Not one of them had ever expected it to end like that. The race had speeded faster and faster, beyond their strength. They had stumbled, gone down, and been trampled under. Strong in the faith of their own ability, she and Mary and Gregory, all the well-groomed men and beautiful gowned women about them, went securely on. But what guarantee had they that this strength would last forever? Each human being was such a tiny obstruction, a mere grain of sand against the force of a terrific current. Even in the small trickle of the stream which one called one's own personal affairs, it was impossible to guide the force. Here was the course of her summer twisted suddenly by an event over which she had no control.
"I won't let it. I will have the next four weeks."
"A penny, Jean. You look as if you were settling the affairs of nations."
"I was doing what mummy calls 'guiding Providence.'"
"Too strenuous for summer, Jean. Leave it 'til winter."
"No. 'Now's the appointed time.' 'To-night the Lord may come.' Hence, you and Gregory go home alone, Mary. I go to Jersey. I've had a revelation."
Nor would Jean let Gregory go even to the ferry with her, but insisted that he go back and hear more of the East End.
"But, dear, I want to see you terribly to-night. I want——"
He had dropped behind as they were following Mary out so that for a moment he and Jean were alone. Jean smiled and shook her head.
"Can't be helped. I've got to go really. Besides it's—it's your revelation too."