"I know what you are going to say," and Katherine's voice was deep and level. "You would not have to say it if you had not always been such a fool, my poor Glad--you have got into trouble, of course, and Bob Hartley is not playing the game." Gladys burst into passionate sobs. "However did you guess, Kitten! Why, Tild doesn't know a thing!" "Most likely not--Well, what do you want him to do--marry you?" "Why, of course, Katherine; that is what he promised most solemnly beforehand--at Brighton. You know it is his mother who has kept him back; his Aunt Eliza, with whom we stayed, is quite willing for me. I am sure I'm as good as him, anyway." Further sobs. "Oh! that part does not matter a bit, as good or not as good--these awful men like Bob Hartley always seduce women with promises, solemn promises, of matrimony and that sort of stuff; if they meant them, they would not forestall matters--vile brutes!" "There is no good in abusing Bob, Kitten; he has always meant kind; it is his mother, I tell you, has got at him!" "Does she know?" "Oh, my! I hope not. No one knows but you--and Bob." "Have you told him he must marry you at once?" "Yes, I've implored him to on my bended knees." "And he has refused?" "Yes--he can't break his mother's heart, he says, and speaks of going to Australia." "Very well--go to bed now, dear--I will see him to-morrow and see what I can do. I think he will marry you next week, perhaps, after all. You must undertake the inventing of a reason for the suddenness to the family, if I accomplish the fact. Go now, dear--I want to think." Gladys sobbed her gratitude. "And you don't believe I am really bad, Kitten, do you? Indeed, I never wanted--anything--but Bob--We went to the theatre one night and had a bit of supper--and afterwards, I was so afraid he would be off to Carry Green if I did not do as he wished." Two great tears grew in Katherine's beautiful eyes, and rolled slowly down her white cheeks. "I think--most men are devils, Glad--but nine-tenths of the women are fools--and fools always have to pay the price of everything in life. A woman always loses a man if she gives way to him against her conscience. You felt you were sinning all the time, I suppose?" "Why, of course, Kitten--I'm really a good girl." "Then what else could you expect? If you feel you are doing wrong, you must know you will be punished--that attitude of yours was bound to have drawn--this. I tell you, Glad, no one of your sort can afford to step one foot aside out of the narrow path. You've 'sinned,' as you call it--for love. It gave you no pleasure and you have practically lost Bob--remember this, and never give way to him in anything again." "Why did you have the tears in your eyes, Katherine--? You so cold!" "It was stupid of me, but the incredible pitifulness of some parts of life touched me for a moment. Now go to bed, dear--and keep your courage up--don't let Tild know; it would break her heart--and think of Mabel!"