reproof in her tone; "talking
scandal is a sad habit."

"But it isn't scandal to say that a man is in love with a woman--in
fact, it is the very opposite. It is much worse scandal never to talk
about a woman in that way, because that means that you think she is
either too old or too ugly to have a lover, and that is the worst
scandal of all. I always feel immensely tickled when I hear women
pluming themselves on the fact that they never get talked about; and I
long to say to them, 'There is nothing to be proud of in that, my dears;
it only means that the world is tacitly calling you stupid old frights.'
Why, I'd rather people found fault with me than did not talk about me at
all."

"Then I am afraid you are not 'content to fill a little space,'" said
Mrs. Herbert severely.

"To tell you the truth I don't think I am," replied Elisabeth, with
engaging frankness; "conceit is my besetting sin and I know it. Not
stately, scornful, dignified pride, but downright, inflated, perky,
puffed-up conceit. I have often remarked upon it to Christopher, and he
has always agreed with me."

"But, my dear, the consciousness of a fault is surely one step toward
its cure."

"Not it," replied Elisabeth, shaking her head; "I've always known I am
conceited, yet I get conceiteder and conceiteder every year. Bless you!
I don't want to 'fill a little space,' and I particularly don't want 'a
heart at leisure from itself'; I think that is such a dull, old-maidish
sort of thing to have--I wouldn't have one for anything. People who have
hearts at leisure from themselves always want to understudy Providence,
you will notice."

Mrs. Herbert looked shocked. "My dear, what do you mean?"

"I mean that really good people, who have no interests of their own, are
too fond of playing the part of Providence to other people. That their
motives are excellent I admit; they are not a bit selfish, and they
interfere with you for your own good; but they successfully accomplish
as much incurable mischief in half an hour as it would take half a dozen
professional mischief-makers at least a year to finish off
satisfactorily. If they can not mind their own business it doesn't
follow that Providence can't either, don't you see?"

Whereupon Felicia entered the room, and the conversation was abruptly
closed; but not before Mrs. Herbert had decided that if Providence had
selected her daughter as the consoler of Christopher's sorrows,
Providence must be gently and