“I don’t know. It seems like running away.”
“Running towards, running towards——”
Can’t you be at peace now, in this garden? ran her thoughts. I don’t condemn you for anything. Why can’t we stop worrying at things and be at peace? If I were beautiful I could make you be at peace—perhaps. But it would be a trick. Only real religion can help you. I can’t do anything. You are religious. I must keep still and quiet....
If some cleansing fire could come and consume them both ... flaring into the garden and consuming them both, together. Neither of them were wanted in the world. No one would ever want either of them. Then why could they not want each other? He did not wish it. Salvation. He wanted salvation—for himself.
“My people must be considered first,” he said speculatively.
“They want you to be a barrister. That’s the last reason in the world that would affect me.”
He glanced at her with far-off speculative eyes, his upper lip drawn terribly back from his teeth.
“He is thinking I am a hard unfeminine ill-bred woman.”
“I do it as an atonement.”
The word rang in the garden ... the low tone of a bell. Her thoughts leaned towards the strength at her side.