" "She's trying to take that tone, and so much the better," he thought, "or else it would be the same thing over and over again.

" And he set off for the elections without appealing to her for a candid explanation.

It was the first time since the beginning of their intimacy that he had parted from her without a full explanation.

From one point of view this troubled him, but on the other side he felt that it was better so.

" At first there will be, as this time, something undefined kept back, and then she will get used to it.