"Obviously--and as marriage now stands there seem to be only three ways of supporting it. One," and she ticked them off on her fat fingers--"to grow to that abstract state of good when to keep a vow against inclination in itself brings happiness; two, to behave decently to the legal partner, and with propriety before the world, and then if necessary to have mistresses or lovers as the case may be; or--three--for the state to allow a man to have several wives, and the woman, if she desires it, a change of husbands!" Mr. Strobridge handed his cup for more coffee. "Most of us are quite out of the running for the first, the third would be unworkable, Seraphim, so I see no help for it; the second course is the only possible one for half the poor devils in the world." "Probably--then the greatest pains ought to be taken to keep up appearances so that those who live up to the first may not have their feelings outraged. No one should show a bad public example. The facts of straying fancy cannot be altered until human nature changes--an unlikely event!--so the best we can do is to hide irregularities under a cloak of virtuous hypocrisy. It helps many good and weak people to keep up a general standard, but there must be something wrong in the original scheme, G., if we are obliged to do this." "Undoubtedly. It is the one, however, which has kept all sensible societies going since the beginning of civilisation and will continue to do so while there are two sexes in the world. But all this does not help me in my present case of being madly in love with a woman whom I may not have as either wife or mistress. Friendship is the only cold comfort left to me!" "Tut, tut! Half a loaf is better than no bread!" "You think she might marry Sir John?" There was hope in his tone. "Why not? Only I don't feel sure that he deserves such a prize. For me she is quite a marvellous character, and we could perhaps find her something young and handsome." Mr. Strobridge jumped up with a start. This idea was altogether unpalatable to him. "How shocking! Seraphim, that might be a creature a woman would adore!" "Well?" "Well----" "Concentrate upon friendship, my dear boy!--If she has once said you nay, the rôle of lover is not for you--no matter whom she marries!" CHAPTER XXI Time passed. A year went by after this with a gradual but unmistakable upward advance on the part of Katherine Bush. Moments of depression and discouragement came, of course, but her iron will carried her beyond them. All would go well for a while, and then would come a barrier, as it were, which was difficult to climb, and which would baffle her intentions for a week or two, and then she would surmount it, and race onward.