"It would be," he answered, "if we had to face it all at once. But, thank God, that is not so. We can only see a little way ahead. We can only do a little at a time."
"Do you think that is a help?" she said. "I would give anything—sometimes—to look into the future."
"I think the burden would be greater than we could bear," Scott said.
"Oh, do you? I think it would be such a relief to know." Dinah uttered a
sharp sigh. "It's no good talking," she said. "Only one thing is certain.
I'm not going to break with Billy of course, but I'll never go back to
Perrythorpe again, never as long as I live!"
There was a quiver of passion in her voice. She looked at Scott with what was almost a challenge in her eyes.
He did not answer it. His face wore a look of perplexity. But, "If I were in your place," he said quietly, "I think I should say the same."
"I am sure you would," she said warmly. "I only tolerated it so long
because I didn't know what freedom was like. When I went to Switzerland,
I found out; and when I came back, it just wasn't endurable any longer.
But I wish I knew—I do wish I knew—what I were going to do."
The words were out before she could stop them, but the moment they were uttered she made a sharp gesture as though she would recall them.
"I'm silly to talk like this," she said. "Please forget it!"
He smiled a little. "Not silly, Dinah," he said, "but mistaken. Believe me, the future is already provided for."