The debate went on for a long time, ultimately with no little vigour on both sides.

Its only immediate result was that Marsh left the house for a few days, retiring to meditate at Pompeii.
In the mean time there was no apparent diminution in Madeline's friendliness towards Cecily Doran.

It was not to be supposed that Madeline thought tenderly of the other's beauty, or with warm admiration of her endowments; but she would not let Clifford Marsh imagine that it mattered to her in the least if he at once transferred his devotion to Miss Doran.

Her tone in conversing with Cecily became a little more patronizing,--though she spoke no more of impressionism,--in proportion as she discovered the younger girl's openness of mind and her lack of self-assertiveness.
"You play the piano, I think ?" she said one day.
"For my own amusement only." "And you draw ?" "With the same reserve." "Ah," said Madeline, "I have long since given up these things.

Don't you think it is a pity to make a pastime of an art?
I soon saw that I was never likely really to _do_ anything in music or drawing, and out of respect for them I ceased to--to potter.