"Mrs. Gordon's people meant it for the best, I suppose," Ernest observed, "when they married her to a good man with a fine property." "That is just the ghastly part of it!" cried Hadria; "from ferocious enemies a girl might defend herself, but what is she to do against the united efforts of devoted friends?" "I don't suppose Mrs. Gordon is aware that she is so ill-used!" "Another gruesome circumstance!" cried Hadria, with a half laugh; "for that only proves that her life has dulled her self-respect, and destroyed her pride." "But, my dear, every woman is in the same predicament, if predicament it be!" "What a consolation!" Hadria exclaimed, "_all_ the foxes have lost their tails!" "It may be illogical, but people generally are immensely comforted by that circumstance." The conversation waxed warmer and more personal. Fred took a conservative view of the question. He thought that there were instincts implanted by Nature, which inspired Mrs. Gordon with a yearning for exactly the sort of existence that fate had assigned to her. Algitha, who had been the recipient of that lady's tragic confidences, broke into a shout of laughter. "Well, Harold Wilkins says----" This name was also greeted with a yell of derision. "I don't see why you girls always scoff so at Harold Wilkins," said Fred, slightly aggrieved, "he is generally thought a lot of by girls. All Mrs. Gordon's sisters adore him." "He needs no further worshippers," said Hadria. Fred was asked to repeat the words of Harold Wilkins, but to soften them down if too severe. "He laughs at your pet ideas," said Fred ruthlessly. "Break it gently, Fred, gently." "He thinks that a true woman esteems it her highest privilege to--well, to be like Mrs. Gordon." "Wise and learned youth!" cried Hadria, resting her chin on her hand, and peering up into the blue sky, above the temple. "_Fool!_" exclaimed Algitha. "He says," continued Fred, determined not to spare those who were so overbearing in their scorn, "he says that girls who have ideas like yours will never get any fellow to marry them." Laughter loud and long greeted this announcement. "Laughter," observed Fred, when he could make himself heard, "is among the simplest forms of argument. Does this merry outburst imply that you don't care a button whether you are able to get some one to marry you or not?" "It does," said Algitha.