'She looks rather clever.'
'Doesn't that show she's stupid? Nobody ought to look clever. Do you admire Mrs. Sarratt?'
'Can one help it? Or are you going also to maintain,' laughed the general, 'that no one can be beautiful who looks it?'
'One could maintain it—easily. The best kind of beauty has always to be discovered. What do you think, Captain Marsworth?'
She turned—provokingly—to the soldier on her left hand.
'About beauty?' He looked up listlessly. 'I've no idea. The day's too hot.'
Cicely eyed him.
'You're tired!' she said peremptorily. 'You've been doing too much. You ought to go and rest.'
He smiled, and standing back he let them pass him. Turning into a side path he disappeared towards the hospital.
'Poor old fellow!—he still looks very delicate,' said the General. 'How is he really getting on?'