"Do you mean that compliment for me?" asked Edith, all sweetness.

Between wine and love Gus was inclined to be sentimental, and so in a
low, meaning tone answered:

"Who more deserving?"

Edith's eyes twinkled a moment, but with a half sigh she replied:

"I fear you read my character rightly. A shrine suggests many
offerings, and a divinity many worshippers."

Zell laughed outright, and said, "In that respect all women would be
shrines and divinities if they could."

Van Dam and Goulden could not suppress a smile at the unfortunate
issue of Elliot's sentiment, while the latter glanced keenly to see
how much truth was hinted in the badinage.

"For my part," said Laura, looking fixedly at nothing, "I would rather
have one true devotee than a thousand pilgrims who were _gushing_ at
every shrine they met."

"Brava!" cried Mr. Goulden. "That was the keenest arrow yet flown;"
for the other two men were notorious flirts.

"I do not think so. Its point was much too broad," said Zell, with a
meaning look at Mr. Goulden, that brought a faint color into his
imperturbable face, and an angry flush to Laura's.