more to Madame de Belcour; and the two older ladies were loud in praise of the young Englishman's agreeability and petits soins. But now, for a few minutes at least, he had the field to himself, unshadowed by any necessity for cautious tact or dissimulation. And it must never be forgotten, in our dealings with George Daintree, that, money-bags apart, he was really attracted to Elizabeth Shaw.
He began, "Living, as we do, in the pension, is a great school of discipline, I find."
"Why so? I don't understand."
"In London I lead a very lonely life. I have no one to consider but myself, and an old uncle of mine. I go to the people I like; the others I leave alone. Here, one is forced to associate with a number of people one does not care about, and try to be pleasant to all."
Elizabeth laughed. "I am sure that is your principle through life, Mr. George. I am afraid I am not like that. I didn't try to be pleasant here at all at first. I am wiser now. With one or two exceptions, they are good natured and amusing."
"And you have some real friends among them. I have none. Your friends dislike me—I know it. You must not let them prejudice you against me, Miss Shaw."
She smiled a little. "I am not easily prejudiced by others—not easily enough, perhaps. No one can help likes and dislikes."
"Certainly not. And I should not complain of Miss Baring's dislike if I were not afraid that she may influence you. I don't know what I have done to annoy her—unless it be that I differ from her brother on
