Mary Adams was aged nine, and her difference from Barbara Flint was that, whereas Barbara craved for affection, she craved for attention: the two demands can be easily confused.

Mary Adams was the only child of an aged philosopher, Mr.Adams, who, contrary to all that philosophy teaches, had married a young wife.

The young wife, pleased that Mary was so unlike her father, made much of her, and Mary was delighted to be made much of.

She was a little girl with flaxen hair, blue eyes, and a fine pink-and-white colouring.

In a few years' time she will be so sure of the attention that her appearance is winning for her that she will make no effort to secure adherents, but just now she is not sufficiently confident--she must take trouble.