The Rector and The Doctor’s Family · The Doctor’s Family · Chapter 2 13 (2/2)

In the meantime Nettie went out with Freddy⁠—the other two being at school⁠—and took him across the fields for his afternoon walk. The little fellow talked of Australia all the way, with a childish treachery and betrayal of her cause which went to Nettie’s heart. She walked by his side, hearing without listening, throbbing all over with secret disgust, impatience, and despair. She too perceived well enough the approaching crisis. She saw that once more all her own resolution⁠—the purpose of her heart⁠—would be overborne by the hopeless pertinacity of the unconvincible, unreasoning fool. She did not call her sister hard names⁠—she recognised the quality without giving it its appropriate title⁠—and recognised also, with a bitterness of resistance, yet a sense of the inevitable, not to be described, the certain issue of the unequal contest. What chance had the generous little heart, the hasty temper, the quick and vivacious spirit, against that unwearying, unreasoning pertinacity? Once more she must arise, and go forth to the end of the world: and the sacrifice must be final now.