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34 Dead Men's Shoes"I think I may as well." He wasdazed, but he caught at the plan as theonly way that offered out of an awkwardsituation. What his wife was up to hecouldn't think: she acted as though theycould ignore their break and take uptheir life together without explanation."There seems to be no reason why Ishould stay," he added. "What's thetrouble about money, by the way?"Edith Lloyd blushed crimson and hungher head like a child. "That was too—too silly of me," she stammered. " I haveto throw myself on your mercy, David.You see, I got word from the bank athome that I had overdrawn my account,and I didn't know what to do. I had totelegraph to you. It never happened tome before."Lloyd frowned in perplexity. "Youraccount overdrawn ? Impossible, Edith."The habit of business took control of himand made him forget, for the moment, theterms on which he stood with her. " Unlessyou've been squandering thousandsdown here, it's incredible. Anyhow, thepeople at the bank had no business tobother you about it. I'll look into it atonce. Are you perfectly sure the noticewas intended for you?""It was properly addressed. There'sno doubt about that, but I thought I hada lot of money. I haven't spent morethan a few hundreds since—since I left—left home. I know I haven't."He did not notice her hesitations."They should have come to me," he saidirritably. "I can't understand it.""They wouldn't have known that Iwasn't there, would they?" she asked."The note from the bank was forwarded,of course.""You mean you left word?" Lloydcursed his stupidity. Of course she wouldhave had her letters forwarded."At the post-office, yes. I told them Iwanted to save you the trouble.""Then I might—at any time—" Hewas reflecting that a little plain senseshould have made him observe that noletters were coming for her. He ought tohave realized what she had done. Hemight have written, any day."Why, so you might! It hadn't occurredto me that I left such a plain clue."A faint smile began to trickle along herlips. "But I didn't suppose you'd wishto write. I was afraid you'd be too muchrelieved.""Relieved! What do you think I'mmade of, Edith?" Lloyd was incensed."Does a man like to have his wife clearout with the children, and not even leaveher address?""I saddled you with Jack," she repliedevasively. "With Agatha, too, for thatmatter. Only Jack ""I'm as fond of Jack as I am of Agatha,"he interrupted. He felt that Edithwas wantonly perverse. "I don't care ifI haven't any claim on him, as you so politelysuggest. It's outrageous of you, atthis time of day, to take that tack.""If you're going to scold me, David,I think I'll sit down. I'm a little tired."Mrs. Lloyd spoke with the meekness of asecond Griselda.Her husband looked at her for a momentwithout answering. She did seemvery much exhausted; she sank down on aconvenient and ugly sofa with a listlessnessthat was very different from herordinary alert grace of movement. Perhapshis alarm—and hers—about Jack,hadn't been so much exaggerated, afterall. Poor girl! No doubt she had putthrough some very bad days; and possiblyshe had minded the separation fromhim more than she had anticipated. Hefelt sorry for her, particularly as she hadherself to blame for all the trouble. Hehimself had been suffering horribly; andhe was worn out with it, as she had beenquick to see."I've no desire to scold you," he wenton, beginning to walk about the room nervously.He was more moved by the devastatedstate of the family as a whole—including himself—than he cared to acknowledge.At the same time, he couldn'tget over the notion that she was moreloyal to the memory of Bob Haskins thanto him. Otherwise, why should she haverun away as she had done? "I've onlythis to say," he proceeded. "You're afree agent—and Heaven knows you canbe as independent of me as you like—unlessyou happen to count marriage vowsas binding. If you wish to desert me, Ican't prevent your doing so. I do think,though, that it would have been bettermanners to leave an address.""I would, again, if you'd be bettersatisfied." Edith Lloyd's lurking smile