"My dear, we have not happened to see her—that is all," replied the Major, without any responsive smile at the bright young face smiling up at him.
"You have seen her, I suppose?"
"Yes, I saw her when I was last in London."
"Not this time?"
"Not this time."
"You most unenthusiastic person. But, I understand your motive. You have been waiting an opportunity to take Jessie and me to see this divine Psyche. Is she absolutely lovely?"
"Loveliness is a matter of opinion. She is generally accepted as a particularly pretty woman."
"When will you take me to see her?"
"I have no idea. You have so many engagements—your aunt is always making new ones. I can do nothing without her permission. Surely you like dancing better than sitting in a theatre?"
"No, I do not. Dancing is delightful enough—but to be in a theatre is to be in fairy-land. It is like going into a new world. I leave myself, and my own life, at the doors—and go to live and love and suffer and be glad with the people in the play. To see a powerful play—really well acted—such acting as we have seen—is to live a new life from end to end in a few hours. It is like getting the essence of a lifetime without any of the actual pain—for when the situation is too terrible, one can pinch oneself and say—it is only a dream—an acted dream."