"Ought we to be conscious of our attractions?" asked Janet dubiously, for in the Barr environment it was bad form to call attention to anything but detractions.
The immemorial Barr practice bound members of the same family to make the worst of one another's good qualities.
"Decidedly," answered Robert. "A wise man should take care to know his good points no less than his bad points, precisely as he takes care to know his assets as well as his liabilities."
"Yes, leave it to Cato," cried Cornelia mockingly. She had a nickname for each of her friends. "He'll tell you all about yourself, until your soul will cease to seem your own. He'll beautify you—"
"Oh, if he only will!" cut in Janet, with one of her fluent graceful gestures which it was a rare delight merely to see. "I can stand no end of that."
"He'll beautify you—morally, my dear," concluded Cornelia. "His conversation is so improving. He re-creates people in his own image. It's his specialty."
Janet's fine gray eyes narrowed to a hostile glance.
"It's my mother's specialty, too," she said, coldly.
"Now, look here—" cried Robert, springing up from his chair in impetuous protest.
He had good reason to know how unflattering the comparison was. Before he had a chance to say more, Cornelia hurriedly interposed.