"No," said Dolly softly.
"Have you discovered the philosopher's stone?" said Lawrence; "and can you turn common things into gold for your purposes?"
"Yes," said Dolly in the same way.
"Let us hear how, won't you? Is it books, or writing, or art perhaps? You are very fond of that, I know."
"No," said Dolly slowly; "and I cannot show it to you, either, Mr. St. Leger. It is like the golden water in the story in the Arabian Nights, which was at the top of a hill, and people went up the hill to get it; but on the way so many strange voices sounded in their ears that they were tempted to look round; and if they looked round they were turned to stone. So the way was marked with stones."
"And nobody got the golden water?"
"Yes. At last one went up, who being forewarned, stopped her ears and never looked round. She got to the top and found the golden water. We in these times give it another name. It is the water of life."
"What are you talking about, Dolly?" said her mother.
"Must one go up the hill with one's ears stopped now, to get the wonderful water?" Lawrence asked. Dolly nodded.
"And when you have got it—what then?"