'Yes; and Elsie says it is better to work in the men's studio. There are cleverer pupils there than in the ladies' studio, and one learns as much from one's neighbours as from the professor; more.' 'Are you sure of that? Do you not think that we are all far too ready to assume that whatever men do is the best?' 'I suppose we are.' 'Men kept us uneducated till a hundred years ago; we are only gaining our rights inch by inch, prejudice is only being overcome very slowly, and whenever women have had equal, or nearly equal, advantages they have proved themselves equal or superior to men. Women's inferiority in physical strength is immaterial, for, as mankind grows more civilised, force will be found in the brain and not in the muscles.' Mrs. Fargus was now fairly afloat on her favourite theme, viz., if men were kind to women, their kindness was worse than their cruelty--it was demoralising. Eventually the conversation returned whence it had started, and Mrs. Fargus said: 'Then why do you hesitate? What is the objection to the men's studio?' 'I do not know that there is any particular objection, nothing that I ought to let stand in the way of my studies. It was only something that Elsie and Cissy said. They said the men's conversation wasn't always very nice. But they weren't sure, for they understand French hardly at all--they may have been mistaken. But if the conversation were coarse it would be very unpleasant for me; the students would know that I understood... Then there's the model, there's that to be got over. But Elsie and Cissy say that the model's nothing; no more than a statue.' 'The model is undraped?' 'Oh, yes.' 'Really Mildred---' 'That's the disadvantage of being a girl. Prejudice closes the opportunity of study to one.' Mrs. Fargus did not speak for a long time. At last she said: 'Of course, Mildred, you must consult your own feeling; if it's the custom, if it's necessary--Your vocation is of course everything.' Then it was Mildred's turn to pause before answering. At last she said: 'It does seem rather--well, disgusting, but if it is necessary for one's art. In a way I'd as soon work in the ladies' studio.' 'I daresay you derive just as much advantage.' 'Do you think so? It's from the students round one that one learns, and there's no use coming to Paris if one doesn't make the most of one's opportunities.' 'You might give the ladies' studio a trial, and if you didn't find you were getting on you could join the men's.' 'After having wasted three months! As you say my vocation is everything. It would be useless for me to think of taking up painting as a profession, if I did not work in the men's studio.' 'But are you going there?' 'I can't make up my mind. You have frightened me, you've put me off it.' 'I think I hardly offered an opinion.' 'Perhaps Harold would not like me to go there.' 'You might write to him. Yes, write to him.'