"So you see everything depends upon judgment," says the fair widow, fanning herself languidly, but smiling archly.
"A good deal, certainly."
"Everything, I say. Determination to succeed, and the power to do it, are strong in themselves; but judgment tempers all things. And how few possess all three!"
"I, at least, am grateful for that. If every one was endowed with those three irresistible forces, I should have a bad chance. I should be but one among so many. Then it could only be decided by brute force."
"What could?" asks she, turning a fair but amazed face up to his.
"Oh, nothing!" returns he, with some confusion. "Only some silly thought of my own private brain,—not the part I was devoting to your argument. Forgive me. You were saying——"
"That there is a tremendous amount of feebleness in most natures. The real clever thing is to be able to see when an opportunity for good arises, and then to grasp it. Most people can't see it, you know."
"[Others] can!" says Mr. Ronayne. As he speaks he passes his arm round her pretty waist and smiles saucily into her eyes.
"What!" exclaims she, smiling in turn, "am I an opportunity, then?"
"The sweetest one I know, and so I seize it," says the audacious youth; while Mr. Kelly, behind, feels as if he was going to sink into the ground.