Sybil (laughing) Wbnt a sweeping
criticism; I can't say I noticed
all that; but I thought him distinctly
second rate.
Lady Raye (hastily) Well, hla
people are quite decent; ho told mo
all about them.
Sybil Oh, did you know him well
onough for that?
Ludy Rayo (hesitatingly) You
sec the general took a tremendous
fancy to him, so ho was always in
tho hous'e.
Sybil (sympathetically) Whut a
bore for you.
Lady Raj'e (quickly) But ho was
very unobtrusive, I assure j'ou.
Never in tho way. Tho fact is, ho
disliked mo as cordially as I disliked
him.
Sybil (doubtfully) Really, Lcsllo?
Lady Rayo Yes, really. Ho
thought tho general had committed
a gravo indiscretion in marrying
such a vain, empty-headed bundlo
of nerves. That was the character
he gavo mo.
Sybil How do you know? Ho
didn't
Lady Rayc Tell mo? Oh, no. ' As
.a rule ho was even moro successful
in disguising his feelings than I was.
But you know what a woman's mado
of. Even when ho was most
tlliously civil I felt it. And onco or
twice, qulto by mistake, ho said
things 'that hurt.
Sybil I always thought him odd.
Lady Rayc He had some Impossible
ideal In whito muslin and a leghorn
hat, whom he conjured up several
times ns a sort of blessed example
to poor, unlucky me. She niusj.
have been a prig, If sho ever really
existed and I believe i-ho did,
though ho uovcr told mo her iinmc.
Is tho flro too hot for you, dear?
Sybil Rather. I'll movo my chair.
Goon about the Ideal.
