looked away from him, and answered
steadily--

"No, I wouldn't."

He thought he had hurt her feelings, and was about to change the subject
when she turned a beaming face to him.

"But then, you see, I don't love anything much."

"Good as you are, you'd be a better woman if you did."

"Of course there are exceptions. I've some sort of affection for the
Witch and Ted."

"Ted is a very fine boy, and the Witch is a very fine picture,
but--well, some day you'll have an affection for something else; it
won't be a boy, and it won't be a picture. Then, Sis, you'll know what
it is to feel, and your art will go pop."

"Oh, I hope not. But it's not true; look at Ted."

"Ted's a man, and you are a woman. Ten to one, a really great passion
improves a man's art: it plays the deuce with a woman's."

"I don't believe it!" said Katherine, with rather more warmth than the
occasion demanded.

"Shall I tell you what you've been doing, Sis? First of all, you've
tried to live two lives and get the best out of each. That was tempting
Providence, as Mrs. Rogers would say. You found that wouldn't work, so
you said to yourself, 'I give it up. Here goes; I'll be a woman at all
costs. I'll know what it is to love.'"

Katherine took up her brushes again, and in spite of herself moved one
foot impatiently. Hardy went on, well pleased with his own lucidity.

"And you gave up the only thing you really cared about, and played at
being the slave of duty, the devoted sister."

She sighed (was it a sigh of relief?).

"You're wrong. I'm anything but a devoted sister."

"Yes, you're anything but a devoted sister. I'm going to claim one of
the privileges of friendship--that of speaking unpleasant truths in the
unpleasantest way possible."

"Go on. This is getting interesting."

"I repeat, then, you're not a truly devoted sister. A truly devoted
sister would give her brother a chance of developing some moral fibre on
his own account. Ever since you two lived together you've been making
noble sacrifices. Now two can't play at that game, and the boy hasn't
had a chance. The consequence is, he won't work; he prefers taking it
easy."

"That was Audrey's fault, not mine."

"Yes, but you encouraged him; and now he does what he likes, young
monkey, and you do all the pot-boilers. And you're making yourself ill
over them. So much for Ted. I've given him a hint, and he took it very
well. Now for the Witch. I believe in your heart of hearts you