Cecily was too considerate of others' feelings for that, yet had not the habit of smooth falsehood.
"I am not very familiar with this kind of work," she said.

"Please let me just look and think, and tell me your own thoughts about each." Madeline was not displeased.

Already she had discovered that in most directions Miss Doran altogether exceeded her own reach, and that it was not safe to talk conscious nonsense to her.

The tone of modesty seemed unaffected, and, as Madeline had reasons for trying to believe in Clifford Marsh, it gratified her to feel that here at length she might tread firmly and hold her own.

The examination of the drawings proceeded, with the result that Cecily's original misgiving was strongly confirmed.