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you. But it is over. That is all I can say.'
    'Because he is dead?'
    'It is over, Ross.' She blinked as if removing mental tears. 'It is over.' 'Yes ...'
    'After all ...' She got up, dark eyes glinting, and moved to poke the fire. 'Yes?'
    'It was not a worthy thought.' 'But say it - as I did.'
    'Is this the difference between a woman and a man, Ross? For after all, all my life with you I have had to fight - not a shade but an ideal -Elizabeth. I - have always had to compete.'
    'Not for a long time now. But perhaps you're right. What's sauce for the goose ...'
    'No, no, no, no, no! D'you b'lieve I allowed myself to feel a heartache for Hugh out of retaliation? You surely could not! What I mean is, because it happened you say you have to compete with some memory. This I have to do and have had to do all my married life. It shouldn't be allowed to wreck all that we still have.'
    His pipe was not drawing properly. He laid it on the mantelshelf and stood up. He seemed to have grown bigger since he had been away.
    'Should it be allowed to wreck what we still have? No. We decided that last September. But this parliamentary frippery in which I am engaged came at a fortunate time. We have been apart, we've had time to think, and I believe time to re-order our thoughts, and to some extent our fives.'
    She took a breath. 'And what has been your conclusion?'
    'What has been yours?'
    'No, I made mine last September. There is no difference. There can be no difference - for me.'
    'Well, as for me,' said Ross. 'As for me - well, of course I have seen all these beautiful women in London.'
    'Indeed you must have.'
    'I believe the women of London are the most beautiful in the world.'
    'Tis quite likely they are.'
    'What have you been doing while I have been away?'
    'What have I been doing?' Demelza stared at him in indignation a t the change of subject. 'Seeing to your mine and your affairs, of course; trying to bring up your children in the way they should go! Doing all the ordinary things of living and breathing and - and looking to the farm and the rest! And - and waiting for your letters and answering'cm! Living just as I have always lived - but without you! That's all I've been doing.'
    'And how often has Hugh Bodrugan tried to creep in your bed while I've been away?'
    Demelza burst into tears.
    She made for the door. 'Leave me go! Let me alone!' she cried as he barred the way.
    He held her forearms and she looked as if she was going to spit in his face.
    He said: 'It was meant as a joke.' 'Twas a poor joke !'
    ‘ I know. We can no longer joke, can we, because it is all too tender and raw between us. God help me, there was a time, and not so long ago, when every tiff between us ended in laughter. That is all lost.'
    She said: 'Yes, that's all lost.'
    He held her for a few moments more, and then stooped to kiss her. She turned her head so that his lips only found her hair, 'Leave me alone,' she whispered. 'You're a stranger. I don't know you any more.'
    He said: 'Perhaps the fact that we fight shows that we still have something to lose.'
    'A marriage without warmth, without trust - a trust that we've both betrayed; what good is that?'
    'You don't ask me how I have disposed of my spare time in London, what women I have had.'
    She wiped her eyes with her hand. 'Perhaps I've no right to.'
    'Well, after all you're still my wife. And since you are my wife I'll tell you. In the early months on different occasions I invited two women into my rooms. But before they had even undressed I sickened of them and turned them out. They left shouting derisory curses at my head. One accused me of impotenc e, the other called me a trike.’
    'What is that?' 'No matter.'
    'I can look it up in the dictionary.' 'It won't be i n the dictionary.' 'I can guess’ said Demelza .
    There was a pause, while he released her arms but continued to prevent her moving away from him. She said: 'Those were harlots,' 'Yes. But high class ones. Very select.' 'And what of the