At Bartles, such talk would have qualified the talker for social excommunication, and every other pain and penalty Bartles had in its power to inflict.

She observed that Cecily's interest increased.

The girl listened frankly; no sense of anything improper appeared in her visage.

Nay, she was about to interpose a remark.
"Isn't there a hope, Mr.Elgar, that this envy of which you speak will be one of the things that the upward path leaves behind ?" "I should like to believe it, Miss Doran," he answered, his eyes kindling at hers.

"It's true that I haven't yet gone very far." "I like so much to believe it that I _do_ believe it," the girl continued impulsively.
"Your progress in that direction exceeds mine." "Don't be troubled by the compliment," interjected Eleanor, before Cecily could speak.