id you have not much eye for contour!"

"Nor you for colour! That shade's too light... Here's a fellow like a
button-hook. Where's his button? I knew an old maid who used to try
each blessed bit in turn, until she'd gone through the whole fandango.
If it shows a well-regulated mind to work at the rim, what does _that_
mean in the way of perseverance?"

Katrine's quest for the button was disturbed by the reflection that she
had evidently proved herself devoid of a well-regulated mind. Regarded
as a test of character, her "dash for the colours" would seem to prove a
predisposition towards impulse and daring, the last qualities of which
she was usually accused. Friends at home had agreed in pronouncing
Katrine Beverley all that was prudent and cautious, and she herself had
agreed in their verdict, yet surely those qualities had been upon the
surface only, since it was this very prudent and cautious maid who had
exchanged love letters with an unknown man--who was even now on her way
across the world to meet him!

"I think," said a small voice suddenly, "the other way is better after
all. I think, if you don't mind, I'll try the frame!"

Bedford lifted his face. It was nearer to Katrine than it had ever been
before; startlingly near; in the momentary glance she discovered
wrinkles hitherto unnoticed, a fleck of brown in the iris of one eye.
Bedford saw a wave of colour mounting to the roots of soft brown hair,
eyes of dark blue, their beauty heightened by the contrast of that
flush.

"Now I wonder," he said thoughtfully, "I wonder just what mental
excursion brought you to that decision! A moment ago you were so
violently on the other track! Is it a journey that one might share?"

Katrine shook her head, stretching her hand to grope for the first
straight edge, but the brown fingers swept them away, and a masterful
voice cried:

"No, you don't! You've made your choice, and you'll stick to it. We'll
see this thing through as we've begun," He studied her with twinkling,
curious eyes, taking no pity on her embarrassment. "I'd like to follow
that journey! What started your travels? Something I said? What _did_
I say? Blessed if I remember. You take yourself very seriously, don't
you? It's not a matter of life and death how one works out a jig-saw.
Here's the button! He's been staring us in the face all the time. Now
it's a fork!"

Katrine was fumbling industriously at another corner of the table.