He had given up urging his jaded animal, being too jaded himself for the effort.

But, hearing a clatter of hoofs on the drive before him, he did rouse himself to holler into the darkness, supposing that his wife was ahead of him.

If it were she, she was later in returning than was her wont, but no answer came back to him, and he did not repeat his call.

After all, why should he hail her?
He did not want her company, Heaven knew.

That stately demeanour of hers which once had attracted him generally inspired in him a savage sense of resentment nowadays.