en words. You know that I cared
for Claude Drew; you guessed perhaps how strong was the hold upon
me of the frail, ambiguous, yet so intelligent modern spirit. It
was to feel the Spring blossom once more on my frosty branches when
this young life fell at my knees and seemed to find in me its
source and goal. Mine was a sacred love and pain mingled with my
maternal tenderness when he revealed himself to me as seeking from
me the lesser things of love, the things I could not give, that
elemental soil of sense and passion without which a man's devotion
so strangely withers,--I could give him water from the wells and
light from the air; I could not give him earth. My friend, he was
here when Karen came, and, already I had seen it, his love was
passing from me. Her youth, her guilelessness, her courage and the
loyalty of her return to me, aroused his curiosity, his indolent
and--you will remember--his unsatisfied, passion. I saw at once,
and I saw danger. I knew him to be a man believing in neither good
nor evil, seeking only beauty and the satisfaction of desire. Not
once--but twice, thrice, did I warn Karen, and she resented my
warnings. She is a creature profoundly pure and profoundly simple
and her stubborn spirit rests in security upon its own assurances.
She resented my warnings and she repulsed my attempts to lead and
guard her. Another difference had also come between us. I hoped to
effect a reconciliation between her and her husband; I suggested to
Karen that I should write to you and offer myself as an
intermediary; I could not bear to see her young life ruined for my
sake. Karen was not kind to me; the thought of her husband is
intolerable to her and she turned upon me with bitterness. I was
hurt and I told her so. She brought me to tears. My friend, it was
late on the night of that day--the night before last--that I found
her with Claude Drew in the garden; and found her in his arms. Do
not misunderstand; she had not returned his love; she repulsed him
as I came upon them; but I, in my consternation, my anger, my
dismay, snatched her from him and spoke to them both with
passionate reproof. I sent Karen to the house and remained behind
to deal with the creature who had so betrayed my trust. He is now
my avowed enemy. So be it. I do not see him