'But what?'
Mildred told the story of her engagement, and how in the end she had been forced to break it off.
'And you think if you engaged yourself to me it might end in the same way?'
'Yes. And I would not cause you pain. Forgive me.'
'But if you never intend to marry, what do you intend to do?'
'There are other things to do surely.'
'What?'
'There's art.'
'Art!'
'You think I shall not succeed with my painting?'