He knew that Stephen had held an unconventional idea as to the equality of the sexes.

Was it possible that she was indeed testing one of her theories?
The idea stirred him so that he could not remain quiet.

He stood up, and walked the room.

Somehow he felt light beginning to dawn, though he could not tell its source, or guess at the final measure of its fulness.
The fact of Stephen having done such a thing was hard to bear; but it was harder to think that she should have done such a thing without a motive; or worse: with love of Leonard as a motive! He shuddered as he paused.
She could not love such a man.

It was monstrous! And yet she had done this thing.