far above the Girton girl as that interesting creature is above the product
of an establishment for young ladies. Miss Doran has no prejudices, and, in the
vulgar sense of the word, no principles. She is familiar with the Latin classics
and with the Parisian feuilletons; she knows all about the newest religion, and
can tell you Sarcey's opinion of the newest play. Miss Doran will discuss with
you the merits of Sarah Bernhardt in La Dame aux Camélias, or the literary
theories of the brothers Goncourt. I am not sure that she knows much about
Shakespeare, but her appreciation of Baudelaire is exquisite. I don't think she
is naturally very cruel, but she can plead convincingly the cause of
vivisection. Miss Doran -«
    Spence interrupted him with a burst of laughter.
    »All which, my dear fellow, simply means that you -«
    Mallard, in his turn, interrupted gruffly.
    »Precisely: that I am the wrong man to hold even the position of steward to
one so advanced. What have I to do with heiresses and fashionable ladies? I have
my work to get on with, and it shall not suffer from the intrusion of idlers.«
    »I see you direct your diatribe half against Mrs. Lessingham. How has she
annoyed you?«
    »Annoyed me? You never were more mistaken. It's with myself that I am
annoyed.«
    »On what account?«
    »For being so absurd as to question sometimes whether my responsibility
doesn't extend beyond stock and share. I ask myself whether Doran - who so
befriended me, and put such trust in me, and paid me so well in advance for the
duties I was to undertake - didn't take it for granted that I should exercise
some influence in the matter of his daughter's education? Is she growing up what
he would have wished her to be? And if -«
    »Why, it's no easy thing to say what views he had on this subject. The lax
man, we know, is often enough severe with his own womankind. But as you have
given me no description of what Cecily really is, I can offer no judgment. Wait
till I have seen her. Doubtless she fulfils her promise of being beautiful?«
    »Yes; there is no denying her beauty.«
    »As for her modernité, why, Mr. Ross Mallard is a singular person to take
exception on that score.«
    »I don't know about that. When did I say that the modern woman was my
ideal?«
    »When