They let the story rest at the place where all of life had not been going over the wire.
And Katie told herself that she understood.

That Ann was to be judged by the Something Somewhere she had formed in her heart rather than by whatever it was life had tardily and ungenerously and unwisely brought her.
That Ann might still cling to a Something Somewhere--a thing for which even yet she would keep the heart right--was suggested that afternoon when Katie told her of Captain Prescott.
She had not meant to tell her.

She tried to think she was doing it in order to know how to meet Harry, but had to admit finally that she did it for no nobler reason than to see how Ann would take it.
She took it most unexpectedly.

"I am sorry," she said simply, "but I do not care at all for Captain Prescott.

I--" She paused, coloring slightly as she said with a little laugh: "We all like to be liked, don't we, Katie?
And with me--well it meant something just to know I could be liked--in that nice kind of way.