I begin to feel I might have had a worse misfortune and mustn't exaggerate the importance of the loss." Helen was silent for a few minutes, but she was sensible of a certain relief.

She was sorry for her husband, but there was some compensation, since it looked as if a ray of light had dawned on him.

Although she had struggled against the feeling, she was jealous of the farm that had kept him away from her.
"I think you sowed too large a crop, and you could not have gone on working as you have done," she said.

"It would have worn you out." Festing put down his pipe and looked at her with surprise.

"You don't seem to understand that I'll have to work harder than before." "I don't understand," said Helen, taking away her hand.