"But it is not your fault. It is your parents' fault."
"If you only knew," Addie repeated, "how devotedly I love you . . . and Mamma! . . . And all of them here a bit too! . . . If I had my children here, then . . . Perhaps, perhaps they will come back later . . . very much later, with . . . with Mathilde. . . . Look here, if that ever happens, we must all of us . . . behave differently to her."
"Yes, my dear boy."
"Or try to."
"Yes, old fellow, I know what you mean. We'll all do it . . . for your sake."
"You see, she is my wife. I . . . I am to blame for everything. If you will try . . ."
"Yes."
"If she comes back. . . . Perhaps she won't come. . . ."
"Do you want her to?"
"Yes, I do. I can't do without my children . . . like this."
"But you'll see them now and again."
"Yes. So, if she does come back, you promise, Dad . . ."
"That I'll try."
"And, if they will all try, then . . . then I shall be happy."
"Yes, they'll do it, for your sake. But . . ."
"If she comes back, I honestly believe . . . that she will have learnt . . . also to try . . . to like us all a little."
"You mustn't be angry, Addie, that it was not like that at once. She is so different . . . from all of us."
"Yes, it's my fault."
"No, my boy, don't go thinking that and worrying about it."
