When fruit had been set before them--and as he was peeling a banana: "What a vast difference," said Hilliard, "between the life of people who dine, and of those who don't! It isn't the mere pleasure of eating, the quality of the food--though that must have a great influence on mind and character.

But to sit for an hour or two each evening in quiet, orderly enjoyment, with graceful things about one, talking of whatever is pleasant--how it civilises! Until three months ago I never dined in my life, and I know well what a change it has made in me." "I never dined till this evening," said Eve.
"Never?
This is the first time you have been at a restaurant ?" "For dinner--yes." Hilliard heard the avowal with surprise and delight.

After all, there could not have been much intimacy between her and the man she met at the Exhibition.
"When I go back to slavery," he continued, "I shall bear it more philosophically.

It was making me a brute, but I think there'll be no more danger of that.

The memory of civilisation will abide with me.