Christopher was out late that night . Eunice waited up for him , as she always did . It was a chilly spring evening , reminding her of the night her mother had died . The kitchen was in spotless order , and she sat down on a stiff-backed chair by the window to wait for her brother . She did not want a light . The moonlight fell in with faint illumination . Outside , the wind was blowing over a bed of new-sprung mint in the garden , and was suggestively fragrant . It was a very old-fashioned garden , full of perennials Naomi Holland had planted long ago . Eunice always kept it primly neat . She had been working in it that day , and felt tired . She was all alone in the house and the loneliness filled her with a faint dread . She had tried all that day to reconcile herself to Christopher 's marriage , and had partially succeeded . She told herself that she could still watch over him and care for his comfort . She would even try to love Victoria ; after all , it might be pleasant to have another woman in the house . So , sitting there , she fed her hungry soul with these husks of comfort . When she heard Christopher 's step she moved about quickly to get a light . He frowned when he saw her ; he had always resented her sitting up for him . He sat down by the stove and took off his boots , while Eunice got a lunch for him . After he had eaten it in silence he made no move to go to bed . A chill , premonitory fear crept over Eunice .
It did not surprise her at all when Christopher finally said , abruptly , `` Eunice , I 've a notion to get married this XXXXX . ''
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