Of course, though, there was nothing for her to be nervous about here--she wished there might have been.

Any touch of dramatic adventure would be welcome in the crude monotony of her life.
But the adventure promised to be of a more personal kind.
Suddenly, she jumped out of bed and softly slipped the bolt of the door into her husband's dressing room.

She did it on a wild impulse.

She felt that she could not bear him near her to-night.

He should see that she was not his chattel....