“Beryl must be almost irresistible to young men,” she said. “She combines beauty with brains, and she has the audacity which nearly always appeals to youth. Besides, unconventionality is really the salt of our over-civilized life, and she has it in abundance. She doesn’t merely pretend to it. It is part of her.”
“She may grow out of it in time.”
“I hope she won’t,” said Lady Sellingworth, rather decisively. “If she did she would lose a great deal of her charm.”
“Well, but when she marries?”
“Is she thinking of marrying?”
“Girls of her age usually are, I fancy.”
“If she marries the right man he won’t mind her unconventionality. He may even enjoy it.”
It occurred to Braybrooke that Adela Sellingworth was supposed to have done a great many unconventional things at one time. Nevertheless he could not help saying:
“I think most husbands prefer their wives to keep within bounds.”
“Beryl may never marry,” said Lady Sellingworth, rather thoughtfully. “She is an odd girl. I could imagine—”