She must not be a prude, though she must know that all is evil about her.
Lastly she must have no heart, though she must learn the rare art of being tender to the right person at the right time.
I was sure that Frances was equipped with the mental and moral qualities necessary in so dangerous a field as Whitehall Court.

Among those qualities was her knowledge that she was beautiful; not that she believed it as a matter of vanity, but knew it simply as a matter of fact.

That knowledge would give her self-confidence and would help her to value justly the flattery of men, which was sure to be her portion to overflowing.

She would know that flattery was her due, and therefore would not be too grateful for it, gratitude being a dangerous virtue in a woman.

She was as dear to me as if she were my sister, and I hesitated bringing her to terrible Whitehall.