I've the drawback that you've seen me always, so inevitably, in such another light." But she gave a slow headshake that made contradiction soft--made it almost sad, in fact, as from having to be so complete; and he had already, before she spoke, the dim vision of some objection in her mind beside which the one he had named was light, and which therefore must be strangely deep.

"You don't understand me.

It's of all that it is for YOU to do--it's of that I'm thinking." Oh, with this, for him, the thing was clearer! "Then you needn't think.
I know enough what it is for me to do." But she shook her head again.

"I doubt if you know.

I doubt if you CAN." "And why not, please--when I've had you so before me?
That I'm old has at least THAT fact about it to the good--that I've known you long and from far back." "Do you think you've 'known' me ?" asked Charlotte Stant.