But if at any moment, even the last, there should seem sufficient reason for changing my opinion, remember that I do not promise not to do so." Mr.Strafford was fully satisfied with this; he knew, or thought he knew, perfectly, that Christian's condition was such as to ensure no further change of conduct regarding him; and not long after, he and Mrs.
Costello returned together to the prison.
For two or three hours they sat beside the prisoner, and talked at intervals to each other, or to him, with long pauses of thought between.
There was much for both to think of.

The necessity of action seemed to be all over, or at least, to be suspended as long as Christian's life should last; and in this time of waiting, whether it were hours or days, all that could be done was to build up plans for the future which, when they were built, any one of the various possible changes of circumstances might at once overthrow.
But so entirely had Mrs.Costello identified herself with her daughter in all her habits and thoughts, that that dwelling on the future, which is the special prerogative of youth, seemed as natural to her as though her own life had all lain before, instead of behind her; and she found herself perpetually occupied with the consideration of what was best to be done for that future which had been so often taken, as it were, out of her guidance.
Sitting by her husband's deathbed, however, the long-estranged wife seemed to live a double life.

The recollection of the past--of the short and secret courtship with its illusions, greater and more perilous than love's illusions commonly are--of her first days of married life, when, in spite of her rash disobedience, she was feverishly happy; of the awaking, and total disenchantment, and the wretched years that followed, all came to her in a floating, broken vision, filling her with emotions which had, at last, lost their bitterness.

She yielded to them without resistance and without effort, and sank into a long silence, which was broken at last by Mr.Strafford.
"I must leave you," he said.

"The boat starts in half an hour, and I want to see Mrs.Bellairs for a moment." Mrs.Costello roused herself.
"Good-bye, then," she answered.