"I dare not go and I dare not stay," murmured Iddo.
"That is just what I say," said Adin, "you have no courage to carve out a line for yourself."
"But," said the girl, stung to resistance, "it has not been a question of my carving out a line for myself. It has really been with me a choice between following my mother and following you. And I do not know why I chose to follow you. My mother never led me astray."
"You had better go," said Adin, "and I will look for another friend who is bolder and more courageous, and who is not always thinking about uncomfortable things like you are. Besides I have come to the conclusion that I have made a mistake about myself all my life. The views you love are cramping. I like to be free. I am much more suited to the Land of Indifference than to the Radiant City. And I really doubt if I have ever been on the way there. I have just followed my mother, that is all."
"Then," said Iddo, "you mean to stay here? and to give up all thoughts of the King and the Radiant City?"
"How do you know there is a King and a Radiant City?" said Adin.
"The enemy must be very near to make you say that," said Iddo gravely. "Oh, don't give way to him. I am quite sure he is seeking your ruin."
"The enemy! Nonsense, child! Why, I find no one believes in the Devil now. The very mention of him raises a smile. Indeed, if you spoke to the inhabitants of this land as you are speaking to me, they would think you were daft. No one who has any learning ever thinks of him. He is a myth."
"Have you learnt all this while you have been here?" said Iddo, sadly.
"Yes, and a great deal more; much that convinces me that it is quite mad to give up the pleasure of this place for the dream that you are following."