_Alth_. Mr. CURPHEW, CISSIE? _Mrs. M_. Now don't pretend ignorance, dear. You have quoted Mr. CURPHEW and his opinions often enough to show that you see and think a good deal of him. And, really, if you colour like that at the mere mention---- _Alth_. Am I colouring? That last cup was so strong. And I don't see Mr. CURPHEW at all often. He is more Mamma's friend than mine--she has a very high opinion of him. _Mrs. M_. I daresay he deserves it. He's a fearfully learned and superior person, isn't he? _Alth_. I--I don't know. He writes for the paper. _Mrs. M_. That's vague, dear. What sort of paper? Political, Scientific, Sporting, Society--or what? _Alth_. I never asked; but I should think--well, he's rather _serious_, you know, CISSIE. _Mrs. M_. Then it's a comic paper, my dear, depend upon it! _Alth_. Oh, CISSIE, I'm _sure_ it isn't. And he's very hardworking. He's not like most men of his age, he doesn't care in the least for amusements. _Mrs. M_. He must be a very lively person. But tell me--you used to tell me everything, THEA--does this immaculate paragon show any signs of----? _Alth_. (_in a low voice_). I'm not sure----Perhaps--but I may be mistaken. _Mrs. M_. And if--don't think me horribly impertinent--but if you're _not_ mistaken, have you made up your mind what answer to give him? _Alth_. (_imploringly_). Don't tease me, CISSIE. I thought once--but now I really don't know. I wish he wasn't so strict and severe. I wish he understood that one can't always be solemn--that one must have a little enjoyment in one's life, when one is young! _Mrs. M_. And yet I seem to remember a girl who had serious searchings of heart, not so very long ago, as to whether it wasn't sinful to go and see SHAKSPEARE at the Lyceum! _Alth_. I know; it was silly of me--but I didn't know what a theatre was like. I'd never been to see a play--not even at the Crystal Palace. But now I've been, I'd like to go to one every week; they're lovely, and I don't believe anything that makes you cry and laugh like that _can_ be wicked! _Mrs. M_. Ah, you were no more meant to be a little Puritan than I was myself, dear. Heavens! When I think what an abominable prig I must have been at Miss PRUINS'. _Alth_. You weren't in the least a prig, CISSIE. But you _were_ different. You used to say you intended to devote yourself entirely to Humanity. _Mrs. M_. Yes; but I didn't realise then what a lot there were of them. And when I met FRANK I thought it would be less ambitious to begin with _him_. Now I find there's humanity enough in FRANK to occupy the devotion of a lifetime. But are you sure, THEA, that this journalist admirer of yours is quite the man to----He sounds dull, dear; admirable and all that--but, oh, so deadly dull! [Illustration: "Yes; but I didn't realise then what a lot there were of them."]