want," said Alicia firmly.
"You men are just like children when you haven't got a definite task.
Until you retired from the business you were always perfectly happy. Now
that your days are free you don't know what to do with yourself. Here!
come and hold my wool for me!"

She laid her knitting down on the table and picked up a skein of white
wool that lay near. Her husband, with a resigned expression, mutely held
up his hands. The wool was placed over them, and then, after strict
injunctions not to stir, or get tangled, or drop an end, or breathe too
audibly, Mrs. Hedderwick began to wind it into a ball.

As the uncongenial task went on, Robert reflected disconsolately that
his bid for freedom had not met with much success. He had had hopes that
this year at least Alicia would have consented to go to some other place
for their holiday. He was tired of Cromer and wanted a change. Also, he
was not enthusiastic for another holiday spent under the wing of
Alicia's mother, Mrs. Ainsley. She was too like her--he checked the
heretical thought and substituted "too determined"--to make him anxious
to renew her acquaintance more often than he was obliged. "Obliged...."
The word buzzed unpleasantly in the brain. His prophetic instinct told
him that he would be obliged to yield to Alicia's wishes. If he ventured
to suggest once more that Eastbourne or Brighton might be preferable to
Cromer, he knew too well what would happen. Alicia would say firmly,
"No, Robert; you know We settled on Cromer, and it would be silly to
change Our minds now." Supposing he dared greatly and put his foot
down; supposing he said, "I will _not_ go there: I will go to Brighton!"
what would happen? He knew perfectly well that he would never have the
courage to be so rebellious as all that; but he kept playing with the
notion as one plays with temptation in daily life. If only he dared! He
might say, "I will _not_, Alicia!" and then bolt from the house. It
would be rather fun, an adventure, to run away ... all by himself. _By
himself!_ what a holiday that would be! He laughed aloud at the thought.

"I see nothing amusing in the wool being tangled," said Alicia's voice
reprovingly, and he jumped in alarm.

"I was not laughing at that, my dear," he said appeasingly. "I was
thinking of something else."

Alicia sniffed, but maintained a fortunate silence. When she finished
she said, "I am going out to take the sewing meeting for an hour or so.
Will you be