She said to herself, as her kitchen-maid might have said, We will see what comes of it, the third time! Benjulia's letter was among the other letters waiting on the table.

She took it up, and read it again.
In her present frame of mind, to find her thoughts occupied by the doctor, was to be reminded of Ovid's strange allusion to his professional colleague, on the day of his departure.

Speaking of Carmina, he had referred to one person whom he did not wish her to see in his absence; and that person, he had himself admitted to be Benjulia.
He had been asked to state his objection to the doctor--and how had he replied?
He had said, "I don't think Benjulia a fit person to be in the company of a young girl." Why?
There are many men of mature age, who are not fit persons to be in the company of young girls--but they are either men who despise, or men who admire, young girls.

Benjulia belonged neither to the one nor to the other of these two classes.

Girls were objects of absolute indifference to him--with the one exception of Zo, aged ten.