udes."

"Hm! I won't undertake to discuss that point, knowing my limitations.
What next? He must have suffered. That gives a man weight, as the
sculptors say. My quartette will be much more interesting to the next
divinity than they are to me. Then of course he must have charming
manners and an agreeable voice: I could not stand the brain of a Bismark
in the skull of an Apollo if he had a nasal American voice. I believe
that's all. I'm not so particular about looks, so long as he's neither
small nor fat."

"And if you found all that wouldn't you marry it?"

"N-o-o--I don't know--but I'd be engaged a good long time. You see I
want to be a belle for years and years."

"And what is to become of the poor men when you are through with them?"

"Oh, they'll get over it. I shall. Why shouldn't they?"

"I thought you said once you wanted to marry a statesman."

"Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. I'll consider that question ten
years hence. I want to be a perfectly famous belle first."

"You are that already."

"Oh, I must have a season in New York, and another in Washington, and
another in London. The gods have given me all the gifts, and I intend to
make the most of them. Now let's read a chapter of Motley out loud, and
if I jump off to other things you jerk me back. Let's finish Pater,
though. It's like lying under a cascade of bubbles on a hot summer's
day. My brains are addled between trying to be well read and trying to
keep four men from proposing. You read aloud, and I'll brush my hair.
No, I'll embroider on papa's mouchoir case; I've been at it for thirteen
months. Oh, by the bye, I didn't tell you that I had a brilliant idea.
It darted into my head just as I was dropping off last night. I forgot
to speak about it to papa this morning, but I will to-night. It's this:
I'm going to give a ball at Del Monte. Take everybody down on a special
train. Don't you think it will be a change? The spring has come so early
that we can have the grounds lit up with Chinese lanterns; and there may
be some Eastern men there. There often are. So much the better for my
ball--and me. Now read."

VII

Trennahan arrived late in the evening, and went directly to the Yorbas'
to dinner. He saw Magdalena alone for a moment before the others came
downstairs, and his delight at meeting her again was so boyish that she
could hardly have recalled his eventful forty years had she tried. He
was one of those men, who, having a g