Alice came up and tugged at his hand as he stood there. "What's the matter, Daddy? What's the matter with Mama?"
He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Nothing, honey. You go and play for a moment while I help Mother."
"I want to help, too!"
"Please, Alice—"
He moved back to the bedroom. Bonnie was carefully examining each item of apparel she packed in the big trunk. She didn't look up as he came in.
"Bonnie," he said in a low voice, "are you going to leave me?"
She put down the dress she was holding and looked up at him. "Yes I'm leaving you," she said. "You've got what you wanted—all you've ever wanted." She looked out towards the fields, shimmering in the heat of the day.
"That's not true, Bonnie. You know it isn't. I've always loved you and needed you, and it's grown greater every hour we've been together."
"Then you'll have to prove it! Give up this hell-world you want us to call home, and give us back our Earth. If you love me, you can prove it."
"It's no test of love to make a man give up the goal that means his life to him. You'd despise me forever if I let you do that to me. I'd rather you went away from me now with the feeling you have at this time, because I'd know I had your love—"