"'Then you go on loving just as you did before.' replied her grandmother, lightly.
"'Yes, I know that. But suppose you love another man to whom you aren't married?'
"'Wha--t!' In her terror the old lady let her spectacles fall off her nose. 'What other?'
"Hertha suddenly felt as if she must collapse. She had to summon all her courage and pull herself together in order to go on.
"'Can't it happen, grandmother dear, that some one to whom you're not married takes it into his head----'
"'My dear child' replied the grandmother, 'never come to me with such foolish questions. You cannot understand such things. Now give me a kiss and get your knitting.'"
So that plan did not answer. There was still one further possibility of discovery. Hertha had a school friend who had lately got married. She would ask her. So she began:--
"'Wives love their husbands, that goes without saying. But do you think it possible that wives can be loved by other men?'
"'How odd you are', replied Meta. 'You can't prevent people loving.'
"'I know that. But a man, don't you see, who would----'