The days passed.

McTeague had finished the operation on Trina's teeth.
She did not come any more to the "Parlors." Matters had readjusted themselves a little between the two during the last sittings.

Trina yet stood upon her reserve, and McTeague still felt himself shambling and ungainly in her presence; but that constraint and embarrassment that had followed upon McTeague's blundering declaration broke up little by little.

In spite of themselves they were gradually resuming the same relative positions they had occupied when they had first met.
But McTeague suffered miserably for all that.

He never would have Trina, he saw that clearly.