She was in love she knew that: but it was wholly
her own business, and she had the sense of having
conducted herself, of still so doing, with almost
violent conformity.

"I ve an idea in fact I feel sure that Aunt
Maud means to write to you; and I think you had
better know it." So much as this she said to him
as soon as they met, but immediately adding to it:
"So as to make up your mind how to take her.
I know pretty well what she ll say to you."

"Then will you kindly tell me?"

She thought a little. " I can't do that. I should
spoil it. She ll do the best for her own idea."

"Her idea, you mean, that I'm a sort of a
scoundrel; or, at the best, not good enough for
you?"

They were side by side again in their penny chairs,
and Kate had another pause. " Not good enough
for her."

"Oh, I see. And that's necessary."

He put it as a truth rather more than as a ques
tion; but there had been plenty of truths between
them that each had contradicted. Kate, however,
let this one sufficiently pass, only saying the next
moment: " She has behaved extraordinarily."

"And so have we," Densher declared. " I think,
you know, we ve been awfully decent."

"For ourselves, for each other, for people in
general, yes. But not for her. For her," said Kate,
"we ve been monstrous. She has been giving us

[[68]]

p067 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p068w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p069

v?