“You recognise that. Wasn’t it rather a pity——”
“Miss Duveen, I have not come here to justify anything. I wanted a fine, working comradeship, and Eve showed me, that for a particular reason, it was impossible. Till I met her there was nothing on earth so dear to me as my child, Lynette. When Eve came into my life she shared it with the child. Is it monstrous or impertinent that I should desire to know whether she is in the way of being happy?”
Kate saw in him a man different from the common crowd of men, and Eve’s defence of him recurred to her. His frankness was the frankness of strength. His bronzed head, with its blue eyes and generous mouth began to take on a new dignity.
“Mr. Canterton, I am not an admirer of men.”
“You should have studied flowers.”
“Thank you. I will answer your question. Eve is earning a living. It is not luxury, but it is better than most women workers can boast of. She works hard. And she has ambitions.”
He answered at once.
“I am glad of that. Ambition—the drive of life, is everything. You have given me good news.”
Kate Duveen sat in thought a moment, staring at the pages of German philosophy.
“Mr. Canterton, I’m interested. I am going to be intrusive. Is it possible for a man to be impersonal?”