“Yes. She is criticized, of course. She lives very unconventionally, although Fanny Cronin is always officially with her.”
“Fanny Cronin?”
“Her dame de compagnie.”
“Oh, the lady who reads Paul Bourget!”
“I believe she does. Anyhow, one seldom sees her about. Beryl Van Tuyn is very audacious. She does things that no other lovely girl in her position would ever dare to do, or could do without peril to her reputation. But somehow she brings them off. Mind, I haven’t a word to say against her. She is exceedingly clever and has mastered the difficult art of making people accept from her what they wouldn’t accept for a moment from any other unmarried girl in society. She may be said to have a position of her own. Do you like her?”
“Yes, I think I do. She is lovely and very good company.”
“Frenchmen rave about her.”
“And Frenchwomen?”
“Oh, they all know her. She carries things through. That really is the art of life, to be able to carry things through. Her bronzes are quite remarkable. By the way, she has an excellent brain. She cares for the arts. She is by no means a fribble. I have been surprised by her knowledge more than once.”
“She seems very fond of Lady Sellingworth. She wants to get her over to Paris.”