tells me what I ought to do."

"It is quite unnecessary, I have no doubt," Guido answered promptly, and
smiling again.

"You mean quite useless, because I should not do it?"

"Why should I be supposed to know that you are spoiled--if you are?
Besides, you must not take up a man every time he makes you a silly
compliment."

"Ah, now you are telling me what I ought to do! I like that better.
Thank you!" Guido was amused.

"Are you really grateful?" he asked, laughing a little. "Do you always
speak the truth?"

"Yes! Do you?" She asked the question sharply, as if she meant to
surprise him.

"I never lied to a man in my life," Guido answered.

"But you have to women?"

"I suppose so," said Guido, considerably diverted. "Most of us do, in
moments of enthusiasm."

"Really! And--are you often--enthusiastic?"

"No. Very rarely. Besides, I do not know whether it is worse in a man to
tell fibs to please a woman, than it is in a woman to disbelieve what an
honest man tells her on his word. Which is the least wrong, do you
think?"

"But since you admit that most men do not tell the truth to women----"

"I said, on one's word of honour. There is a difference."

"In theory," said Cecilia.

"Are there theories about lying?" asked Guido.

"Oh yes," answered the young girl, without hesitation. "There is
Puffendorf's, for instance, in his book on the Law of Nature and
Nations----"

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Guido.

"Certainly. He makes out that there is a sort of unwritten agreement
amongst all men that words shall be used in a definite sense which
others can understand. That sounds sensible. And then, Saint Augustin,
and La Placette, and Noodt----"

"My dear young lady, you have led me quite out of my depth! What do
those good people say?"

"That all lying is absolutely wrong in itself, whether it harms anybody
or not."

"And what do you think about it? That would be much more interesting to
know."

"I told you, I always tell the truth," Cecilia answered demurely.

"Oh yes, of course! I had forgotten."

"And you do not believe it," laughed the young girl. "It is time to go
back to the house."

"If you will stay a little longer, I will believe everything you tell
me."

"No, it is late," answered Cecilia, her manner suddenly changing as the
laugh died out of her voice.

She walked on quickly, and he kept behind her.

"I shall certainly go to your garden party," said Guido.

"Shall you?"

She spo