"Oh! that's what we do, is it?"
"Now we women behave differently. If we love a man, we don't plaster him over with all the good qualities; but we merely say that the virtues he doesn't possess are not virtues at all, and that no decent man would be seen with such things. But though the modus operandi in each case is different, the result is the same; that is to say, the beloved object in both instances has the monopoly of human excellencies."
"Well, I must be off," said Joanna rising; "I have some work to do."
After his sister had left the room, Paul made up his deficiency in the saying of pretty things.
"Where is Isabel?" asked Mrs. Seaton of her daughter, as the latter was going out.
"With Paul in the drawing-room."
Mrs. Seaton drew a sigh of perfect contentment. "That is all right."
"What they have to say to each other that they are always wanting to be alone together, I cannot imagine," continued Joanna. "I never said anything in my life to anybody that a third person was not welcome to hear."
Her mother smiled. "You have not said all that there is to be said yet, then."
"Evidently not. There are still some things in heaven and earth undreamed of in my philosophy, and what those two good people talk to each other about is one of them. If I were Isabel I could say all I wanted to say before us all, I am certain."