"Ted is a very fine boy, and the Witch is a very fine picture, but--well, some day you'll have an affection for something else; it won't be a boy, and it won't be a picture. Then, Sis, you'll know what it is to feel, and your art will go pop." "Oh, I hope not. But it's not true; look at Ted." "Ted's a man, and you are a woman. Ten to one, a really great passion improves a man's art: it plays the deuce with a woman's." "I don't believe it!" said Katherine, with rather more warmth than the occasion demanded. "Shall I tell you what you've been doing, Sis? First of all, you've tried to live two lives and get the best out of each. That was tempting Providence, as Mrs. Rogers would say. You found that wouldn't work, so you said to yourself, 'I give it up. Here goes; I'll be a woman at all costs. I'll know what it is to love.'" Katherine took up her brushes again, and in spite of herself moved one foot impatiently. Hardy went on, well pleased with his own lucidity. "And you gave up the only thing you really cared about, and played at being the slave of duty, the devoted sister." She sighed (was it a sigh of relief?). "You're wrong. I'm anything but a devoted sister." "Yes, you're anything but a devoted sister. I'm going to claim one of the privileges of friendship--that of speaking unpleasant truths in the unpleasantest way possible." "Go on. This is getting interesting." "I repeat, then, you're not a truly devoted sister. A truly devoted sister would give her brother a chance of developing some moral fibre on his own account. Ever since you two lived together you've been making noble sacrifices. Now two can't play at that game, and the boy hasn't had a chance. The consequence is, he won't work; he prefers taking it easy." "That was Audrey's fault, not mine." "Yes, but you encouraged him; and now he does what he likes, young monkey, and you do all the pot-boilers. And you're making yourself ill over them. So much for Ted. I've given him a hint, and he took it very well. Now for the Witch. I believe in your heart of hearts you love her better than everybody else put together. And now you're off on the other tack; you're trying to sit on the artist in you that you may develop the woman. I mean the other way about; you're sitting on the woman that you may develop the artist." "Aren't you getting a little mixed?" "That plan works worse than all. Let me implore you not to go on with it. If you only knew it, there's nothing that you will ever do that's lovelier than your own womanhood. Whatever you do, don't kill that. Don't go on hardening your heart to everything human till there's no sweetness left in your nature, Kathy. I want my little sister to make the best of her life. Some day some good man will ask you to be his wife. If, when that day comes, you don't know how to love, little woman, all the success in the world won't make up to you for the happiness you have missed."