“Be not alarmed, my dear sir. I did but own to Mrs. Braefield that I had paid a visit to Oxford in order to confer with a learned man on a question that puzzled me, and as abstract as that feminine pastime, theology, is now-a-days. I cannot convince Mrs. Braefield that Oxford admits other puzzles in life than those which amuse the ladies.” Here Kenelm dropped into a chair by the side of Lily.
Lily half turned her back to him.
“Have I offended again?”
Lily shrugged her shoulders slightly and would not answer.
“I suspect, Miss Mordaunt, that among your good qualities, nature has omitted one; the bettermost self within you should replace it.”
Lily here abruptly turned to him her front face: the light of the skies was becoming dim, but the evening star shone upon it.
“How! what do you mean?”
“Am I to answer politely or truthfully?”
“Truthfully! Oh, truthfully! What is life without truth?”
“Even though one believes in fairies?”