"And with your vague ideas, your intention was—?"
"To adapt myself to circumstances; I couldn't tell beforehand what they would be. I imagined that what you wanted for your daughter was the society of an experienced woman of the world; and I am that, whatever else I may not be."
"You're very young to make the claim."
"There are other ways of gaining experience than by years; and," she added, with the intention to divert the conversation from herself, "the small store I happen to possess I was willing to share with your daughter, in whatever way she might have need of it."
"But not in my way."
"Not in your way, perhaps, but for the furthering of your purposes."
"How could you further my purposes when you wouldn't do what I wanted?"
"By getting her to do it of her own accord."
"Could you promise me she would?"
"I couldn't promise you anything at all. I could only do my best, and see how she would respond to it."