"I am, indeed--I hope I am not overconfident in believing that if one probes the meaning of everything, and can see the faults in oneself, including those of instinct, it is possible to do, by will, what only the evolution of centuries accomplishes by natural process. The Chesterfield Letters have encouraged me in my belief." "Of course, it is possible, but people will hardly ever face the truth, and would not dream of examining their own instincts; it would wound their self-love; they would rather be mediocre and blinded to their stupidities, than teach themselves any useful lesson. Your determined effort interests me deeply, child." Katherine turned a radiant face of gratitude; this was praise indeed! "I will do all I can to merit Your Ladyship's goodness to me." "No, I am not good--I have no altruistic or humanitarian proclivities--I would not bother with you for five minutes if you were not so intelligent that I have grown to take a kind of pride in you." "I can't say how I appreciate Your Ladyship's kindness." Lady Garribardine turned and looked at her for a second, and then she said slowly: "I am going to ask you a question not strictly justifiable--and you need not answer it if you would rather not--but you may have formed some opinion of my integrity in these months, which will perhaps allow you to be frank with me--Did my nephew, Gerard Strobridge, make violent love to you when he spent Christmas with us? It seemed to me at the time, and afterwards, that he grew considerably depressed." Katherine felt a twinge of distress. "Mr. Strobridge showed some interest in me which I felt it wiser to discourage--He was very kind to me though, and agreed to be my friend, and sent me some books." For a second, Lady Garribardine felt irritated. Her precious Gerard to have been a suppliant to this dependent in her house!--And then the broad justice of her nature regained its mastery; the girl was worthy of the homage of a king. "I think he must have been extremely hard hit--I am quite devoted to him, as you know. I rely upon you not to hurt him more than you can help, when he comes back." "I never wished to hurt him at all--I did wish to talk to him, though, because he is so clever, so at first I was glad to attract his attention. I know now that that was wrong." Lady Garribardine looked at her secretary critically. She was astonished at this frank avowal which she realised not another woman in a million in Katherine's situation would have made. "You deliberately attracted him then, girl, eh?----" her voice was stern. "Yes--on the afternoon he first spoke to me when we typed the charity papers. I was so anxious to learn about books and art, and before that he had not noticed me at all." "You did not calculate that it might hurt him?" Lady Garribardine wondered at herself that she did not feel angry. "No. I never thought about that--he seemed older and of the world, and able to take care of himself, and he was married."