CHAPTER VII.
Mr.Chalk made but a poor breakfast next morning, the effort to display a feeling of proper sympathy with Mrs.Chalk, who was presiding in gloomy silence at the coffee-pot, and at the same time to maintain an air of cheerful innocence as to the cause of her behaviour, being almost beyond his powers.

He chipped his egg with a painstaking attempt to avoid noise, and swallowed each mouthful with a feeble pretence of not knowing that she was watching him as he ate.

Her glance conveyed a scornful reproach that he could eat at all in such circumstances, and, that there might be no mistake as to her own feelings, she ostentatiously pushed the toast-rack and egg-stand away from her.
"You--you're not eating, my dear," said Mr.Chalk.
"If I ate anything it would choke me," was the reply.
Mr.Chalk affected surprise, but his voice quavered.

To cover his discomfiture he passed his cup up for more coffee, shivering despite himself, as he noticed the elaborate care which Mrs.Chalk displayed in rinsing out the cup and filling it to the very brim.

Beyond raising her eyes to the ceiling when he took another piece of toast, she made no sign.
[Illustration: "He passed his cup up for more coffee."] "You're not looking yourself," ventured Mr.Chalk, after a time.
His wife received the information silence.
"I've noticed it for some time," said the thoughtful husband, making another effort.