And he read the stupefaction in her eyes:
“Tell me, honestly, Mamma. Are you disappointed?”
She was silent, gazed at the placid sky.
“Would you rather have started a fresh life ... away from Papa?”
She bowed her head, let it rest upon his shoulder:
“Addie,” she said.
She made an attempt to pick her words, but her honesty was once more too strong for her:
“Yes,” she said, simply.
“Then you would rather have had it so ... for your own sake?”
“I would rather have had it so, yes.”