something, especially when one's an oddity. You wouldn't go down
one bit yourself, dear, if you weren't a dean's daughter. The
shadow of a cathedral steeple covers a multitude of sins. Mr.
Merrick's the son of the famous London gout doctor,--you MUST know
his name,--all the royal dukes flock to him. He's a barrister
himself, and in excellent practice. You might do worse, do you
know, than to go in for Alan Merrick."

Herminia's lip curled an almost imperceptible curl as she answered
gravely, "I don't think you quite understand my plans in life, Mrs.
Dewsbury. It isn't my present intention to GO IN for anybody."

But Mrs. Dewsbury shook her head. She knew the world she lived in.
"Ah, I've heard a great many girls talk like that beforehand," she
answered at once with her society glibness; "but when the right man
turned up, they soon forgot their protestations. It makes a lot of
difference, dear, when a man really asks you!"

Herminia bent her head. "You misunderstand me," she replied. "I
don't mean to say I will never fall in love. I expect to do that.
I look forward to it frankly,--it is a woman's place in life. I
only mean to say, I don't think anything will ever induce me to
marry,--that is to say, legally."

Mrs. Dewsbury gave a start of surprise and horror. She really
didn't know what girls were coming to nowadays,--which, considering
her first principles, was certainly natural. But if only she had
seen the conscious flush with which Herminia received her visitor
that afternoon, she would have been confirmed in her belief that
Herminia, after all, in spite of her learning, was much like other