It must be admitted that this conviction had reason in establishing
itself, and it is perhaps not surprising that, in the security of it,
he failed to notice occasions when it would not have held, of which this
was plainly one. Alicia reflected, with her cheek against the Afghan
wolf-skins on the back of the chair. It was characteristic of her eyes
that one could usually see things being turned over in them. She would
sometimes keep people waiting while she thought. She thought perceptibly
about Hilda Howe, slanting her absent gaze between sheltering eyelids
to the floor. Presently she rearranged the rose in its green glass vase,
and said, "Then it's impossible not to be interested."

"I thought you would find it so."

Alicia was further occupied in bestowing small fragments of cress
sandwich upon a terrier. "Fancy your being so sure," she said, "that you
could present her entertainingly!" She looked past him toward the light
that came in at the draped window, and he was not aware that her regard
held him fast by the way.

"Anyone could," he said cheerfully. "She presents herself. One is only
the humblest possible medium. And the most passive."

Alicia's eyes were still attracted by the light from the window. It
silhouetted a rare fern from Assam which certainly rewarded them.

"I like to hear you talk about her. Tell me some more."

"Haven't I exhausted metaphor in describing her?"

"Yes," said Miss Livingstone, with conviction; "but I'm not a bit