the weather and scandal, and who are so frightfully dull! Dull! My
dear Ross you know how dull they are!"

"Well, upon my word, they are," admitted Courtney. "You are right
there. I certainly agree with you."

"I'm sure you do! They have no ideas. Now, artists have ideas,--
they live on ideas and sentiment. Sentiment is such a beautiful
thing--so charming! I believe that fierce-looking Gervase is a
creature of sentiment--and how delightful that is! Of course,
he'll paint the Princess Ziska--he MUST paint her,--no one else
could do it so well. By the way, have you been asked to her great
party next week?"

"Yes."

"And are you going?"

"Most assuredly."

"So am I. That absurd Chetwynd Lyle woman came to me this evening
and asked me if I really thought it would be proper to take her
'girls' there," and Lady Fulkeward laughed shrilly. "Girls indeed!
I should say those two long, ugly women could go anywhere with
safety. 'Do you consider the Princess a proper woman?' she asked,
and I said, 'Certainly, as proper as you are.'"

Courtney laughed outright, and began to think there was some fun
in Lady Fulkeward.