"What do you mean?"
"I mean you can't afford to go away with Jim this way."
"What else can I do? I can't live without him, and I can't go back."
"Well, then, go away alone. Go back to your folks."
"Oh, I can't do that! Can't you see," she said, finding words with
effort--"can't you see, I _must_ go? Jim is my real husband. I must be
true to him now. My folks can't help me--nobody can help me but Jim--If
he stands by me, I can live." She stopped, feeling sure she had
explained nothing. It was so hard to find words.
"There must be some way out of it," he replied, and his hesitation
helped her. She saw that he was thinking upon the problem, and found it
not at all a clear case against her.
After Rivers came back they resumed their seats about the fire, talking
about the storm--at least, Bailey talked, and Rivers had the grace to
listen. He really seemed less sullen and more thoughtful.
Outside the warring winds howled on. The eye could not penetrate the
veils of snow which streamed through the air on level lines.
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