It has been said that Ninitta's affection for her husband might have
been more enduring had he been less gentle with her. She came of a race
of peasants whose women understood masculine superiority in the old
brutal, physical sense, and whenever Herman bore patiently with his
wife's caprices he lessened a respect which he could have retained only
at the expense of a blow. With all Arthur Fenton's soft and caressing
ways toward Ninitta, there was always an instinctive masterfulness in
his attitude toward any woman and especially since he had tired of her
did he keep Mrs. Herman figuratively at his feet. The more strongly her
appealing attitude seemed to press upon him claims which he could not
satisfy and had no mind to acknowledge, the more harsh he became, and
the more she bent before him. The language of brutality was one which
she Understood by inherited instinct.
"But why," Fenton was saying impatiently, when Rangely's knock startled
them, "do you come here, when I haven't sent for you? There's somebody
at the door, now, and we haven't even the shadow of an excuse, since
the picture is done."
"I wanted to see you," Ninitta answered humbly, her plain face working
with her effort to keep back the tears. "It is so lonely at home, and
they take even Nino away from me."
The artist started up impatiently, and took his wet palette from the
stand beside him.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266