And if I call myself Steptoe here it's a good blind against any of your swell friends knowing you met your HUSBAND here." In the half-scornful, half-resigned look she had given him when he entered there was no doubt that she recognized him as the man she had come to see.

He had changed little in the five years that had elapsed since he entered the three partners' cabin at Heavy Tree Hill.

His short hair and beard still clung to his head like curled moss or the crisp flocculence of Astrakhan.

He was dressed more pretentiously, but still gave the same idea of vulgar strength.

She listened to him without emotion, but said, with even a deepening of scorn in her manner:-- "What new shame is this ?" "Nothing NEW," he replied.