't mention every trifle that happens.'

'No, of course not.'

Amy closed her eyes, as if in weariness, and for a minute or two Reardon
observed her countenance.

'So you think we had better sell the furniture.'

'I shall say nothing more about it. You must do as seems best to you,
Edwin.'

'Are you going to see your mother to-morrow?'

'Yes. I thought you would like to come too.'

'No; there's no good in my going.'

He again rose, and that night they talked no more of their difficulties,
though on the morrow (Sunday) it would be necessary to decide their
course in every detail.

CHAPTER XVII. THE PARTING

Amy did not go to church. Before her marriage she had done so as a mere
matter of course, accompanying her mother, but Reardon's attitude with
regard to the popular religion speedily became her own; she let the
subject lapse from her mind, and cared neither to defend nor to attack
where dogma was concerned. She had no sympathies with mysticism; her
nature was strongly practical, with something of zeal for intellectual
attainment superadded.

This Sunday morning she was very busy with domestic minutiae. Reardon
noticed what looked like preparations for packing, and being as little
disposed for conversation as his wife, he went out and walked for a
couple of hours in the Hampstead region. Dinner over, Amy at once made
ready for her journey to Westbourne Park.

'Then you won't come?' she said to her husband.

'No. I shall see your mother before I go away, but I don't care to till
you have settled everything.'

It was half a year since he had met Mrs Yule. She never came to their
dwelling, and Reardon could not bring himself to visit her.

'You had very much rather we didn't sell the furniture?' Amy asked.

'Ask your mother's opinion. That shall decide.'

'There'll be the expense of moving it, you know. Unless money comes from
The Wayside, you'll only have two or three pounds left.'

Reardon made no reply. He was overcome by the bitterness of shame.

'I shall say, then,' pursued Amy, who spoke with averted face, 'that I
am to go there for good on Tuesday? I mean, of course, for the summer
months.'

'I suppose so.'

Then he turned suddenly upon her.

'Do you really imagine that at the end of the summer I shall be a rich
man? What do you mean by talking in this way? If the furniture is sold
to supply me with a few pounds for the present, what prospect is there
that I shall be able to buy new?