‘For you perhaps, but not for me.’  Cecilia looked at Alice reproachfully, and at the end of a long and morose silence she said: 

‘You received the long letter I wrote to you about him?’

’Yes, Cecilia, and I answered it.  It seems to me very foolish to pronounce condemnatory opinion on the whole world; and particularly for you who have seen so little of it.’

’That doesn’t matter.  People are blinded by their passions; but when these have worn themselves out, they see the truth in all its horrible nakedness.  One of these days you’ll tell me that I am right.  You have been a good deal in the world lately; tell me if you have found it beautiful.  You didn’t believe me when I told you that men were vile and abominable; you said there were good men in the world, that you were sure of it.  Have you found them?  Was Mr. Harding so very perfect?’

Alice coloured again; she hesitated, and in the silence Cecilia again divined her friend’s thoughts.

’A very poor ideal indeed, it seems to me that you set yourself—­to make the best of this wretched world.’

’I cannot understand what good can come of craving after the unattainable,’ said Alice, looking earnestly out of her grey sharp eyes.

‘True beauty lies only in the unattainable,’ said Cecilia, lifting her eyes with that curious movement of the eyeball by which painters represent faith and mysticism.

At the end of a long silence, Alice said: 

‘But you’ll have some tea, will you not, Cecilia?’

‘Yes; but don’t let us go downstairs.’

‘We’ll have it up here; Barnes will bring it up.’

‘Oh, that will be so nice.’

The girls drew closer to the fire, and in its uniting warmth they looked into the ardent face of their friendship, talking, at first, conscious of the appropriateness of their conversation; but soon forgetful of the more serious themes they had been discussing, questions were asked and answered, and comments passed, upon the presentations, the dresses, the crowds, upon all their acquaintances.

’It is given out, Alice dear, that Lord Kilcarney is coming down to stay at Brookfield.  Is it true?’

‘I have heard nothing of it.  Whom did you hear it from?’

’Well, the Duffys wrote it to my sisters.  The Duffys, you know, have all the Dublin news.’

’What dreadful gossips they are!  And the wonderful part of it is that they often tell you that things have happened long before they do happen.’

‘Yes; I have noticed that.  They anticipate the news.’

The girls laughed lightly, and Cecilia continued: 

’But tell me, which do you think he admires most, Olive or Violet?  The rumour goes that he pays Violet great attentions.  The family is, of course, wild about it.  She hasn’t a penny piece, and Olive, they say, has a good deal of money.’

‘I don’t know.’

’You must show me the dress you wore.  You described it beautifully in your letter.  You must have looked very sweet.  Did everybody say so?’