"Poor, dear, conventional brute! Am I expected to be shocked? I'm not one bit, and I can't pretend to be. It's not your fault, and it's not Katrine's. You have both done your laborious bests to accomplish something that has never been accomplished by effort since the world began, and you are both overcome with Remorse because it has failed. I'd like to present you with a putty medal apiece to the memory of a successful failure. You have lived together, two utter strangers, who happen to have been born brother and sister, for eight long years without once descending to violence. It's magnificent, it's incredible! You ought to be intoxicated with pride! It's the most unique quality on earth which enables two people to live in happiness and understanding, and what constitutes it, the dickens only knows. We've got it,--my old Buddy and I. We are at opposite ends of the poles, we can on occasions quarrel like cats, but in the main we understand; we _fit_! You and Katrine don't touch within miles. There's no credit, there's no blame. Fate placed us together, not choice. I have succeeded because--please realise this!--I didn't need _to try_. You, poor lambs, have tried away what little chance you had. It is affectation to pretend that it is your fault. The only blame would be to go on living in a false condition." "I know it, I know it! I've been feeling it more and more strongly. It's not fair to Katrine; it's not fair to me or to my work. But what can I do? I brought her here, she has given up her youth to looking after me, there's no other home open, to her--I don't pretend that her happiness is bound up in mine, but she _thinks_ that it is, and that's virtually the same thing. She would feel desperately aggrieved--" "Oh, you unselfish people, there's no dealing with you!" Grizel shrugged impatiently. "_Let_ her feel aggrieved! If it's a case of smarting for a week, or freezing for life, then let her _smart_! Can't you make up your mind just for once in your life to speak the bold, blatant truth? `Katrine, my dear, we are getting sick of each other-- let's cut it, and part! I'll give you an allowance--go off and pay visits, or set up a crib of your own, enjoy yourself in your own way, but for Heaven's sake let me be happy too!'" Martin shook his head. "I couldn't, Grizel; I couldn't! It may be the right thing to do, but I'm a coward. I can't face it. Not that way!" Grizel looked at him whimsically. Men--the best of men, were so apt to believe that so long as the words were not actually spoken, their feelings remained concealed. And woman,--the pity of it!--could read the meaning of a sign. This woman already had read the signs. Undoubtedly, inevitably, a change was at hand! CHAPTER SEVEN.