’I should say, full of possibilities. She is not really selfish—I mean, she is not naturally selfish, but she has not been placed in a position where she can attach herself to any person. She has been reared to love ideas, not individuals—the Church and la belle France, and to these ideas she has attached herself warmly. With us the object of education is to enlarge the sympathies; with those who have trained her it has been the object to narrow them. Each system has its advantages, and each its defects. If we enlarge the sympathies they run shallow, if they be narrowed they become intense; and the men and women who make their mark, who influence the destinies of their fellow-men, are those of one idea and fiery prejudice. Mirelle is self-restrained without being reserved. She is frank as to her thoughts and impenetrable as to her feelings. What she believes to be true she speaks with crudeness, because she is unaware that the world will only accept the truth cooked and sauced. She is wholly ignorant of life, more so than a child with us of fourteen, because an English child lives in its horae, with brothers and sisters, and its associates are of every sort and degree. Mirelle has had no home, all her associates have been of one type, of one class, and of her own sex. She has never been brought into contact with the poor, and has never associated with men. The defects you notice are superficial, and will fade as she grows older and gains experience.’ ’You judge her more kindly than I,’ said Cicely. ’But that is like you. You are always generous. Men see the good side of women, and women only the worst side of their sisters. Woman is to man like the moon, always showing one face, and that serene and luminous. That there is another, systematically turned from him, passes his philosophy.’ ’I grant the likeness,’ said Herring vehemently. ’But why should that other side be dark and unsightly? No; Paradise is on the unseen face.’ ’Omne ignotum pro magninco,’ said Mr. Battishill; ’I remember so much Latin.’ ’You would like, Miss Battishill, to drag the moon down out of the sky and turn her round and show me a desert of lava.’ ’I should like to see exactly what the moon is made of. I see volcanoes and chasms on this face, I cannot suppose green hills and flowery plains on the other. She naturally shows us the only decent face she has.’ ’There we differ as the poles,’ said Herring, warmly. ’I prefer to see her far, far above me, and I do not wish to bring her down to my level. I idealise her hidden side, and believe I do not see it because of my own unworthiness.’ ’Let us change the topic,’ said Cicely, ’or we shall quarrel, and I cannot afford that.’ ’By all means,’ answered Herring, ’and so, tell me, has anything been seen of that strange girl who helped me to carry the Countess to your door?’ ’What! Joyce?’ ’Yes, I think that was the name you gave her.’