legory? Nature and nature's laws constitute the Devil. God is the
opposing Force. It is a law of nature to kill off the weak, to crush
that which has fallen in the struggle. It is God who helps the weak--who
helps the feeble."

"But merely a force?"

"Oh, I have no private opinion on that part of the question. I am not
like that modern philosopher who fancied he had solved the whole problem
by spelling God with a small g. But don't you think that we have gone
quite far enough in our exchange of confidence for a first meeting?
You are what the Italians call _simpatica_--that is, more than merely
sympathetic. You look at one, and lead one on to confide in you as one
does not confide in most girls. You are a thoroughly dangerous young
woman, Miss Ayrton, though you are Mrs. Linton's dearest friend. By the
way, can you make her confide in you?"

There seemed to be a measure of curiosity, not to say anxiety, in the
tone of this inquiry.

"Well, she makes me confide in her. I wonder if that is just the same
thing," said Phyllis.

"It's not exactly the same thing," said he. "But it's the proper course
for dearest friends to adopt toward each other. For the maintenance of
a firm friendship between any two persons, only one should confide; the
other should be strictly the confidante. By the way, I wonder what is
the average duration of the dearest friendship between two women."

"Why should it have any limits?" said Phyllis gravely. "What is the
duration of the friendship between two men?"

"It mostly depends on when the woman makes her appearance," said he,
with a laugh.

"Ah! So that----Ah, never mind. Ella was my dearest friend before Mr.
Linton put in an appearance."

"And he was mine before she put in an appearance," said he.

"I didn't know that," said Phyllis.

"There, you see, is my contention borne out," said he. "You are the one
who confides; she is the one who receives the confidences, and respects
them, I'm sure. I hope that you will do the same, Miss Ayrton. Don't let
anyone know that I confided in you all that I think on the subject of
the old Adam and the new Eve."

"No one except Ella Linton, and you know that I can keep nothing from
her if we are to remain dearest friends. Perhaps she knows already the
limits of your belief, Mr. Courtland."

"She does--she does."

At that moment Ella Linton came up with Lord Earlscourt.

"Has Mr. Courtland been telling you all about the bird of paradise?" she