There was a silence here, during which something seemed to take place which removed the necessity of answer; for surely, Elizabeth would not have allowed this question to go unanswered otherwise.
"Oh," said she, "there are more places I want to go, and more things I want to see and study—you never would believe it! It will take years and years."
"Well, why not?" answered Florian. "'Whether in Naishapur or Babylon', I want to go to every one of those places myself—and always have. We won't build that house. We'll have Blodgett stay and look after the closing up of the business here by Stevens. We'll run out home so I can say hail and farewell to Jennie and greet my new nephews and nieces there, and then, ho! for Japan and India and the East, on our way to those high places where you want to erect your idolatrous altars. Elizabeth! Do you realize what a Paradise we're planning?"
"There!" she said quaveringly. "I knew it was too perfect to be true, and that we'd find some obstacle, and I've found it! That miserable office you'll have to fill!"
Chillingly the wet blanket descended on their fervid joy, and they looked at each other in consternation. This public call on Mr. Brassfield now became an incubus to Mr. Amidon, pinning him to earth as he essayed to rise and fly. Gradually, as he looked fondly in his lady-love's face, the hope dawned in his heart that perhaps her desire that he should have a "career" might not be much greater than his.
"Dear," said he at last, "would you feel very sorely disappointed if we were to give it up—the state and national capital life, and all that?"
"I disappointed!" exclaimed she. "Why, could you bring yourself to give them up? I hate to say it—but—I just detest the whole thing!"
"So do I!" said Amidon.
They wondered in the next room what could have excited so much hilarity.
"What a beginning!" said Elizabeth. "To start out in our life with such a mutual deception! But I wanted to have a part in your life, whatever it might be; and I could organize Primrose Leagues, and succeed in them, if it were necessary to help in any ambition of yours. So there! Oh, it was silly to write in that way—but you really seemed at that time——"