"So I should think--but surely it isn't new to you."

"Why I've never seen any one--any one: living always in Asia."

The way she talked of Asia somehow enchanted him. "But doesn't that
continent swarm with great figures? Haven't you administered provinces
in India and had captive rajahs and tributary princes chained to your
car?"

It was as if she didn't care even _should_ he amuse himself at her cost.
"I was with my father, after I left school to go out there. It was
delightful being with him--we're alone together in the world, he and
I--but there was none of the society I like best. One never heard of a
picture--never of a book, except bad ones."

"Never of a picture? Why, wasn't all life a picture?"

She looked over the delightful place where they sat. "Nothing to compare
to this. I adore England!" she cried.

It fairly stirred in him the sacred chord. "Ah of course I don't deny
that we must do something with her, poor old dear, yet."

"She hasn't been touched, really," said the girl.

"Did Mr. St. George say that?"

There was a small and, as he felt, harmless spark of irony in his
question; which, however, she answered very simply, not noticing the