Diana looked up with a slight smile. "Perhaps you misunderstood me, dear. I told you I was winning.... Which means, I think, that Jim Edgerton isn’t going to remain very long at Adriutha." "Where is he going?" "I don’t know that he is going at all; he doesn’t know it, either.... But, somehow, I dare believe that he _is_ going." "Where?" "Into a man’s world to engage in a man’s business." "It isn’t in him, Diana.... You are taking a great responsibility on your shoulders. Do you realize that you are?" "Yes." "And that a man with no more force of character and real ability than he has may starve? That the world will probably break his heart, anyway." "Let it, then.... Only a real man’s heart breaks. I’ll know he’s one if it does; and so will he. And that’s worth all the rest." "That’s a stern creed, little sister, considering the pleasure-loving lips that utter it." "Out of the mouth of fools, wisdom. It doesn’t matter what I am. The thing that is important is what he shall become." "If he become what you desire, he may have little further interest in you." "He will have none, if he becomes what he could become," said the girl steadily. "Did you suppose my—ambition for him was selfish?" "Little breaker of images, are you going to shatter your own under his very eyes?" "He will be the iconoclast some day.... Probably I’ll be married before that—as soon, anyway, as it’s best for him.... I’ve plenty of time." ... She smiled without a trace of mirth in her eyes. "Mr. Snaith has already indicated his noiseless entry into the lists. He and Colonel Curmew are at lance points. Materially speaking, a girl ought to consider both of them." "But, child, we have many another business engagement before us yet, I trust.... You wouldn’t think of taking the first—the first——" "Million offered?" asked Diana, laughing. "No, of course not, silly. I’m merely observing the manners and customs of the creature man." Silvette laughed, too. "How are you getting on with Billy Inwood?" she asked demurely—"speaking of more agreeable matters." "Perfectly; after the initial shock at encountering me here, he behaved most reasonably. _I_ have an idea that he came here on Christine’s account, and he seemed to be rather nervous as to his obligations to me, but I set that right at the first opportunity. I said: ’Billy, if I don’t tell you, somebody else will, that Silvette and I are here practicing our profession, which is—to be amiable to the guests and help entertain them. So I’m going to be just as amiable to you as I know how, but it need not frighten you because I have no designs on you.’" They both laughed. Diana, mending her stocking, continued: "I think he was very much relieved, though he pretended not to be. I wonder if he _did_ come here to see Christine? The girl is cool enough with him, and he is inclined to follow her about in an aimless sort of way, as though he had something on his mind."