"A lot of apples and other things fell to the ground," she said, "and Newton deduced the law of gravity. It accounted for them all." Catherine lit a cigarette, and threw the match away with great vigour. "_What_ a fool darling Alice is!" she observed. "I love Alice just as you do--you can't help loving her--but, oh, what a fool! Somehow, if a person talks such abject nonsense as that about anything, one concludes that the subject is nonsense too. But it doesn't really follow. And Mr. Cochrane doesn't talk nonsense?" she asked. "No; he isn't the least nonsensical. As I have told you, he goes and cures people when they are ill, instead of gassing about it. He's a very good fisherman, too." Catherine could not help laughing. Maud mentioned this in a voice of such high approval. "But isn't that inconsistent?" she said. "I don't think a man whose whole belief was in health and life should go and kill things." "Oh yes; I think it's inconsistent," said Maud, "and so does he. But did you ever see anybody who wasn't inconsistent? I never did, and I never want to. He would be so extremely dull: you would know all about him at once." "And you don't know all about Mr. Cochrane?" she asked. "No; I should like to know more. I think I never met anyone so arresting. You are forced to attend, whether you like it or not." "And I gather you like it?" asked Catherine. "Yes, certainly. I like vigour and certainty, and--oh, well, that sort of cleanness. He is like a nice boy at Cambridge, with all this extraordinary strength behind." Catherine could not help making mental comments on this. "Ah, that attracts you?" she said. "It attracts me also. I like people to be strong and efficient; but, oh, Maud, how one's heart goes out to them when they are helpless and enmeshed in what is stronger than they!" This was a clear change of subject. Mr. Cochrane was put aside for a little, and Catherine could not help noticing that Maud seemed relieved. "Ah, you mean Thurso?" she said quickly, letting her book slide to the ground. "Yes; and I want to talk to you about him, for I believe you are wise, and I feel helpless. I don't know what to do. Last night, I must tell you, I went straight to his room after leaving you dressing. He had just taken laudanum, not because he had any headache, but because he longed for it." Maud clasped her hands together and gave a little pitiful sound, half sigh, half moan. "Ah, the poor fellow!" she said. "Yes?" "And--and he lied to me," said Catherine, "and said he had not been taking it, and there was the glass smelling of it by his side. Then he was very angry with me for a little, and said I had spoiled everything, but eventually he gave me the bottle and let me pour it away. I did, and I threw the bottle into the shrubbery." Maud's eye brightened. "Ah! that's better," she said. "He can still fight it." Catherine shook her head.