"Yes."
"They're very fond of their mother, aren't they?"
"Yes—if she were always here."
"Of course, it does make your position a little difficult. Still, we don't want them to fret for her—we don't want them not to be fond of you. Besides, if you went, what on earth would they do without you?"
"They must learn to do without me. They would have some one else."
"Yes, and they'll be fond of her."
"Not in the same way. I think perhaps I've given myself too much to them. There's something unusual, something tragic in the way they cling to me. I know it's bad for them. I try to check it, and I can't. And I've no right to let it go on. Nobody has a right except their mother."
"Well, it's awfully nice of you to feel like that about it. But as you say, I don't see how it's to be helped. I think you're taking an exaggerated view—conscientiously exaggerated. They're too young, you know, to be very tragic."
She smiled as through tears.
"I don't think you'll save tragedy by going. Besides, what should I do?"