en。 She heard murmurs in the parlor； and then the slamming of thedoor。 She remembered； too late； that he had all his money with him。 When he came back； longafter nightfall； and she put him to bed and went through his pockets； she found nothing； or almostnothing； and she sank helplessly to the parlor floor and cried。
When he came back at times like this he would be petulant and penitent。 She would notcreep into bed until she thought that he was sleeping。 But he would not be sleeping。 He would turn as she stretched her legs beneath the blankets； and his arm would reach out； and his breath wouldbe hot and sour…sweet in her face。
‘Sugar…plum； what you want to be so evil with your baby for？ Don’t you know you donemade me go out and get drunk； and I wasn’t a…fixing to do that？ I wanted to take you outsomewhere to…night。’ And； while he spoke； his hand was on her breast； and his moving lipsbrushed her neck。 And this caused such a war in her as could scarcely be endured。 She felt thateverything in existence between them was part of a mighty plan for her humiliation。 She did notwant his touch； and yet she did： she burned with longing and froze with rage。 And she felt that heknew this and inwardly smile to see how easily； on this part of the battlefield； his victory could beassured。 But at the same time she felt that his tenderness； his passion； and his love were real。
‘Let me alone； Frank。 I want to go to sleep。’
‘No you don’t。 You don’t want to go to sleep so soon。 You want me to talk to you a little。
You know how your baby loves to talk。 Listen。’ And he brushed her neck lightly with his tongue。
‘You hear that？’
He waited。 She was silent。
‘Ain’t you got nothing more to say than that？ I better tell you something else。’ And t