then find he wasn't worth the doing, in all probability," added
Cecil.

"Perhaps." And Elisabeth smiled.

"It is delightful to be really talking to you," exclaimed Cecil; "so
delightful that I can hardly believe it is true! I have so longed to
meet you, because--ever since I first saw your pictures--I always knew
you would understand."

"And I knew you would understand, too, as soon as I saw The Daughters of
Philip," replied Elisabeth; and her voice was very soft.

"I think we must have known each other in a former existence," Cecil
continued; "because I do not feel a bit as if I were being introduced to
a stranger, but as if I were meeting an old friend. I have so much to
tell you about all that has happened to me since you and I played
together in the shadow of the Sphinx, or worshipped together in the
temple at Philae; and you will be interested in it all, won't you?"

"Of course I shall. I shall want to know how many centuries ago you
first learned what women's hearts and minds were made of, and who taught
you."

"You taught me, dear lady, one day when we were plucking flowers
together at the foot of Olympus. Don't you remember it? You ought, as it
can't be more than two or three thousand years ago."

"And you've never forgotten it?"

"Never; and never shall. If I had, I shouldn't have been an artist. It
is the men who remember how they lived and loved and suffered during
their former incarnations, that paint pictures and carve statues and
sing songs; and the men who forget everything but this present world,
that make fortunes and eat dinners and govern states."

"And what about the women?"

"Ah! the women who forget, set their hearts upon the attainment of a
fine house and large establishment, with a husband thrown in as a
makeweight; if they succeed, the world calls them happy. While the women
who remember, wait patiently for the man who was one with them at the
beginning of the centuries, and never take any other man in his place;
if they find him, they are so happy that the world is incapable of
understanding how happy they are; and if they don't find him in this
life, they know they will in another, and they are quite content."

"You really are very interesting," remarked Elisabeth graciously.

"Only because you understand me; most women would think me stupid to a
degree if I talked to them in this way. But you are interesting to
everybody, even to the stupid people. Tell me about yourself. Are yo