Jones Susan Morrow - A Girl of the North. A Story of London and Canada стр 10.

I do not object. Men are different; they are coarse. They like kissing indiscriminate kissing.

Launa laughed, and said, Go on.

If I love a man I shall not care what he has past, present, anything, if he loves me. I would like one man to really love me.

You have been married, suggested Launa.

But not loved. My husband was nice; we never quarrelled, but we never made it up. Nice men do not love women; they ask us to marry them, to be mothers to their children. Devils love us and often leave us.

For some time there was silence.

You like Mr. Herbert? again asked Mrs. Phillips.

He wants to marry you, said Launa.

He thinks he does. I am afraid of marriage. I am four-and-twenty and I feel fifty; he is thirty and seems twenty.

If I were a man, said Launa, I would love you. You are not merely beautiful; you are more not only attractive, you will never grow old.

Thank you, dear, said Mrs. Phillips; that is a compliment.

Mrs. Phillips was small and slight; her hair was a very dark brown, her lips were red, her eyes large and dark blue. Her mouth was the most beautiful part of her face. Her fascination was great; men loved her, went mad over her, and loved her still. She was not good-tempered; a man would never have chosen her for his friend merely. She was variable; not the least of her attraction was that men never could tell how she would treat them. Some women lose their power by their variableness; Mrs. Phillips gained hers. She was cold, yet she could have been passionately fond; but she worshipped self-control, and considered a man ceases to care for a woman when once he is sure of her.

I shall marry him, she said. I think I shall. He is not poor, but I shall never live with him.

Why not? What will you do?

Though he cares for me, he will grow tired of marriage, and so shall I. The accessibility of a wife is so dull. I shall live in my own flat, and he can keep his rooms. Our marriage notice in all the papers will be followed by a weeks honeymoon, and then he can go back to his work, and I can play. He must love me better for not being sure of me at breakfast, weary of me at dinner, and asleep in the drawing-room at night. All the attraction of the she paused of the others will be mine. I shall be his wife. We can entertain, and he will be sure of me.

Do men always grow tired of us? asked Launa, even if or when they love us?

Not always tired, but secure. If they were merely tired, they would let us alone. They cease to desire to please us; we belong to them. Ah, my dear, love! do men love us? Yes, they love us, but do they love one woman?

Launas clock struck twelve.

I must go to bed, said Lily Phillips. I shall not kiss you. Women should never kiss each other. Good-night.

Good-night, repeated Launa.

That Carden man will want to marry you, Launa. Beware of them both. He is a worm, and has awful legs!

A few nights after this, Mrs. Phillips took Launa to a ball given by some bachelors eligible, delightful young men whose reputation for wickedness was wholly obliterated by their fortunes or the want thereof.

Captain Carden was there. He had procured his invitation with great difficulty. The mother of one bachelor had cause for gratitude towards him. Her son was in his regiment, and when his reputation promised to become inconveniently large, Captain Carden for once used his wits, saved him from the consequences thereof, and the family felt they owed Captain Carden something. Mrs. Carden rejoiced. She thanked Providence for having delivered the sons of the enemy into her hand, and piously glanced at the ceiling (where a brass chandelier hung, symbolic of the worship of light, also brass) when Charlie related his success. He disliked Mrs. Phillips. She circumvented him by introducing several men to Launa before Captain Carden could demand more dances than he had a right to expect. But then she could give him only two.

Mr. George will amuse you, dear, said Mrs. Phillips to Launa. He is clever, and will tell you about his books.