Page 639 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

I suppose. You were not so fat at Port Ar—-Oh, I forgot, my
dear! Come and sit down. That’s right. I have told them all
that I am your wife, for whom you have sent. They regard
me with some interest and respect in consequence. Don’t
spoil their good opinion of me.’
He was about to utter an imprecation, but she stopped
him by a glance. ‘No bad language, John, or I shall ring for
a constable. Let us understand one another, my dear. You
may be a very great man to other people, but to me you are
merely my runaway husband—an escaped convict. If you
don’t eat your supper civilly, I shall send for the police.’
‘Sarah!’ he burst out, ‘I never meant to desert you. Upon
my word. It is all a mistake. Let me explain.’
‘There is no need for explanations yet, Jack—I mean
Richard. Have your supper. Ah! I know what you want.’
She poured out half a tumbler of brandy, and gave it to
him. He took the glass from her hand, drank the contents,
and then, as though warmed by the spirit, laughed. ‘What a
woman you are, Sarah. I have been a great brute, I confess.’
‘You have been an ungrateful villain,’ said she, with sud-
den passion, ‘a hardened, selfish villain.’
‘But, Sarah—‘
‘Don’t touch me!’ ‘‘Pon my word, you are a fine creature,
and I was a fool to leave you.’ The compliment seemed to
soothe her, for her tone changed somewhat. ‘It was a wick-
ed, cruel act, Jack. You whom I saved from death—whom I
nursed—whom I enriched. It was the act of a coward.’
‘I admit it. It was.’ ‘You admit it. Have you no shame
then? Have you no pity for me for what I have suffered all

For the Term of His Natural Life