It did not strike her as in the least grotesque that she should be makingof Robert the object of conversation and leading her husband to speak of him.The sentiment which she entertained for Robert in no way resembled that which she felt for her husband, or had ever felt, or ever expected to feel.She had all her life long been accustomed to harbor thoughts and emotions which never voiced themselves.They had never taken the form of struggles.They belonged to her and were her own, and she entertained the conviction that she had a right to them and that they concerned no one but herself.Edna had once told Madame Ratignolle that she would never sacrifice herself for her children, or for any one.Then had followed a rather heated argument; the two women did not appear to understand each other or to be talking the same language.Edna tried to appease her friend, to explain.
"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself.I can't make it more clear; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me.""I don't know what you would call the essential, or what you mean by the unessential," said Madame Ratignolle, cheerfully; "but a woman who would give her life for her children could do no more than that--your Bible tells you so.I'm sure I couldn't do more than that.""Oh, yes you could!" laughed Edna.
She was not surprised at Mademoiselle Reisz's question the morning that lady, following her to the beach, tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she did not greatly miss her young friend.
"Oh, good morning, Mademoiselle; is it you? Why, of course I miss Robert.Are you going down to bathe?""Why should I go down to bathe at the very end of the season when I haven't been in the surf all summer," replied the woman, disagreeably.