re a man, you Members of
Parliament would call 'a bore,' for asking perpetual questions."

"Nay, an apposite interrogation is the guarantee of a proper interest in
the subject," said the baronet.

Cornelia was very soon reverted to.

"Her intellect is contemplative," said Adela, exhibiting marvellous
mental composure. "She would lose her unerring judgement in active life.
She cannot weigh things in her mind rapidly. She is safe if her course
of action is clear."

Sir Twickenham reserved his opinion of the truth of this. "I wonder
whether she can forgive those who offend or insult her, easily?"

A singular pleasure warmed Adela's veins. Her cheeks kindling,
she replied, giving him her full face. "No; if they are worthy of
punishment. But--" and now he watched a downcast profile--"one must have
some forgiveness for fools."

"Indeed, you speak like charity out of the windows of wisdom," said the
baronet.

"Do you not require in Parliament to be tolerant at times?" Adela
pursued.

He admitted it, and to her outcry of "Oh, that noble public life!"
smiled deprecatingly--"My dear young lady, if you only knew the burden
it brings!"

"It brings its burden," said Adela, correcting, with a most proper
instinct, another enthusiastic burst. "At the same time the honour
is above the load. Am I talking too romantically? You are at least
occupied."

"Nine-tenths of us to no very good purpose," the baronet appended.

She rejoined: "If it were but a fraction, the good done would survive."

"And be more honourable to do, perhaps," he ejaculated. "The consolation
should be great."

"And is somehow small," said she; and they laughed softly.

At this stage, Adela was 'an exceedingly interesting young person'
in Sir Twickenham's mental register. He tried her on politics
and sociology. She kept her ears open, and followed his lead
carefully--venturing here and there to indicate an opinion, and
suggesting dissent in a pained interrogation. Finally, "I confess,"
she said, "I understand much less than I am willing to think; and so I
console myself with the thought that, after all, the drawing-room, and
the... the kitchen?--well, an educated 'female' must serve her term
there, if she would be anything better than a mere ornament, even in the
highest walks of life--I mean the household is our sphere. From that we
mount to companionship--if we can."

Amazement of Sir Twickenham, on finding his own thought printed, as it
were, on