id
chuckling. "Eh, what? Hit it at once, haven't I now?"

Katrine settled the heel of her stocking, and raised a flushed,
disquieted face.

"I suppose so. Y-es! For myself. But I don't expect every one to
think the same."

"Then, bless your heart! you're not so narrow after all! Believe what
helps you most, but allow other people the same privilege. Them's my
sentiments, my dear, and--for the rest!--we'll find out some day, and
there'll be some rare old shocks for the sticklers who've got it all cut
and dried, and expect creation to chant Amen. What put you on the
religious tack? The thought of that poor sinner who went out
yesterday?"

"Yes. I have been thinking--wondering where he--"

"Ah!" the woman's voice struck a deeper note. "If we knew that, my
dear, life would be simpler for us all. You'll find some wise folks
who'd tell you in detail, up to the fifth and sixth stages of
development. I'm not taking any myself. I prefer to wait till it's
time to move on, and find out for myself, and meantime,--well! my lights
may be dim, but they're burning, my dear, they're burning! There are
people on earth who would laugh themselves sick at the thought of Nance
Mannering talking religion; your good vicar would probably give me a
wide berth, but I've got my own principles, and, please God, I'll keep
'em... That's a good man, that Bedford. He carries it in his face.
Going to fall in love with you all right!"

"Oh, _not_" contradicted Katrine sharply. She stood up, shook back her
tangled mane of hair, and began to brush it in long even sweeps. Her
face was hidden, but her voice was charged with eagerness. "Never! He
has known me only for a few days, and besides I've told him that there
is--some one else! I'm not engaged; please remember that, but there
_is_ something,--an understanding, between me and another man,--enough
in any case to make anything else impossible, on either side. There was
no _need_ to tell Captain Bedford; we are the merest acquaintances, but
it seemed wise to explain..."

"Jest so!" agreed Mrs Mannering significantly. "Since, of course, we
are all aware that forbidden fruit loses its charm." The next moment,
to Katrine's disgust, she began humming to herself a succession of
nursery rhymes: "Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was w-hite as
snow... Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling--"

Chuckling she left the cabin, while Katrine tugged viciously at