She did not want a light . The moonlight fell in with faint illumination . Outside , the wind was blowing over a bed of new-sprung mint in the garden , and was suggestively fragrant . It was a very old-fashioned garden , full of perennials Naomi Holland had planted long ago . Eunice always kept it primly neat . She had been working in it that day , and felt tired . She was all alone in the house and the loneliness filled her with a faint dread . She had tried all that day to reconcile herself to Christopher 's marriage , and had partially succeeded . She told herself that she could still watch over him and care for his comfort . She would even try to love Victoria ; after all , it might be pleasant to have another woman in the house . So , sitting there , she fed her hungry soul with these husks of comfort . When she heard Christopher 's step she moved about quickly to get a light . He frowned when he saw her ; he had always resented her sitting up for him . He sat down by the stove and took off his boots , while Eunice got a lunch for him . After he had eaten it in silence he made no move to go to bed . A chill , premonitory fear crept over Eunice . It did not surprise her at all when Christopher finally said , abruptly , `` Eunice , I 've a notion to get married this spring . '' Eunice clasped her hands together under the table . It was what she had been expecting . She said so , in a monotonous voice .
`` We must make some arrangement for -- XXXXX you , Eunice , '' Christopher went on , in a hurried , hesitant way , keeping his eyes riveted doggedly on his plate .
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