was a happy woman, had always been a happy woman.  She had known a little trouble in relation to her favourite sister’s marriage with Mr. Newthorpe, for she foresaw that it could not turn out very well, and she had been obliged to censure her sister for excessive devotion to the pleasures of Society; it grieved her, on the other hand, to think of her poor niece being brought up in a way so utterly opposed to all the traditions.  But these were only little ripples on the smooth flowing surface.  You knew that she would never be smitten down with a great sorrow.  She was of those whom Fate must needs respect, so gracefully and sweetly do they accept happiness as their right.

Mr. Dalmaine joined these ladies with the manner of the sturdy Briton who would make himself agreeable yet dreads the petit maitre.  His voice would have been better if a little more subdued; he seated himself with perhaps rather more of ease than of grace; but on the whole Society would have let him pass muster as a well-bred man.

’You are interested in all that concerns your constituency, Mr. Dalmaine,’ said Mrs. Tyrrell; ’we were speaking of Mr. Egremont’s plan of founding a library in Lambeth.  You have heard of it?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Do you think it will be a good thing?’

’I am very doubtful.  One doesn’t like to speak unkindly of such admirable intentions, but I really think that in this he is working on a wrong principle.  I so strongly object to giving anything when it’s in the power of people to win it for themselves with a little wholesome exertion.  Now, there’s the Free Library Act; if the people of Lambeth really want a library, let them tax themselves and adopt the statutory scheme.  Sincerely, I believe that Mr. Egremont will do more harm than good.  We must avoid anything that tends to pauperise the working classes.’

‘How amusing!’ exclaimed Paula.  ’It’s almost word for word what mamma’s just been saying.’

Paula was dressed in the prettiest of tea-gowns; she looked the most exquisite of conservatory flowers.  Her smile to Mr. Dalmaine was very gracious.

‘That really is how I felt,’ said Mrs. Tyrrell.  ’But Mr. Egremont will never be persuaded of that.  He is so wholehearted in his desire to help these poor people, yet, I’m afraid, so very, very unpractical.’

The young married lady observed: 

’Oh, no one ought ever to interfere with philanthropy unless they have a very practical scheme.  Canon Brougham was so emphatic on that point this morning.  So much harm may be done, when we mean everything for the best.’

‘Yes, I feel that very strongly,’ said Dalmaine, his masculine accent more masculine than ever after the plaintive piping.  ’I even fear that Mr. Egremont is doing wrong in making his lectures free.  We may be sure they are well worth paying to hear, and it’s an axiom in all dealing with the working class that they will never value anything that they don’t pay for.’