'I don't know.'
'You must show me the dress you wore. You described it beautifully in your letter. You must have looked very sweet. Did everybody say so?'
'I am not sure that they did. Men, you know, do not always admire what women do.'
'I should think not. Men only admire beastliness.'
'Cecilia dear, you shouldn't talk like that; it isn't nice.'
Cecilia looked at Alice wistfully, and she said:
'But tell me about the presentations. I suppose there were an immense number of people present?'
'Yes, and particularly débutantes; there were a great number presented this year. It was considered a large Drawing-Room.'
'And how are you presented? I've heard my sister speak about it, but I never quite understood.'
At that moment Barnes brought in the tea. She set it on a little table used for the purpose.