Page:Later Life (1919).djvu/324

316 "Tell me, honestly, Mamma. Are you disappointed?"

She was silent, gazed at the placid sky.

"Would you rather have started a fresh life . . . away from Papa?"

She bowed her head, let it rest upon his shoulder:

"Addie," she said.

She made an attempt to pick her words, but her honesty was once more too strong for her:

"Yes," she said, simply.

"Then you would rather have had it so . . . for your own sake?"

"I would rather have had it so, yes."

They were silent.

"I had even pictured it . . . like that," she said, presently.

"Shall I speak to Papa again then, Mamma? If I tell him that you had already been thinking of it . . ."

"You believe . . .?"

"He will agree."

"Do you think so?"

"If it means the happiness of both of you . . ."

"Tell me what Papa said."

"I can't remember exactly . . . Only Papa thought . . . that not to see me for six months at a time would be more than he could bear."

"Is that all that Papa said?"

"Yes."