Page:Friendship, by Ouida.djvu/11

 put all that into it? We should applaud it on the stage; but it only sounds uncomfortable off;—you dont mind my saying what I think?'

'Pray always say what you think. Would you continue to know Mrs. Henry V. Clams if her husband were ruined to-morrow?'

'Goodness me! of course not; and she would never expect it—never. She does know her place. There is nothing like a free and independent citizen for taking slights good-temperedly. I never knew how much kicking a human being would stand until I knew these born-democrats. One didn't know them twenty years ago. I don't know why we didn't. They hadn't struck oil, I suppose, and made it worth our while; or Worth hadn't dressed them, and they were still mere natural tar and feathers. Somehow we didn't know them. Perhaps they hadn't come over to "Eurōpe." Know her if she were ruined? The idea! You might as well ask would Fontebranda continue to filer le parfait amour.'

'Poor woman!' said Etoile.

'You needn't pity her, my dear. You may be quite sure she knows quite well the terms