You've always been smart, Rose, you're one of the smartest people I know. If you apply yourself to finding your strongest path, I have no doubt it will be laid out before you.

[ Maybe it's a subtle criticism, but maybe it isn't very subtle at all, talking about "applying herself". She's seen Rose go with the flow for a very long time now, and it clearly isn't doing her any favors. It just isn't how she works. There's sure to be better out there for her.

And she can't help but think she might have caused it, dragging Rose down with her. She shakes her head, as if she could shake the thought away, or keep it from showing on her face. ]

I don't know what success they've met. I'm not sure they've seen the end of it all, or at least they haven't indicated that they have. There's rather a lot they haven't mentioned.

But I imagine the conditions must be more in their favor, if we are doomed and they are not.