“That could never be, for she would always be in a position to which he could never hope to attain. It was nature’s will that the woman was to be the mother, not the man.”
“A very stupid arrangement!”
“Very likely! The opposite might have been the case, but that would have been equally stupid.”
“Yes; but her life was unbearable. It didn’t satisfy her to live for the family only, she wanted to live for others as well.”
“Hadn’t she better begin with the family? There was plenty of time to think of the others.”
The conversation might have continued through all eternity; as it was it only lasted an hour.
The lawyer was, of course, away almost all day long, and even when he was at home he had his consulting hours. It drove Adeline nearly mad. He was always locked in his consulting-room with other women who confided information to him which he was bound to keep secret. These secrets formed a barrier between them, and made her feel that he was more than a match for her.
It roused a sullen hatred in her heart; she resented the injustice of their mutual relationship; she sought for a means to drag him down. Come down he must, so that they should be on the same level.
One day she proposed the foundation of a sanatorium. He said all he could against it, for he was very busy with his practice. But on further consideration he thought that occupation of some sort might be the saving of her; perhaps it would help her to settle down.
The sanatorium was founded; he was one of the directors.