Laetitia supposed she was listening to discursive observations upon the inequality in the relations of the sexes. A suspicion of a drift to a closer meaning had been lulled, and the colour flooded her swiftly when Clara said: "Here is the difference I see; I see it; I am certain of it: women who are called coquettes make their conquests not of the best of men; but men who are Egoists have good women for their victims; women on whose devoted constancy they feed; they drink it like blood. I am sure I am not taking the merely feminine view. They punish themselves too by passing over the one suitable to them, who could really give them what they crave to have, and they go where they . . ." Clara stopped. "I have not your power to express ideas," she said. "Miss Middleton, you have a dreadful power," said Laetitia. Clara smiled affectionately. "I am not aware of any. Whose cottage is this?" "My father's. Will you not come in? into the garden?" Clara took note of ivied windows and roses in the porch. She thanked Laetitia and said: "I will call for you in an hour." "Are you walking on the road alone?" said Laetitia, incredulously, with an eye to Sir Willoughby's dismay. "I put my trust in the high-road," Clara replied, and turned away, but turned back to Laetitia and offered her face to be kissed. The "dreadful power" of this young lady had fervently impressed Laetitia, and in kissing her she marvelled at her gentleness and girlishness. Clara walked on, unconscious of her possession of power of any kind. CHAPTER XVII THE PORCELAIN VASE