‘Well, I’ll tell you something,’ replied Olive, suddenly turning from the glass.  ’But first promise not to tell anyone.  I don’t know what I should do if you did.  You promise?’

‘Yes, I promise.’

’If you look as serious as that I shall never be able to tell you.  It is very wicked, I know, but I couldn’t help myself.  He put his arm round my waist and kissed me.  Now don’t scold, I won’t be scolded,’ the girl said, as she watched the cloud gathering on her sister’s face.  ’Oh! you don’t know how angry I was.  I cried, I assure you I did, and I told him he had disgraced me.  I couldn’t say more than that, could I, now? and he promised never to do it again.  It was the first time a man ever kissed me—­I was awfully ashamed.  No one ever attempted to kiss you, I suppose; nor can I fancy their trying, for your cross face would soon frighten them; but I can’t look serious.’

‘And did he ask you to marry him?’

’Oh! of course, but I haven’t told mamma, for she is always talking to me about Lord Kilcarney—­the little marquis, as she calls him; but I couldn’t have him.  Just fancy giving up dear Edward!  I assure you I believe he would kill himself if I did.  He has often told me I am the only thing worth living for.’

Alice looked at her beautiful sister questioningly, her good sense telling her that, if Olive was not intended for him, it was wrong to allow her to continue her flirtation.  But for the moment the consideration of her own misfortunes absorbed her.  Was there nothing in life for a girl but marriage, and was marriage no more than a sensual gratification; did a man seek nothing but a beautiful body that he could kiss and enjoy?  Did a man’s desires never turn to mating with one who could sympathize with his hopes, comfort him in his fears, and united by that most profound and penetrating of all unions—­that of the soul—­be collaborator in life’s work?  ‘Could no man love as she did?’ She was ready to allow that marriage owned a material as well as a spiritual aspect, and that neither could be overlooked.  Some, therefore, though their souls were as beautiful as the day, were, from purely physical causes, incapacitated from entering into the marriage state.  Cecilia was such a one.

‘Now what are you thinking about, Alice?’

’I do not know, nothing in particular; one doesn’t know always of what one is thinking!  Tell me what they are saying downstairs.’

’But I have told you; that Captain Hibbert preferred my hair like this, and I asked you if you thought he was right, but you hardly looked.’

‘Yes, I did, Olive; I think the fashion suits you.’

’You won’t tell anybody that I told you he kissed me?  Oh, I had forgotten about Lord Rosshill; he has been fired at.  Lord Dungory returned from Dublin, and he brought the evening paper with him.  It is full of bad news.’