And now she was beginning to feel that that same shielding had kept her from knowledge of life, understanding of it.

Katie was disturbingly conscious of a great deal going on around her that she knew nothing about.

Ann wished her to be 'safe'; yet it was Ann who had brought a dissatisfaction with that very safety.

It was Ann had stirred the vague feeling that perhaps the greatest danger of all was in being too safe.
Katie felt an acute humiliation in the idea that she might be living in a dangerous age and knowing nothing of the danger.

She would rather brave it than be ignorant of it.