“That is just the point,” she interrupted. “Those whom God joins together are those who are suited to each other. When it becomes evident that two people have been married who are unsuited, it is also evident that God never joined them together, and that they ought not to stay together. That is the case with Jack and me.”
“Have you told Jack your decision?”
“Not in so many words, but in substance. He does not appreciate the situation at all, and he won’t until the book is finished.”
“Why don’t you go home for a while and see what happens?”
“If I went away now Inez would have to leave, and that would interrupt the work.”
“I can’t follow you, Helen. One moment you speak of the misery this work has brought to you, and the next moment you can’t do something because it will interfere with the very work which you would like to stop.”
“It seems to be my fate not to be able to make myself understood,” Helen replied, wearily. “Let me try again. I have no desire to stop the work. It is a necessary part of Jack’s development, and it will open up a great future for him.”
“But to continue this means to continue the intimacy between him and Miss Thayer,” insisted Uncle Peabody.
“I have no desire to stop that, either.” Helen was calm and firm in her replies. “It would be no satisfaction to hold Jack to me when I know perfectly well that duty and marriage vows remain as the only ties. It breaks my heart that all this has happened, but neither the work itself nor even Inez is responsible. The other side of Jack was like an undeveloped negative—these are simply the mediums which have brought out the picture which was already there.”
“You are not in a condition to consider this matter as you should, Helen,” Uncle Peabody replied, hardly knowing what to say. “The whole affair has been preying on your mind for so long that you are arriving at conclusions which may or may not be justified. Your very calmness shows that you do not appreciate the seriousness of your suggestions.”