“What on earth are you talking about?” “I mean that--well--that I cannot listen to a woman admit that she has passions exactly like a man.” “Do you mean that you never heard that before?” I asked curiously. “Never! There are certain obligations--but--Oh, don’t let us talk of it. There is one thing further I feel I must say--and I am hoping you will pardon me, for we are all hoping and longing to keep you among us--you and dear Lady Agatha, although of course we know that we must lose the clever Duke when he is well enough to go home----” She paused, and I gave her my most encouraging smile. We were on the veranda now and she sat opposite me, leaning forward alertly. “It is this,” she said with her anxious smile. “We all do so want you to marry our dear brilliant accomplished Mr. Rogers, and not Mr. Nugent. _He_ is not really one of us, and, I am afraid he is not too high-principled and has not led an immaculate life--like Mr. Rogers.” “How can you tell?” “By their faces. Look at Mr. Rogers’. It is refinement itself, almost ascetic. Mr. Nugent looks--well--of course he is a gentleman and irreproachable in society, but I _know_ he has not led a regular life.” “I am sure he has not, and it is really none of our business.” “I believe that men should be as pure as women,” she said setting her lips. “Perhaps they should, but they are not; you see there are so many women who make a business of tempting them from the time they begin to take notice that it is quite unreasonable to expect them to attain the feminine standard.” “I am not talking of bad women.” “Oh, but they count so, you know. They count because they are the positive force. Virtue is too negative to influence any one but those who are virtuous by nature or circumstance. But as I said before, dear Mrs. Hammond, facts are facts. Why not accept them, and without so much mental wear and tear? Every man has the privilege of leading his own life, so long as he keeps within the law. And if he does not think he is doing wrong, if he does not violate his conscience, then he does himself no moral harm so long as he sins like a gentleman. Of course no one wants the coarse sensualist near one; he is repulsive and should herd with his own kind.” “And you mean to say you extenuate--you would marry a man who had--who had--made love to many women? I am interested in your views, but I must reiterate that I think if social exigencies compel us to meet such men we should at least discourage their kind by refusing to marry them.” She looked pale and nervous but her eyes were bright with curiosity.