"Our love was beautiful," continued the Human Document, eager,
apparently, to relate her experience for the common good; "just because
it was a free gift. We were not fettered to one another. At any moment
either of us could have walked out of the house. The idea never occurred
to us; not for years--five, to be exact."

The secretary, at a sign from Miss Tolley, made a memorandum of it.

"And then did your feelings towards him change suddenly?" questioned Miss
Tolley.

"No," explained the Human Document, in the same quick, even tones; "so
far as I was concerned, I was not conscious of any alteration in my own
attitude. But he felt the need of more solitude--for his development. We
parted quite good friends."

"Oh," said Miss Tolley. "And were there any children?"

"Only two," answered the Human Document, "both girls."

"What has become of them?" persisted Miss Tolley.

The Human Document looked offended. "You do not think I would have
permitted any power on earth to separate them from me, do you?" she
answered. "I said to him, 'They are mine, mine. Where I go, they go.
Where I stay, they stay.' He saw the justice of my argument."

"And they are with you now?" concluded Miss Tolley.