Am I asking anything you CAN'T do?
You know better; you know I'm not!" At this he sat suddenly rigid, his troubled hands ceasing to rub his knees; and he looked at her fixedly.

"Now, tell me," he said, slowly.
"Just what ARE you asking ?" "You know!" she sobbed.
"You mean you've broken your word never to speak of THAT to me again ?" "What do _I_ care for my word ?" she cried, and, sinking to the floor at his feet, rocked herself back and forth there.

"Do you suppose I'll let my 'word' keep me from struggling for a little happiness for my children?
It won't, I tell you; it won't! I'll struggle for that till I die! I will, till I die till I die!" He rubbed his head now instead of his knees, and, shaking all over, he got up and began with uncertain steps to pace the floor.
"Hell, hell, hell!" he said.

"I've got to go through THAT again!" "Yes, you have!" she sobbed.

"Till I die." "Yes; that's what you been after all the time I was getting well." "Yes, I have, and I'll keep on till I die!" "A fine wife for a man," he said.