesafterallpresenteditselftohisfatiguedbrain。Buthewastoogeneroustoharbouritformorethananinstant。Thisman，hurtcruellyinhisvanity，remainedmagnanimousinhisconduct，allowinghimselfnosatisfactionofabittersmileorofacontemptuousgesture。Withtruegreatnessofsoul，heonlyglancedatthewoodenclockonthewall，andsaidinaperfectlycalmbutforciblemanner:
　　`Fiveandtwentyminutespasteight，Winnie。There’snosenseingoingovertheresolate。Youwillnevermanagetogetbacktonight。’
　　BeforehisextendedhandMrsVerlochadstoppedshort。Headded，heavily:
　　`Yourmotherwillbegonetobedbeforeyougetthere。Thisisthesortofnewsthatcanwait。’
　　NothingwasfurtherfromMrsVerloc’sthoughtsthangoingtohermother。
　　Sherecoiledatthemereidea，andfeelingachairbehindher，sheobeyedthesuggestionofthetouch，andsatdown。Herintentionhadbeensimplytogetoutsidethedoorforever。Andifthisfeelingwascorrect，itsmentalformtookanunrefinedshapecorrespondingtoheroriginandstation。
　　`Iwouldratherwalkthestreetsallthedaysofmylife，’shethought。
　　Butthiscreature，whosemoralnaturehadbeensubjectedtoashockofwhich，inthephysicalorder，themostviolentearthquakeofhistorycouldonlybeafaintandlanguidrendering，wasatthemercyofmeretrifles，ofcasualcontacts。Shesatdown。Withherhatandveilshehadtheairofavisitor，ofhavinglookedinonMrVerlocforamoment。Herinstantdocilityencouragedhim，whilstheraspectofonlytemporaryandsilentacquiescenceprovokedhimalittle。
　　`Letmetellyou，Winnie，’hesaidwithauthority，`thatyourplaceisherethisevening。Hangitall！youbroughtthedamnedpolicehighandlowaboutmyears。Idon’tblameyou—butit’syourdoingallthesame。
　　You’dbettertakethisconfoundedhatoff。Ican’tletyougoout，oldgirl，’headdedinasoftenedvoice。
　　MrsVerloc’smindgotholdofthatdeclarationwithmorbidtenacity。
　　`ThemanwhohadtakenStevieoutfromunderherveryeyestomurderhiminalocalitywhosenamewasatthemomentnotpresenttohermemorywouldnotallowhertogoout。Ofcoursehewouldn’t。NowhehadmurderedSteviehewouldneverlethergo。Hewouldwanttokeepherfornothing。Andonthischaracteristicreasoning，havingalltheforceofinsanelogic，MrsVerloc’sdisconnectedwitswenttoworkpractically。Shecouldslipbyhim，openthedoor，runout。Buthewoulddashoutafterher，seizeherroundthebody，dragherbackintotheshop。Shecouldscratch，kick，andbite—andstab，too;butforstabbingshewantedaknife。MrsVerlocsatstillunderherblackveil，inherownhouse，likeamaskedandmysteriousvisitorofimpenetrableintentions。
　　MrVerloc’smagnanimitywasnotmorethanhuman。Shehadexasperatedhimatlast。
　　`Can’tyousaysomething？Youhaveyourowndodgesforvexingaman。
　　Oh，yes！Iknowyourdeaf—and—dumbtrick。I’veseenyouatitbeforetoday。
　　Butjustnowitwon’tdo。Andtobeginwith，takethisdamnedthingoff。
　　Onecan’ttellwhetheroneistalkingtoadummyortoalivewoman。’
　　Headvanced，andstretchingouthishand，draggedtheveiloff，unmaskingastillunreadableface，againstwhichhisnervousexasperationwasshatteredlikeaglassbubbleSungagainstarock。`That’sbetter，’hesaid，tocoverhismomentaryuneasiness，andretreatedbacktohisoldstationbythemantelpiece。Itneverenteredhisheadthathiswifecouldgivehimup。
　　Hefeltalittleashamedofhimself，forhewasfondandgenerous。Whatcouldhedo？Everythinghadbeensaidalready。Heprotestedvehemently。
　　`Byheavens！YouknowthatIhuntedhighandlow。Irantheriskofgivingmyselfawaytofindsomebodyforthataccursedjob。AndItellyouagainIcouldn’tfindanyonecrazyenoughorhungenough。Whatdoyoutakemefor—amurderer，orwhat？Theboyisgone。DoyouthinkIwantedhimtoblowhimselfup？He’sgone。Histroublesareover。Oursarejustgoingtobegin，Itellyou，preciselybecausehedidblowhimselfup。I
　　don’tblameyou。Butjusttrytounderstandthatitwasapureaccident;
　　asmuchanaccidentasifhehadbeenrunoverbyabuswhilecrossingthestreet。’
　　Hisgenerositywasnotinfinite，becausehewasahumanbeing—andnotamonster，asMrsVerlocbelievedhimtobe。Hepaused，andasnarlliftinghismoustachesaboveagleamofwhiteteethgavehimtheexpressionofareflectivebeast，notverydangerous—aslowbeastwithasleekhead，gloomierthanaseal，andwithahuskyvoice。
　　`Andwhenitcomestothat，it’sasmuchyourdoingasmine。That’sso……Youmayglareasmuchasyoulike。Iknowwhatyoucandointhatway。StrikemedeadifIeverwouldhavethoughtoftheladforthatpurpose。
　　ItwasyouwhokeptonshovinghiminmywaywhenIwashalfdistractedwiththeworryofkeepingthelotofusoutoftrouble。Whatthedevilmadeyou？Onewouldthinkyouweredoingitonpurpose。AndIamdamnedifIknowthatyoudidn’t。There’snosayinghowmuchofwhat’sgoingonyouhavegotholdofontheslywithyourinfernaldon’t—care—a—damnwayoflookingnowhereinparticular，andsayingnothingatall……’
　　Hishusky，domesticvoiceceasedforawhile。MrsVerlocmadenoreply。
　　Beforethatsilencehefeltashamedofwhathehadsaid。Butasoftenhappenstopeacefulmenindomestictiffs，beingashamedhepushedanotherpoint。
　　`Youhaveadevilishwayofholdingyourtonguesometimes，’hebeganagain，withoutraisinghisvoice。`Enoughtomakesomemengomad。It’sluckyforyouthatIamnotsoeasilyputoutassomeofthemwouldbebyyourdeaf—and—dumbsulks。Iamfondofyou。Butdon’tyougotoofar。
　　Thisisn’tthetimeforit。Weoughttobethinkingofwhatwe’vegottodo。AndIcan’tletyougoouttonight，gallopingofftoyourmotherwithsomecrazytaleorotheraboutme。Iwon’thaveit。Don’tyoumakeanymistakeaboutit:ifyouwillhaveitthatIkilledtheboy，thenyou’vekilledhimasmuchasI。’
　　Insincerityoffeelingandopennessofstatement，thesewordswentfarbeyondanythingthathadeverbeensaidinthishome，keptuponthewagesofasecretindustryekedoutbythesaleofmoreorlesssecretwares:thepoorexpedientsdevisedbyamediocremankindforpreservinganimperfectsocietyfromthedangersofmoralandphysicalcorruption，bothsecret，too，oftheirkind。TheywerespokenbecauseMrVerlochadfelthimselfreallyoutraged;butthereticentdecenciesofthishomelife，nestlinginashadystreetbehindashopwherethesunnevershone，remainedapparentlyundisturbed。MrsVerlocheardhimoutwithperfectpropriety，andthenrosefromherchairinherhatandjacketlikeavisitorattheendofacall。Sheadvancedtowardsherhusband，onearmextendedasifforasilentleave—taking。Hernetveildanglingdownbyoneendoftheleftsideofherfacegaveanairofdisorderlyformalitytoherrestrainedmovements。Butwhenshearrivedasfarasthehearthrug，MrVerlocwasnolongerstandingthere。Hehadmovedoffinthedirectionofthesofa，withoutraisinghiseyestowatchtheeffectofhistirade。Hewastired，resignedinatrulymaritalspirit。Buthefelthurtinthetenderspotofhissecretweakness。Ifshewouldgoonsulkinginthatdreadfuloverchargedsilence—whythenshemust。Shewasamasterinthatdomesticart。MrVerlocflunghimselfheavilyuponthesofa，disregardingasusualthefateofhishat，which，asifaccustomedtotakecareofitself，madeforasafeshelterunderthetable。
　　Hewastired。Thelastparticleofhisnervousforcehadbeenexpendedinthewondersandagoniesofthisdayfullofsurprisingfailurescomingattheendofaharassingmonthofschemingandinsomnia。Hewastired。
　　Amanisn’tmadeofstone。Hangeverything！MrVerlocreposedcharacteristically，cladinhisoutdoorgarments。Onesideofhisopenovercoatwaslyingpartlyontheground。MrVerlocwallowedonhisback。Buthelongedforamoreperfectrest—forsleep—forafewhoursofdeliciousforgetfulness。
　　Thatwouldcomelater。Provisionallyherested。Andhethought:`Iwishshewouldgiveoverthisdamnednonsense。It’sexasperating。’
　　TheremusthavebeensomethingimperfectinMrsVerloc’ssentimentofregainedfreedom。Insteadoftakingthewayofthedoorsheleanedback，withhershouldersagainstthetabletofthemantelpiece，asawayfarerrestsagainstafence。Atingeofwildnessinheraspectwasderivedfromtheblackveilhanginglikearagagainsthercheek，andfromthefixityofherblackgazewherethelightoftheroomwasabsorbedandlostwithoutthetraceofasinglegleam。Thiswoman，capableofabargainthemeresuspicionofwhichwouldhavebeeninfinitelyshockingtoMrVerloc’sideaoflove，remainedirresolute，asifscrupulouslyawareofsomethingwantingonherpartfortheformalclosingofthetransaction。
　　OnthesofaMrVerlocwriggledhisshouldersintoperfectcomfort，andfromthefullnessofhisheartemittedawishwhichwascertainlyaspiousasanythinglikelytocomefromsuchasource。
　　`Iwishtogoodness，’hegrowled，huskily，`IhadneverseenGreenwichParkoranythingbelongingtoit。’
　　Theveiledsoundfilledthesmallroomwithitsmoderatevolume，welladaptedtothemodestnatureofthewish。Thewavesofairoftheproperlength，propagatedinaccordancewithcorrectmathematicalformulas，flowedaroundalltheinanimatethingsintheroom，lappedagainstMrsVerloc’sheadasifithadbeenaheadofstone。Andincredibleasitmayappear，theeyesofMrsVerlocseemedtogrowstilllarger。TheaudiblewishofMrVerloc’soverflowingheartflowedintoanenemyplaceinhiswife’smemory。GreenwichPark。Apark！That’swheretheboywaskilled。Apark—smashedbranches，tornleaves，gravel，bitsofbrotherlyfleshandbone，allspoutinguptogetherinthemannerofafirework。Sherememberednowwhatshehadheard，andsheremembereditpictorially。Theyhadtogatherhimupwiththeshovel。Tremblingalloverwithirrepressibleshudders，shesawbeforehertheveryimplementwithitsghastlyloadscrapedupfromtheground。MrsVerlocclosedhereyesdesperately，throwinguponthatvisionthenightofhereyelids，whereafterarain—likefallofmangledlimbsthedecapitatedheadofStevielingeredsuspendedalone，andfadingoutslowlylikethelaststarofapyrotechnicdisplay。MrsVerlocopenedhereyes。
　　Herfacewasnolongerstony。Anybodycouldhavenotedthesubtlechangeonherfeatures，inthestareofhereyes，givingheranewandstartlingexpression;anexpressionseldomobservedbycompetentpersonsundertheconditionsofleisureandsecuritydemandedforthoroughanalysis，butwhosemeaningcouldnotbemistakenataglance。MrsVerloc’sdoubtsastotheendofthebargainnolongerexisted;herwitsnolongerdisconnected，wereworkingunderthecontrolofherwill。ButMrVerlocobservednothing。