' Mámma—ah, you like me to say mother—mother was one of the hosts,' she observed.
' I know. But you asked me what I thought.'
' Reggie's very rich,' she said. ' It doesn't make any difference to him. I suppose a beggar would think me idiotic to wear jewels, which might be converted into cash. At least, I suppose it is that you mean—the senseless expenditure.'
' No; one can't say any expenditure is senseless,' said he, ' since it is a matter of degree, a matter of how much you have to spend. If a man spent all his capital on such an entertainment, or indeed on any, it would be senseless, but, as you say, Armstrong is very rich.'
' What do you mean, then?'
' I mean that it is idiotic, because it doesn't give one any real pleasure. It gives one real pleasure to see those pearls lying on your neck.'
' Oh, but it does give pleasure, though perhaps not to you,' she said. ' Lots of people here think it's just exquisite. I suppose that means they are idiots.'
She paused a moment.
' You've been very frank,' she said; ' I will be, too. When I see you here, when I see that darling Ginger here, I think it is idiotic. But I don't otherwise. You see, I've been brought up in it all. You have been brought up differently. All my life I have been in the middle of this—this senseless expenditure. You have been in gray old houses, and big green parks, and quiet places, among people with low voices.'
He made a gesture to stop her. It was no use saying these things.
' No, I want to say this,' she said; ' I have meant to say it often, and I haven't been able. I have chosen, you see—I have chosen you. And I have seen often that we have grated on you; I have seen you thinking how senseless
