human
No, Tom, said the wife,
gpt
I don't want your pity.
human
No, Laura, the husband returned quickly,
gpt
The wife looked at her husband for a second in fear as she apprehended what he was about to utter. He turned his eyes from her and went on:
human
It was a mistake, a very nightmare of a mistake--my mistake--all my mistake--but still just an awful mistake. We couldn't make life go. All this was foredoomed, Laura, and now--now-- his eyes were upon the parcel on the floor,
gpt
He saw his wife go pale, then flush; but he went on.
human
After all, it is one's own life that commands him, and nothing else in the world. And now I must follow my destiny.
gpt
But, Tom, asked the wife,
human
I must follow my destiny--work it out as I see it. You have no right, no one has any right--even I have no right to compromise with my destiny. I live in this world just once!
gpt
But what is your destiny, Tom? answered the wife.
human
Leave me out of it: but aren't the roots you have put down in this home, this career you are building; our child's normal girlhood with a father's care--aren't these the big things in your destiny? Lila's life--growing up under the shame that follows a child of parents divorced for such base reasons as these? Lila's life is surely a part of your destiny. Surely, surely you have no rights apart from her and hers!
gpt
I have my own life to live, my own destiny to follow; my individual equation to solve, and for me nothing exists in the universe. As for my career--I'll take care of that. That's mine also!
human
Tom, I can't help wanting to pick you up and shield you. It will be awful--awful--that thing you are trying to go into. You've always chosen the material thing--the practical thing--and she--she's a practical woman. Oh, Tom--I'm not jealous--not a bit. If I thought she would enrich your soul--if I thought she would give you what I've wanted to give you--what I've prayed God night after night to let me give you--I'd take even Lila and go away and give you your chance for a love such as I've had. Can you see, Tom, I'm not jealous? I'm not even angry.
gpt
You don't know what you're talking about. Anyway--she suits me--she'll enrich me as you call it all right. I'm sure of that.
human
No, Tom, said the wife quietly,
gpt
Tom-- she faltered,
human
Tom--I am going to make one last plea--for Lila's sake won't you put it all away--won't you? she shuddered.
gpt
It is killing all my self-respect, Tom--but I must. Won't you--won't you please for Lila's sake come back, break this off--and see if we can't patch up life?
human
No,