He laughed, and the conversation changed to general topics. CHAPTER XXV THE GOLDEN PRIEST That night when she and the frog were alone together, Rosalie began the conversation by saying: “What do you think of Mr. Barringcourt?” “I like him,” said the frog, quite shortly. “What has prepossessed you?” “Nothing particularly. But I like him. I’m sorry you were so rude to him.” Rosalie flushed. The tone was almost grave enough for a rebuke. “I? Rude? Oh, Brightcoat, how can you say so? I always try to be polite to him, and it always ends in failure. It is he who is rude to me.” “No,” said the frog; “you take no pains to act or to speak sensibly. And to say you detest anyone is absurd, ridiculous, to say nothing of bad manners.” “You’ve never lived in Marble House, so you can afford to talk. Talk about vivisection! It was Mr. Barringcourt who openly deplored to me there was no such thing in our country. What do you think of that?” “There are worse things than vivisection,” replied the frog. “If it were not for that I should never have been here, or alive now.” “But—” said Rosalie, staring at it. “Why don’t you cultivate a charming manner, Rosalie?” “I expect I’m not made that way. Are my manners so uncouth?” and her expression was doleful. “No; but I don’t see how you’re to get your six horses, chariot, and all the rest, unless you try to be more charming.” “Well, Mr. Barringcourt will never help me that way. You should have seen the look he gave me last night, and then to-night, as if he’d never seen me before. Such folk give me quite a creepy feeling. Besides, talking about horses, his are black. Can’t you see he is the exact opposite of what I want? He would do all he could to hinder me. If it were not that once I saw him looking very tired I should detest him too. Oh, how I hate Lucifram! Somehow or other, I never feel at home here,” and she sighed. “And you’ve got about all it can give you.” “Then I’m like all the rest—ungrateful.” “Rosalie, has it ever struck you you are very pretty?” “Yes; every now and again it has. But what of that? All the women we saw to-night were pretty. It’s the commonest of all things. If I’d a big hook nose now I might appear imposing. But no; even that is common enough to-day.” After a pause the frog said: “I heard someone say to-night you were the prettiest woman there.” “Please, don’t! I’d so much rather you left my personal appearance alone.” But the frog continued: “It’s as well for people to think about these things at times. I know many a lovely woman who has been ruined by thinking too much of her beauty in one way, and too little in another. They know they are beautiful, and that knowledge is all-sufficient to them; their food and recreation, and all in all.” “But I’m not one of those.” “No. I think you might put yours to much more use than you do.” “You speak in puzzles.”