"What, in heaven's name, brought them?"
Howat told her what he had heard. "I'm glad I did break up that mess
they called a home," she asserted. "It was rotten with stale beer and
half pounds of liver for that disgusting animal!"
The heat increased in waves; a wagon passing on the road below was
enveloped in a cloud of dust. "I wish they'd hurry," Mariana said
sharply. Howat Penny thought he heard Kingsfrere speaking in abrupt
periods. Then a chair scraped, and Peter Provost's deliberate voice
became audible. It was, however, impossible to distinguish his words;
but suddenly Polder exclaimed, "Say something I can pound into you."
Mariana rose, her hands clenched. "Go back to your mouldy little life!"
James Polder continued. "I'm not surprised Miss Jannan wants to get out
of it. I am sorry I hesitated. It seemed to me I couldn't offer her
anything good enough; but that was before I'd listened to you.... And if
you in particular come worming about me again I'll smash your flat
face." The screen door was wrenched violently open, and James Polder
strode up to Mariana. "Suppose we get out of this slag pit," he said,
his chest labouring; "I can't breathe here."
"I am ready, Jimmy," she replied quietly; "perhaps Howat will look up a
train and let Honduras drive us to the station.
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