A shudder of disgust passed through her frame as she raised her eyes
and saw him, and she made a sudden gesture as though to fall behind
and thus avoid him. It was, however, too late, for Mr Villiers,
hearing footsteps, turned suddenly and saw the woman he had come to
see standing in the middle of the road.

Husband and wife stood gazing at one another for a few moments in
silence, she looking at him with an expression of intense loathing
on her fine face, and he vainly trying to assume a dignified
carriage--a task which his late fit of drunkenness rendered
difficult.

At last, his wife, drawing her dress together as though his touch
would have contaminated her, tried to pass, but on seeing this he
sprang forward, before she could change her position, and caught her
wrist.

'Not yet!' he hissed through his clenched teeth; 'first you must
have a word with me.'

Madame Midas looked around for aid, but no one was in sight. They
were some distance from the Pactolus, and the heat of the afternoon
being intense, every one was inside. At last Madame saw some man
moving towards them, down the long road which led to the station,
and knowing that Vandeloup had been into town, she prayed in her
heart that it might be he, and so prepared to parley with her
husband till he should come up. Having taken this resolution, she
suddenly threw off Villiers' grasp, and turned towards him with a
superb gesture of scorn.