Part 31 (1/2)
”But, you see, in this case there are other circ.u.mstances to be considered--there's me. I'm a factor in the question. And shall I tell you to what conclusion I'm drifting?”
”Let's have it.”
”I should like to see Mrs. Lamb. You men know her, but I don't.
She hasn't even come within range of my vision, and though I've the highest respect for you, as men, when it comes to your opinion of a woman, I don't think a man's opinion worth anything.”
”You're quite right--it isn't.” This was Miss Johnson.
”I used to have a high opinion of you.” This was Mr. Staines.
”You used to have!--that I should ever have been so belittled!”
Miss Johnson turned disdainfully from Mr. Staines to Margaret.
”What you say is perfectly correct, my dear, only a woman's opinion of a woman is of the slightest value.”
”The other day I heard a woman express her opinion of you in terms which, if I repeated them to you, might cause you to change your views.”
”Some women!”
”I don't know that I go quite so far as Dollie, and there is something in what Mr. Staines hints, for, of course, there are women whose opinions of each other are merely so many libels.”
”Hear! hear!”
”Do be still! Will somebody sit on Mr. Staines?”
”But this appears to be a case in which a woman's opinion should be the only thing which ought to count--especially if I'm the woman; and, lest you accuse me of overweening conceit, let me hasten to explain. Mrs. Lamb is, I presume, a lady of beauty----”
”She's not bad-looking.” This was Mr. Staines to, of course, Dolly.
”Much you know about a woman's looks!”
”I used to admire yours.”
”Pooh!”
”Apparently of fortune, conceivably of taste. She is supposed to entertain certain sentiments towards a certain gentleman which she ought not to entertain. Actuated by those sentiments she proposes to play the part of a feminine Maecenas and pose as a patron of the drama. These are the allegations which are made against her. Introduce me to her; let me talk to her for half an hour, and I will engage to settle there and then--and finally!--the question as to whether she is a fit and proper person to produce 'The Gordian Knot' and play Lady Glover.”
”I'm content!” cried Harry.
Mr. Winton was more deliberate.
”Well, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, I should be inclined to do more than hesitate before accepting a lady as arbitrator in such a matter, but I have such a high opinion of Miss Wallace, though she herself appraises a masculine estimate of such a subject at less than nothing----”
”I make an exception in your case, Mr. Winton--thank you very much.”
”If she will allow me to say so, I esteem her wide-minded liberality so greatly, and set such value on her keen-sighted appreciation of character----”
”Dear! dear! Margaret, bow!”