She had lived in her power over men; it was her field of ambition.

She knew them thoroughly.

Women are called ivy; and the ivy has a hundred little fingers in every inch of its length, that strike at every flaw and crack and weak place in the strong wall they mean to overgrow; and so had Lillie.

She saw, at a glance, that the sober, thoughtful, Christian life of Springdale was wholly opposed to the life she wanted to lead, and in which John was to be her instrument.

She saw that, if such women as Grace and Rose had power with him, she should not have; and her husband should be hers alone.