"I never cared very much for women.

I have very few friends amongst them.

And so I am losing--every one." She held out her hand to him in sympathy.

"But if I were a man and had been turned down by the doctors, I don't think that I could stay.

I should go like you and hide." She smiled and poured out two cups of tea.
"That is a habit of yours, even though you are not a man," Hillyard replied.
"What do you mean ?" "You run away and hide." Stella looked at her visitor in surprise.
"Who told you that ?" "Sir Charles Hardiman." Stella Croyle was silent for a few moments.
"Yes, that's true," and she laughed suddenly.