But it's such bosh!" he cried scornfully. "It makes me sick to hear a
fellow talk such nonsense. Balls and dinners--faugh! If that's your
idea of happiness, why not settle down in London and be done with it!
That's the place for you! I'd give my ears to go round the world, but I
wouldn't thank you to go with a dress suit and a valet; I'd want to
rough it, to get right out of the track of civilisation and taste a new
life; to live with the Bedouin in their tents as some of those artist
fellows have done, or make friends with a tribe of savages.
Magnificent! I'd keep a notebook with an account of all I did, and all
the strange plants and flowers and insects I came across, and write a
book when I came home. I'd a lot rather rough it in Africa than lounge
about Piccadilly in a frock coat and tall hat." Robert sighed at the
hard prospect which lay before him as the son of a noble house, then
looked across the table with a smile: "And what says the fair Mariquita?
What _role_ in life is she going to patronise when she comes to years
of discretion?"

Peggy nibbled the end of her pen and stared into space.

"I've not quite decided," she said slowly. "I should like to be either
an author or an orator, but I'm not sure which. I think, on the whole,
an orator, because then you could watch the effect of your words. It is
not possible, of course, but what I should like best would be to be the
Archbishop of Canterbury, or some great dignitary of the Church. Oh,
just imagine it! To stand up in the pulpit and see the dim cathedral
before one, and the faces of the people looking up, white and solemn.--
I'd stand waiting until the roll of the organ died away, and there was a
great silence; then I would look at them, and say to myself--`A thousand
people, two thousand people, and for half an hour they are in my power.
I can make them think as I will, see as I will, feel as I will. They
are mine! I am their leader.'--I cannot imagine anything in the world
more splendid than that! I should choose to be the most wonderful
orator that was ever known, and people would come from all over the
world to hear me, and I would say beautiful things in beautiful words,
and see the answer in their faces, and meet the flash in the eyes
looking up into mine. Oh-h! if it could only--only be true; but it
can't, you see. I am a girl, and if I try to do anything in public I am
as nervous as a rabbit, and can only squeak, squeak, squeak in a t