I was compelled to adopt strategy.

She thought our proposed contract (we do things in a business manner) might not be quite fair to me.

She was ready to admit that I was getting a good thing in secretaries but she feared that, later on, I might wish to make a change.

I had to meet this scruple somehow and I seemed to know by instinct that she would not believe me if I expounded those theories of love and marriage which you know I so strongly hold.

Pure reason would not appeal to her.