"You do not like the country?" "Not one little bit. I had enough of it when I was a child." "You were brought up in the country, were you?" said Hubert carelessly. "I should never have taken you for a country-bred girl--although your physique does not speak of town-life, after all." "Is that meant for a compliment?" said Cynthia, the clear color suddenly rising in her cheeks. "Bah--I do not like compliments--from some people! I should like to forget all about my early life--dull tiresome days! I began to live only when I came to London." "Which was when you were about fifteen, was it not? You have never told me where you lived before that." Cynthia made a little _moue_ of disgust. "You have always been much too polite hitherto to ask unpleasant questions. I tell you I want to forget those earlier years. If you must know, I was at school." "I beg your pardon," said Hubert; "I had no idea that the subject was so unpleasant to you, or I would not have alluded to it, of course." Cynthia gave him a quick look. "You have a right to ask," she said, in a lower voice. "I suppose I ought to tell you the whole story; but----" There was strong reluctance in her voice. "You need do nothing of the kind. I have no right at all; don't talk nonsense, Cynthia. After all, what is the use of raking up old reminiscences? I have always held that it is better to put the past behind us--to live for the present and the future. All of us have memories that we would gladly forget. Why not make it a business of life to do so?" "'Forgetting those things which are behind,'" Cynthia murmured. She was sitting on a very low chair, her hands loosely clasped before her, her eyes searching the embers of the fire. Hubert looked at her curiously. "I never heard you quote Scripture before," he said, half laughing. "Why not? There are plenty of things in the Bible worth thinking about and quoting too," said Cynthia briskly, but with a sudden change of attitude. "It would be better for us both, I have no doubt, if we knew it a little better, Mr. Lepel. Aren't you going to smoke? It does not seem at all natural to see you without a cigar in your mouth." "What a character to give me! Smoke in this rose-tinted room?" "Madame's friends all smoke here. You need not be an exception. She herself condescends at times to the luxury of a cigarette." "You call it a luxury?" "Certainly. Madame has initiated me. But you will understand that I don't display my accomplishment to every one." "No--don't," said Hubert, a trifle gravely. She looked round at him with a pretty defiance in her eyes and a laugh upon her face. "Don't you approve?" she said mockingly. "Ah, you have yet something to learn! It is quite evident that you have been spending Easter in the country, and its gentle dulness hangs about you still."