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Rh "The children?" she continued. "Why should you not see them . . . when you want to?"

"Would you allow that?"

"Allow it? They are your children. I have nothing to say in the matter. In fact . . ."

"In fact?"

"I should not think it right . . . if you did not see them often."

"Then I shall come."

"Of course. . . . But to go on living here . . . would be too expensive."

"No, not at all. I . . . I shall want nothing . . . out there. Whatever I make is yours."

"I can't accept it."

"Yes, you can . . . for the children. It's better, Tilly, that everything should remain as it is."

"Very well," she consented. "Only, Addie . . . it's not a solution."

"There can be no solution . . . until you know that you care enough for Johan Erzeele . . ."

"No, no, I don't!"

"That you care enough for Johan Erzeele to . . ."

"I don't know, I don't know . . . and I refuse to discuss it."

"I understand that, Tilly. Then . . . there can be no solution yet, can there? We know nothing about a solution. I am simply giving you back your life, as far as I can, and you are doing the same to me. Later we will see what happens. It will all come of itself. What do we know? We know nothing . . . for ourselves. Knowledge will all come of itself. Do you understand?"

"No."

"You will, later. . . . You will live here, with the children; you will see me hardly at all. I shall not see the children for a time. It will be as though