"I wonder," he thought, "if that was my little unknown dancing partner? Now, she will think I’ve ’spoiled it all.’"
He was in masculine error again. Disconcerted beauty has the consolation that it is beautiful. Otherwise, it remains merely outraged modesty; and bitterness abides in its soul.
Helen, laughingly mentioning the affair to Stephanie, still immensely amused at Cleland’s distress and apologetic blushes, added that the model, Marie Cliff, had been sensible enough to appreciate the humour of it, too.
"You mean," said Stephanie, coldly, "that she didn’t care." And, not smiling, went on with her sewing.
"She’s rather a refined type," said Helen, looking curiously at the girl who, bent over her mending, was plying her needle furiously.
"How odd! She’s quite young, and she’s really very nice and modest—not the type of person you seem to imagine——"
"I don’t _like_ her," interrupted Stephanie calmly. But her slender fingers were flying, and she had set her teeth in her under lip, which had trembled a little.
Helen, chancing to mention Cleland that night as they were preparing for bed, was astonished at Stephanie’s impatient comment:
"Oh, Jim’s quite spoiled. I’m rapidly losing interest in that young man."
"Because he runs about with queer people. No man can do that and not show it in his own manner."
"Well, with Lady Button-eyes for one. With your modest and bashful little model, for another."
"Does he?" Then she began to laugh. "I’m glad he displays good taste, anyway! The little Cliff girl is charming."
"Isn’t that rather a horrid and cynical thing to say?" demanded Stephanie, flushing brightly.
"Why? I think she’s quite all right. Let them play together if they like. It’s none of my business. Are you, the high-priestess of tolerance, becoming intolerant?" she added laughingly.
"No. I don’t care what he does. But I should think he’d prefer to frivol with one of his own class."
"It’s a matter of chance," remarked Helen, brushing out her curly brown hair. "The beggar-maid or Vere-de-Vere—it’s all the same to a man if the girl is sufficiently attractive and amusing."
"Amusing?" repeated Stephanie. "That is a humiliating rôle—to amuse a man."
"If a girl doesn’t, men soon neglect her. Men go where they are amused. Everybody does. You do. I do. Why not?"