'Isn't it? Why not?'
'It is something else,' said Betty, eyeing still the figure she was commenting on. 'You don't speak of balance unless—how shall I put it? Don't you know what I mean?'
'No!' laughed her companion.
'You might save me the trouble of telling you, if you were clever. You know you do not speak of "balance," except—well, except where either the footing or the feet are somehow doubtful. You would not think of "balance" as belonging to a mountain.'
'A mountain!' said the other, looking over at Esther, and still laughing.
'Yes; I grant you there is not much in common between the two things; only that element of undisturbableness. Do you know Miss Gainsborough?'
'I have not the honour. I have never met her before.'
'I must know her. Who can introduce me?' And finding her hostess at this moment near her, Betty went on: 'Dear Mrs. Chatsworth, do take me over and introduce me to Miss Gainsborough! I am filled with admiration and curiosity. But first, who is she?'
'I really can tell you little. She is a great favourite of my friend
Miss Fairbairn; that is how I came to know her. She teaches in Mme.
Duval's school. She is English, I believe. Miss Fairbairn says she is
very highly accomplished; and I believe it is true.'
'Well, please introduce me. I am dying to know her.'