"I sadly fear, Miss Edith, that my sincerity will not be superior to that of the other devotees," was the keen retort, in blandest tones.
Edith bit her lip, but said gayly, "Count me out of your pilgrim band. I want no shrine with relics of the past. I wish no incense rising about me obscuring the view. I like the present, and wish to see what is beyond."
"But suppose you are both shrine and divinity yourself?" said Gus, with what he meant for a killing look.
"Do you mean that compliment for me?" asked Edith, all sweetness.
Between wine and love Gus was inclined to be sentimental, and so in a low, meaning tone answered:
"Who more deserving?"
Edith's eyes twinkled a moment, but with a half sigh she replied:
"I fear you read my character rightly. A shrine suggests many offerings, and a divinity many worshippers."
Zell laughed outright, and said, "In that respect all women would be shrines and divinities if they could."
Van Dam and Goulden could not suppress a smile at the unfortunate issue of Elliot's sentiment, while the latter glanced keenly to see how much truth was hinted in the badinage.