She had her reasons--not only after what she had overheard in the conservatory, but after what she had seen in the Gardens--for winning Carmina's confidence, and exercising over her the influence of a trusted friend.

Miss Minerva made instant use of her first opportunity.
"I can tell you what I have noticed myself," she said confidentially.
"When Mrs.Gallilee gives parties, I am allowed to be present--to see the famous professors of science.

On one of these occasions they were talking of instinct and reason.

Your cousin, Mr.Ovid Vere, said it was no easy matter to decide where instinct ended and reason began.

In his own experience, he had sometimes found people of feeble minds, who judged by instinct, arrive at sounder conclusions than their superiors in intelligence, who judged by reason.