I thought so.

MR. JARVIS--What?

MISS PAYSLEY (_with conviction_)--Your best impulses you never follow
to the end, either in your life or your work. For instance, I imagine
your studio is full of half-finished canvases, the best work you have
done, but unfinished. The work you expose, your finished stuff, is
what has let itself be finished easily!

MR. JARVIS (_suspiciously_)--You guessed that from such of my work as
you've seen.

MISS PAYSLEY (_aside_)--That was a dead steal from Millicent! (_Aloud,
coolly._) I haven't the pleasure of knowing much of your work, Mr.
Jarvis. Please put your right hand under the light. (_Aside._) I'd
better put him in good temper again. Queer how a man loves a chance of
talking uninterruptedly about himself. (_Aloud._) You have an
exaggerated worship of strength in yourself and others.

MR. JARVIS--Where do you see that?

MISS PAYSLEY--In the whole character of your hand. (_Aside._)
Millicent said "strength and the admiration of strength is his
keynote." (_Aloud._) You must see for yourself that your hand isn't a
weak one, and see how the lines are cut--as if with a chisel.
(_Aside._) He's purring already like a Cheshire cat.

MR. JARVIS--What do you mean by an exaggerated worship of strength?

MISS PAYSLEY--I mean you underscore strength too much among the other
virtues.

MR. JARVIS--Can one? A man, I mean?

MISS PAYSLEY--And with that as the foundation of your character, it's
astonishing what weak-minded things you do!

MR. JARVIS--How graceful!

MISS PAYSLEY--What else do you call all those unfinished canvases? The
line of least resistance isn't strength.

MR. JARVIS (_with pathos_)--One would think I were your Sunday-school
class.

MISS PAYSLEY (_aside_)--It's time to give him more toffey. (_Aloud._)
Your popularity has been one of the reasons of your not always
following your creed of strength.

MR. JARVIS (_modestly_)--Yes, my fatal beauty has always stood in the
way of my living up to my ideals!

MISS PAYSLEY (_aside_)--Oh, you may sneer, but you know you like it.
Else you wouldn't be here. (_Aloud._) There is something here I don't
understand.

MR. JARVIS (_aside_)--I was waiting for that to come. (_Aloud._) Go
on!

MISS PAYSLEY--Please let your hand drop over from the wrist. How
unusual!

MR. JARVIS (_interested_)--I've never seen that done before.

MISS PAYSLEY (_tranquilly_)--You have your fortune told early and
often?

MR. JARVIS (_undisturbed_)