'Oh, Eveline,' she exclaimed, 'what advantages men have over us in this world.'
'Of course they have,' replied her cousin, 'but to what do you refer in the present instance?'
'Now, if we were men, we could start for Egypt alone; as it is, we can only go with your papa.'
'If you were a man, Olive, you would not think of going at all.'
'Indeed—why?'
'Little goose! If a man, would you be engaged to Allan? Are you going to become an advocate for women's "rights"—whatever they may be?'
'No—but it is tiresome to have to run in the grooves of life that men lay down for us. Poor creatures, we are only in their eyes the weaker vessels after all.'
'But weaker vessels they make a great fuss with; but how we chatter! Oh, heavens, if Allan's peril—dear, dear Allan—should be so great!'
Olive shivered at this exclamation, as she alternated—like all girls of a delicate and nervous organization—between high spirits at the prospect of going eastward and the awful dread of what tidings might await her there.
'Going to the East—actually to Egypt! Darling papa, how shall we ever be able to thank you?' exclaimed Eveline, as in her energy she locked her slender fingers so tightly together that the great diamond in one of her rings—a gift of Sir Paget—was cutting into her delicate skin, and yet she felt it not.