Somehow Alexandra had irritated her of late.
Everybody irritated her. She was tired of everybody. "I'm going home alone, Emil, so you needn't get your hat," she said as she wound her scarf quickly about her head. "Good-night, Alexandra," she called back in a strained voice, running down the gravel walk.
Emil followed with long strides until he over-took her. Then she began to walk slowly. It was a night of warm wind and faint starlight, and the fireflies were glimmering over the wheat.
"Marie," said Emil after they had walked for a while, "I wonder if you know how un-happy I am?"
Marie did not answer him. Her head, in its white scarf, drooped forward a little.