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Rh know just how or when. It may have been suggested to him by some woman–for they all understood, of course. He said nothing to me, and I think he tried not to change in his manner to me at first; but such things hurt–and it was working in both of us. I knew that he knew. After a time we were just being polite and considerate to each other. Before he found me out we had been on a footing of–how can I express it to you?–of intelligent companionship, I might say. We talked without restraint of many things of the kind we could agree or disagree about without its going very deep. . . if you understand. And then that came to an end. I felt that the only possible basis of our living in each other's company was going under my feet. And at last it was gone.

'It had been like that,' she ended simply, 'for months before he died.' She sank into the corner of a sofa by the window, as though relaxing her body after an effort. For a few moments both were silent. Trent was hastily sorting out a tangle of impressions. He was amazed at the frankness of Mrs. Manderson's story. He was amazed at the vigorous