"I am trying to see," Rendel said quietly. For a moment neither spoke.
"Oh, I couldn't," Rachel said. "I simply couldn't!" in a heartfelt tone that told of the unalterable conviction that lay behind it. There was another silence. Rendel stood looking straight before him, Rachel watching him timidly. Rendel made as though to speak, then he checked himself.
"Oh, isn't it a pity it was suggested!" Rachel cried involuntarily. Rendel gave a little laugh. It was deplorable, truly, that such an opportunity should have come to a man who was not going to use it.
"But could not you——" she began, then stopped. "How long would it be for?"
"Oh, about five years, I suppose," said Rendel, with a sort of aloofness of tone with which people on such occasions consent to diverge for the moment from the main issue.
"Five years," she repeated. "That would be too long."
"Yes, five years seems a long time, I daresay," said Rendel, "as one looks on to it."
"I was wondering," she said hesitatingly, "if it wouldn't have been better that you should have gone."
"I? Without you, do you mean?" Rendel said. "No, certainly not. That I am quite clear about."
"Oh, Frank, I should not like it if you did," she said, looking up at him.