Neith Boyce

“ I don't see why I shouldn't be cool about it, if Cecilia is. I should have the creeps, marrying a man that I knew was going to die. But she hasn't. She never worries about anything—except bills. I don't see why you make such a fuss over her. But if I were you, I'd just sit down and wait. She likes you."
Bertha's eyes were feverishly bright, and she twisted her hands together hysterically. Tom approached her slowly, took her by the shoulders, pushed her gently out of the room, and shut the door. ”

“ He turned his back on Cecilia, laid his arms on the gate-post, and put his face down. When finally he looked up his long black lashes were moist.
"Well, Cecilia," he said savagely, his lips trembling, "you're a good business woman, I'll say that for you. You don't like to lose anything, do you?—any old thing that might come handy sometime? You'll get on very well in this world—without me. And I'll try to get on—without you."
He opened the gate, went out, and closed it sharply after him. Cecilia laid a detaining hand on his arm and bent towards him impulsively, but Tom jerked away. ”