‘Of that I have no doubt,’ exclaimed the other, laughing.  ’I see that you have refined your arguments.’

‘Not my arguments only, I hope,’ said Everard modestly.  ’My time has been very ill spent if I haven’t in some degree, refined my nature.’

’That sounds very well, Everard.  But when it comes to degrees of self-indulgence—­’

She paused and made a gesture of dissatisfaction.

’It comes to that, surely, with every man.  But we certainly shall not agree on this subject.  You stand at the social point of view; I am an individualist.  You have the advantage of a tolerably consistent theory; whilst I have no theory at all, and am full of contradictions.  The only thing clear to me is that I have a right to make the most of my life.’

‘No matter at whose expense?’

’You are quite mistaken.  My conscience is a tender one.  I dread to do any one an injury.  That has always been true of me, in spite of your sceptical look; and the tendency increases as I grow older.  Let us have done with so unimportant a matter.  Isn’t Miss Nunn able to rejoin us?’

‘She will come presently, I think.’

‘How did you make this lady’s acquaintance?’

Miss Barfoot explained the circumstances.

‘She makes an impression,’ resumed Everard.  ’A strong character, of course.  More decidedly one of the new women than you yourself—­ isn’t she?’

’Oh, I am a very old-fashioned woman.  Women have thought as I do at any time in history.  Miss Nunn has much more zeal for womanhood militant.’

’I should delight to talk with her.  Really, you know, I am very strongly on your side.’

Miss Barfoot laughed.

‘Oh, sophist!  You despise women.’

’Why, yes, the great majority of women—­the typical woman.  All the more reason for my admiring the exceptions, and wishing to see them become more common.  You, undoubtedly, despise the average woman.’

‘I despise no human being, Everard.’

‘Oh, in a sense!  But Miss Nunn, I feel sure, would agree with me.’

’I am very sure Miss Nunn wouldn’t.  She doesn’t admire the feebler female, but that is very far from being at one with your point of view, my cousin.’

Everard mused with a smile.

’I must get to understand her line of thought.  You permit me to call upon you now and then?’

‘Oh, whenever you like, in the evening.  Except,’ Miss Barfoot added, ‘Wednesday evening.  Then we are always engaged.’

‘Summer holidays are unknown to you, I suppose?’

’Not altogether.  I had mine a few weeks ago.  Miss Nunn will be going away in a fortnight, I think.’

Just before ten o’clock, when Barfoot was talking of some acquaintances he had left in Japan, Rhoda entered the room.  She seemed little disposed for conversation, and Everard did not care to assail her taciturnity this evening.  He talked on a little longer, observing her as she listened, and presently took an opportunity to rise for departure.