‘How well I remember your saying that before! Why have you grown so good to me all at once, my Amy? Hearing you speak like that I feel there’s nothing beyond my reach. But I dread to go away from you. If I find that it is hopeless; if I am alone somewhere, and know that the effort is all in vain—’
‘Then?’
‘Well, I can leave you free. If I can’t support you, it will be only just that I should give you back your freedom.’
‘I don’t understand—’
She raised herself and looked into his eyes.
‘We won’t talk of that. If you bid me go on with the struggle, I shall do so.’
Amy had hidden her face, and lay silently in his arms for a minute or two. Then she murmured:
‘It is so cold here, and so late. Come!’
‘So early. There goes three o’clock.’
The next day they talked much of this new project. As there was sunshine Amy accompanied her husband for his walk in the afternoon; it was long since they had been out together. An open carriage that passed, followed by two young girls on horseback, gave a familiar direction to Reardon’s thoughts.