He turned to her with his teasing laugh and was suddenly conscious of her new elegance. Where was the 'Sunday school teacher'? Transformed!—in five weeks—into this vision that was sitting opposite to him? Really, women were too wonderful! His male sense felt a kind of scorn for the plasticity of the sex.
'He has asked your opinion?' said Lucy, pursuing the subject.
'Yes. I told him the book was excellent—and his condemnation certain.'
Lucy bit her lip.
'Who did it?'
'The Jesuits—probably.'
'And you defend them?'
'Of course!—They're the only gentlemen in Europe who thoroughly understand their own business.'
'What a business!' said Lucy, breathing quick.—'To rush on every little bit of truth they see and stamp it out!'
'Like any other dangerous firework,—your simile is excellent.'