A Devotee

gens qui ne sont pas pl

health, was always delicate. Lady Pierpoint had had doubts as to whether she ought to winter in England, but not only was Sibyl herself determined so to do, but when Lady Pierpoint saw her in Lo

masked ball in the immediate neighbourhood, w

t. And I hate balls, and I hate society. I was saying so to t

great favour at the Vicarage, annoyed Mr. Loftus. She put them forth, p

ave never seen. Personally, I can see nothing peculiarly obnoxious in my fellow-creatures when they have their di

en much, still, the small-talk is so wearying, and I suppose that is the same every

aning the same as they did, but looking at the trite from a different angle. From her point of van

verge of annoyance that he wa

ling, and Sibyl smiled back at him, delighted at having won his

as shown the cold shoulder, or those, like the Gresleys, who have never seen anything of it, and who

husband being a clergyman made it quite impossible." I wonder why she always says things are quite

ed to be a good ball, consequently it was dangerous. Dowdiness has from a very early date of this world's history been regarded as a

eally going t

ven numbers. People cannot give balls in the country, Sibyl, if none of the neighbours will take the trouble to fill their houses. I have

he discovered that Mr. Loftus actually regarded certain social acts as a duty, and this masked ball as one in particular, she immediately changed her

Gresleys when they talked of society as a snare,

ung people I should be the last to blame. We cannot keep the bow always at full stretch. But when it comes to ball after ball, party after party, and pleasure is made a business, instead of a recreation, by which I mean that which restores el

thought Mr. Gresley a very sensible person,

ey had estimated 'at its true worth.' If she had possessed both the means and the inclination, she would perhaps have discovered that she was no nearer to that vortex than the many thousands who annually make a pilgrimage to London only to be tossed on the outermost ripple of the whirlpool, an

their ignorance, but, as Sibyl told the Gre

certainly growing upon