“No? That’s your youth. It’s the same sort of rage which sets people scraping ruins, when such charming weeds vanish! Half the attraction of everything consists in its little defects.”
Miss Arbuthnot spoke with extreme laziness, quite indifferent to the impression she produced; and the girl, who hated to be reminded of her youth, and felt as if her own efforts were belittled, was provoked.
“If the world thought as you do,” she said gravely, “there would be no advancement, no gain.”
“And how enjoyable!” sighed Miss Arbuthnot. “Are you going to cut down many more of poor Harry’s favourite trees?”
Claudia coloured.
“I have only cut what was necessary,” she said with still greater dignity.
“From your point of view—yes. But from his?”
“Does he object?”
“He? Oh no, he knows better.”
“I don’t think you understand,” said Claudia impatiently. “I came here to try to make the place more beautiful—”