"Will you go on just the same then?"
"I don't know. We didn't have time to discuss that. I suppose I can."
Again Roger walked the length of the room, past Anne, and back. When he came to the other end, as if only from this spot could he explain, he said sharply:
"Anne, I don't want it. I don't want any woman, no matter how kind she is, bringing Rogie up. Mrs. Horton didn't matter so much when he was quite little, but he's getting a regular boy now and—I don't want it."
This consideration was all for Rogie, but Anne felt as if some one very strong had picked her up and was carrying her easily.
"I would rather be with him all the time, too, but that's impossible."
"No, it isn't. Anne, I don't want you to work. It isn't necessary. No, don't interrupt, please. Listen. I can do it very well. I've been writing some on the side lately and I've got to be quite a speech-maker. You'd be surprised. Speech-making doesn't pay a great deal, but it's something. Please believe me, I can do it very well."
The floor swayed beneath Anne, but she held tight to the cold onyx and answered quietly:
"I'll have to have time to think about it, Roger. I—can't—decide right away now."
Roger shrugged impatiently. "You can if you try. What is there to prevent? I—" he hesitated—"I won't trouble you in any way. You will be exactly as free as you are now. Anne, if you won't do it for yourself, won't you do it for Rogie?"