I wonder if Eve was tired of Adam's conversation, and if that made her listen to--the other party." "I am so glad you mentioned that circumstance, Ethel.

I shall remember it.

Some day, no doubt, I shall have to remind Basil of the failure of Adam to satisfy Eve's idea of perfect companionship." And Dora put her pretty, jeweled hands up to her ears and laughed a low, musical laugh with a childish note of malice running through it.
This pseudo-reconciliation was not conducive to pleasant intercourse.
After a short delay Ethel made an excuse for an early departure, and Dora accepted it without her usual remonstrance.

The day had been one of continual friction, and Dora's irritable pettishness hard to bear, because it had now lost that childish unreason which had always induced Ethel's patience, for Dora had lately put away all her ignorant immaturities.

She had become a person of importance, and had realized the fact.