"Well then," said Kate, " it's what has wound
me up. Here I am."

He showed with a gesture how thoroughly he
had taken it in; after which, within a few seconds,
he had, quite congruously, turned the situation
about. " Do you really suppose me in a position to
justify your throwing yourself upon me?"

She waited a little, but when she spoke it was
clear. " Yes."

"Well then, you re a bigger fool than I should
have ventured to suppose you."

"Why so? You live. You flourish. You
bloom."

"Ah, how you ve all always hated me! " he mur
mured with a pensive gaze again at the window.

"No one could be less of a mere cherished mem
ory," she declared as if she had not heard him.
"You re an actual person, if there ever was one.
We agreed just now that you re beautiful. You
strike me, you know, as in your own way much
more firm on your feet than I am. Don't put it
to me therefore as monstrous that the fact that we
are, after all, parent and child should at present in
some manner count for us. My idea has been that
it should have some effect for each of us. I don't
at all, as I told you just now she pursued, " make
out your life; but whatever it is I hereby offer you
to accept it. And, on my side, I ll do everything I
can for you."

"I see," said Lionel Croy. Then, with the sound

[[16]]

p015 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p016w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p017

v?