Adrian replied:—"It was impossible. I see that. But suppose they had remained in ignorance—in the natural order of events I mean—and the London one had died unknown to her sister, would it not have been better than this reunion, with all its tempest of pain and raking up of old memories, and quite possibly an early separation by death?"
"I think not, on the whole. Because, suppose one had died, and the other had come to know of her death afterwards!"
"I am supposing the contrary. Suppose both had continued in ignorance! How then?"
It was not a question to answer off-hand. Gwen pondered; then said abruptly:—"It depends on whether we go on or stop. Now doesn't it?"
"As bogys? That question always crops up. If we stop I don't see how there can be any doubt on the matter. Much better they should have died in ignorance. The old Australian goody was quite contented, as I understand, at Scraps Court, with her little boy and girl to make tea for her. And the old body at Chorlton and her daughter would have gone on quite happily. They didn't want to be excoriated by a discovery."
"Yes—that is what it has been. Excoriation by a discovery. I'm not at all sure you're right—but I'll make you a present of it. Let's consider it settled that death in ignorance would have been the best thing for them."
"Very well!—what next?"
"What next? Why, of course, suppose we don't stop, but go on! You often say it is ten to one against it."
"So it is. I can't say I'm sorry, on the whole."
"That's neither here nor there. Ten to one against is one to ten for. Any man on the turf will tell you that."