"I like reputation," said Mary, "because it is the result of great ability well and thoroughly used: I hope mine is not a vulgar ambition." "Oh dear, no!" said Miss Robertson; "but a quack has often a far greater reputation than an honest man." "Well, but people are always known sooner or later." "Yes, sooner or later," echoed Miss Robertson: "I hope your brother will be known sooner." "Do you know," said Mary, "we are so happy as we are that it is a shame to wish for anything better or different: I really don't know two happier people." "Just allow me to be a third: I am very happy too. The idea of calling this world a vale of tears!" "By the way," said Mary, "did you see the Ladies Moor ride past to-day? It is the first time I have seen them. I think I never saw such a face as the youngest has: they say her sister, the duchess of Dover, is a great beauty, but surely she can't be more lovely than Lady Louisa." "Yes, I met them when I was walking, and I was as much struck as you: I am sure they don't get their beauty from their father: he is a coarse-looking man." "I don't know where they get it, but they have it, certainly," said Mary: "that girl will drive some people crazy yet." "Do you think beauty has so much power?" asked Miss Robertson. "Oh, power! I know nothing like it: it is an intense pleasure to me to see a face like Lady Louisa's." "And yet beauty has not brought happiness to the duchess of Dover." "We need not moralize about it," said Mary. "She is unhappy, not because of her beauty, but in spite of it; besides, though she and her husband don't get on together, she may have other sources of happiness. It would give me great happiness to know that people got pleasure by merely looking at me." "Her Grace of Dover may have got accustomed to that kind of pleasure by this time. I hope her sister may have a happier lot: it must be horridly provoking to be a duchess and unhappy," said Miss Robertson. "'Provoking' is hardly the word for the situation, I think," said Mary. "To seem to have a thing and not to have it is very provoking," Miss Robertson said; "besides, other people may hope for some turn of affairs that will make things better, but what can she hope for? Why, she has everything this world can give." "Her case seems a very sad one--all glitter and no gold," Miss Brunton said. IV.