"You've done a great deal for me, Kathy. I sometimes think that if you'd
given your mind to it, you could have made something of Audrey. You
know, poor little thing, she used to think she was very strong-minded;
but she was more easily twisted about than any woman I know. That's what
made her so fickle. If there's any truth in that stupid story of
Wyndham's, she must have been like a piece of putty in her hands. I
believe, if you could have got hold of her, you could have done her some
good."

"I don't believe in doing people good."

"I do. I'm a case in point."

"No, you're not."

"I am. You did _me_ good."

"I'm very glad to hear it. If I did, it's because I never thought about
it. Now, if I tried my hand on Audrey, I should set to work with the
fixed intention of doing her good; therefore I should fail miserably.
It's a different thing altogether."

"I see no difference myself."

Katherine was silent. Her charity had covered the multitude of Vincent's
sins. Why had she not been able to spare a corner of it for Audrey's?

"Come," said Hardy, "it's not as if she was really very bad."

"No, it's not; there'd be some chance then. There is a medium, and the
medium is hopeless. The wonder is you never found that out."

"I did. I knew it all the time; yet I loved her. It made no
difference--nothing ever will. I've tried to kill my feeling for her,
but it's no use--I can't. I should have to kill myself first; and even
then I believe I should find it waiting for me in Hades when I got
there."

"After all, why should you try to kill it, Vincent?"

"It's the shame of it, Sis."

Katherine might have thought that on the contrary he seemed rather proud
of the permanence of his affections, but she was too much preoccupied to
be aware of his moral absurdity.

"Well, I don't know much about these things; but it seems to me that
even if she doesn't love you, even if she isn't everything you thought
she was, there's no reason to be ashamed of loving her."

"Ah, Kathy, you never loved any one like that."

Her colour changed. "No. It isn't every one who can love like that."

"What would you do if you were in my case--if you'd given yourself away
like me? Supposing you went and lost your little heart to some man-fiend
who was, we'll say, about as bad a lot as I am, and who had the
execrable taste not to care a rap for you,--wouldn't you feel ashamed of
him and yourself too?"

Katherine's white face flushed; she