— who could have reckoned on this? And then, what if the man demanded his wife? Would that be by way of a crushing blow to him? Or not? But let him first ask himself: is he happy in his life with Anna?

And he thought quickly of the tasks he performs — of scrubbing the floor and the dishes, of polishing the glass, of the comical trousers she undertakes to sew for him, of the cutting of the hair of his head at her hands, of... and of... And the thread of his racing thoughts was cut by the man's voice asking, once he had settled himself in place:

"Will Anna's return be long?"

"About half an hour."

Ford let his eyes rove about the place, saying: "Ah, here I am again," and threw himself onto the nearest seat and set about filling his pipe. Simmons looked at him with disapproval and said that she allows no one to smoke here.

"Sorry — I know Anna. How have you found her, for heaven's sake? Does she order you to clean the dishes?"

"I... I help her sometimes."

"And polish the floor and the glass? I'll swear you do."

Ford fell to contemplating Simmons, then spoke again: "And your hair? I suppose she does the cutting of it for you."

"Yes — I know that too; that is her custom. And what are these trousers hanging up? Yours, no doubt, and sewn with her own hands. Yes, yes, she is still just as I knew her, for she has changed nothing of her strange ways..." And Simmons grew weary of the man's comments, and began to curse his appearance for disturb-ing him in this fashion. And he began to reckon the account of the problem that would arise the moment Anna arrived. Let him take her if he wished — he would not much regret his life bound by strict laws and orders. But what would Anna's position on it be? That is what he wanted to know.

And Ford spoke again: "It is a surprise, naturally, for you; but I have not come to spoil your life on you. She is your wife now, and any sum from you will suffice to keep me far away from you both. Fifty pounds, say." Tommy did not at first blush understand what the man meant, but after a while he grasped what he was driving at, and his head jerked up in protest. What? Is he to pay him fifty pounds to leave Anna to him, when he does not possess fifty pence?... No, no — let the two of them go to the devil; he is not sorry for either of them.

And he turned to Ford, saying: "Thank you, thank you. I... I mean... I mean that I—"

"What? Did you find the sum too great?... No matter — I am prepared to come down a little."

"Oh, that is noble of you — that is humanity. But I only wanted to say that she was your wife before she became my wife. I do not like to usurp your rights. I am prepared to withdraw. Yes, I shall go." And Simmons took a step toward the door, whereupon Ford rose to stop him, saying:

"Don't rush matters. Think a little

what a loss you would suffer, when you know no house but this and no woman but Anna. I did not come here for us to quarrel. Let me make you understand my meaning first."

And at that moment there reached their ears the sound of a violent knocking at the door, and Ford cried out: "Who is that?"

Simmons answered: "Let me see who is coming." And he went down the stairs and hurried to open the door — and behold, Anna received him with a flood of her scolding for his slowness in opening the door, laden as she was with the parcels. But Simmons paid her no heed; he pushed her out of his way and shot off into the street while she shouted at him in fury:

"Where to? How can you go out without a hat, you fool!"

And he answered her without turning around: "Never mind, Anna. Go on up to the house — there is a person waiting for you." Ford at that instant was watching the scene from the head of the stairs, and no sooner did he see Simmons taking to his heels than he hurried down the stairs in three leaps that brought him to the door, and burst through it and out, without giving Anna the chance to make him out... leaving her with her eyes opened wide in the utmost amazement and stupefaction.

Alka-Seltzer

For headaches

take Alka-Seltzer

For ... and the turn of the seasons ...

For more than twenty years, great numbers of people have relied on Alka-Seltzer to remove aches in the quickest time. Drop a tablet or two in a glass of water and watch Alka-Seltzer fizz; it dissolves with a pleasant taste, and this helps speed its effect.

Alka-Seltzer

Noumouta

Noumouta moth-proofed wool