"Yes, for boys.

But for girls, I feel with Rupert that you get something in English schools that--" She hesitated, looking uncertainly at her elder daughter.
"Yes, and perhaps lose something, Mamma," said Adrien quietly.

"I mean," she added hastily, "you lose touch with a lot of things and people, friends.

Now, for instance, you remember when we were all children, boys and girls together, at the Public School, Annette was one of the cleverest and best of the lot of us, I used to be fond of her--and the others.

Now--" "But you can't help growing up," said Rupert, "and--well, democracy is all right and that sort of thing, but you must drift into your class you know.