Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/330

Rh but to Amherst’s surprise she no longer sounded the note of her own rights. Husband and wife were animated by emotions deeper—seated and more instinctive than had ever before confronted them; yet while Amherst’s resistance was gathering strength from the conflict, Bessy unexpectedly collapsed in tears and submission. She would do as he wished, of course—give up seeing Blanche, dismiss Bowfort, wash her hands, in short, of the imprudent pair—in such matters a woman needed a man’s guidance, a wife must of necessity see with her husband’s eyes; and she looked up into his through a mist of penitence and admiration.…

XXI

N the ﬁrst reaction from her brief delusion about Stephen Wyant, Justine accepted with a good grace the necessity of staying on at Lynbrook. Though she was now well enough to return to her regular work, her talk with Amherst had made her feel that, for the present, she could be of more use by remaining with Bessy; and she was not sorry to have a farther period of delay and reﬂection before taking the next step in her life. These at least were the reasons she gave herself for deciding not to leave; and if any less ostensible lurked beneath, they were not as yet visible even to her searching self—scrutiny. [ 314 ]