believe in everybody until they want something from you. Then is the
time for distrust."

Jeanne sighed.

"And by that time, perhaps," she said, "one's affections are
hopelessly engaged. I think that it is a very difficult world."

The Princess shrugged her shoulders.

"Three months," she remarked, "is not a long time. Wait, my dear
child, until you have at least lived through a single season before
you commit yourself to any final opinions."

Their host intervened. He was beginning to find the conversation
dull. He was far more interested in another matter.

"Let us talk about that visit," he said to the Princess. "I do wish
that you could make up your mind to come. Of course, I haven't any
amusements to offer you, but you could rest as thoroughly as you
like. They say that the air is the finest in England. There is
always bridge, you know, for the evenings, and if Miss Jeanne likes
bathing, my gardens go down to the beach."

"It sounds delightful," the Princess said, "and exactly what we
want. We have a good many invitations, but I have not cared to
accept any of them, for I do not think that Jeanne would care much
for the life at an ordinary country house. I myself," she continued,
with perfect truth, "am not squeamish, but the last house-party I
was at was certainly not the place for a very young girl."