k she believed what she said, and I think that she has some
sort of power. She seemed disappointed when I refused, and, do you
know it, if it had not been for Arthur, I do not think that I should
have refused. I love power, or rather knowledge; but then I love
Arthur more."

"And why is he incompatible with knowledge?"

"I do not know; but she said that, to triumph over the mysteries she
wished to teach me, I must free myself from earthly love and cares. I
told her that, if Arthur is married, I would think of it."

"Well, Angela, to be frank, I do not believe in Lady Bellamy's magic,
and, if its practice brings people to what she is, I think it is best
left alone; indeed, I expect that the whole thing is a delusion
arising from her condition. But I think she is right when she told you
that to become a mistress of her art--or, indeed, of any noble art--
you must separate yourself from earthly passions. I owe your Arthur a
grudge as well as Lady Bellamy. I hoped, Angela, to see you rise like
a star upon this age of insolence and infidelity. I wanted you to be a
great woman; but that dream is all over now."

"Why, Mr. Fraser?"

"Because, my dear, both history and observation teach us that great
gifts like yours partake of the character of an accident in a woman;
they are not natural to her, and she does not wear such jewels easily
--they put her outside of her sex. It is something as though a man
were born into the world with wings. At first he would be very proud
of them, and go sailing about in the sky to the admiration of the
crowds beneath him; but by-and-by he would grow tired of flying alone,
and after all, it is not necessary to fly to transact the ordinary
business of the world. And perhaps at last he would learn to love
somebody without wings, somebody who could not fly, and he would
always want to be with her down on the homely earth, and not alone up
in the heavenly heights. If a woman had all the genius of Plato or all
the learning of Solomon, it would be forgotten at the touch of a
baby's fingers.

"Well, well, we cannot fight against human nature, and I daresay that
in a few years you will forget that you can read Greek as well as you
can English, and were very near finding out a perfect way of squaring
the circle. Perhaps it is best so. Lady Bellamy may have read a great
many fine things in your face. Shall I tell you what I read there? I
read that you will marry your Arthur, and become a happy wife a