Even of responsibility. For
the negation of power at last means the negation of responsibility. As
far as these things went, he would confine himself to himself. He would
try to confine his own _influence_ even to himself. He would try, as far
as possible, to abstain from influencing his children by assuming any
responsibility for them. 'A little child shall lead them--' His child
should lead, then. He would try not to make it go in any direction
whatever. He would abstain from influencing it. Liberty!--
Poor Winifred was like a fish out of water in this liberty, gasping for
the denser element which should contain her. Till her child came. And
then she knew that she must be responsible for it, that she must have
authority over it.
But here Egbert silently and negatively stepped in. Silently, negatively,
but fatally he neutralized her authority over her children.
There was a third little girl born. And after this Winifred wanted no
more children. Her soul was turning to salt.
So she had charge of the children, they were her responsibility. The
money for them had come from her father. She would do her very best for
them, and have command over their life and death. But no! Egbert would
not take the responsibility. He would not even provide the money. But he
would not let her have her way. Her dark, silent, passionate authority he
would not allow. It was a battle between them, the battle between liberty
and the old blood-power.
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