"Roberts, you are a sensualist," Sanborn interposed gravely.
Mason imperturbably proceeded.
"The girl has power of some sort. I rather suspect it to be dramatic, but that's mimetic and of a low order, anyway. Her primary distinction, with me, consists in something quite other than these. The girl has character, and that's saying a good deal about a woman, especially a girl. She has departed widely from the conventional type without losing essential womanliness."
"Ah, now we are coming at it!" they all exclaimed, as they drew around him, with exaggerated expressions of interest.
"The girl is darkly individual, and very attractive because of it; but you make of her a social success, as I can see Isabel is planning to do, and get her to wearing low-necked dresses and impoverishing her people, and you'll take all the charm out of her."
"I don't believe it!" said Isabel.
"It hasn't hurt Dr. Herrick," put in Roberts. "I must say I'd like to see the girl in a low-necked dress"—he waved his hand to hold them in check. "Now, hold on! I know that sounds bad, but I mean it all right."
"Oh, no doubt!" They laughed at his embarrassment.
Mason interposed. "Roberts' long stay among the Wallapi and Tlinkit wigwams has perverted his naturally moral nature."
Roberts shook his hands in deprecation, but made no further protest.