“She made me see. She gave me everything. She gave me herself. I found myself because of her and I’m only living in the light she gave me.” It was difficult to find words for what Effie was and meant to him. “I don’t know if I can ever explain,” he faltered.
“Go on. You’re doing very well.” He was—Anne’s insight helping her.
“It’s like rebirth. It’s as if I’d lived till I met her six months ago with crooked eyesight. I didn’t see straight, and then, mother——” He hesitated as a man will hesitate before voicing a profound conviction, afraid lest he be thought absurd. “Then I found salvation, I’ve been a taker and we’re here to give. I took from you———”
“Leave that,” said Anne curtly. “I know it.”
“And I didn’t,” he replied. “It seems to me that I knew nothing till Effie come.”
“Why do you want Ada back?”
“It’s time I gave to her.”
“Did Effie show you that?”
“Yes.”
Anne was silent for a minute. Then: “I’ll have a look at Effie,” she said. “You can take me to her.”