"Never," exclaimed the duchess. "Is that the secret of their German education?"
"Apparently, for we cannot raise them to the same pitch of perfection in
England."
"I will try it upon mine. Every morning they shall have two big bunches."
"Fresh plucked, and with the first sunlight on them. Be careful of the rules."
Wilfrid remarked, "To make them exhibit the results, you withdraw the benefit suddenly, of course?"
"We imitate the general run of Fortune's gifts as much as we can," said
Merthyr.
"That is the training for little shrill parrots: we have none in Italy,"
Laura sighed, mock dolefully; "I fear the system would fail among us."
"It certainly would not build Como villas," said Lena.
Laura cast sharp eyes on her pretty face.
"It is adapted for caged voices that are required to chirrup to tickle the ears of boors."