"Why shouldn't they wear feathers in their hats?
It is their form of beauty--their tapestry!" "But if one can't have both feathers and boots ?" he asked her humbly, a twinkle in his grey eye.

"If one hasn't boots, one may catch a cold and die of it--which is, after all, worse than going featherless." "But why _can't_ they have feathers and boots?
It is because you--we--have got too much.

You have the tapestry--and--and the pictures"-- she turned and looked round the room--"and this wonderful house--and the park.

Oh, no--I think it is Miss Raeburn has too many feathers!" "Perhaps it is," he admitted, in a different tone, his look changing and saddening as though some habitual struggle of thought were recalled to him.

"You see I am in a difficulty.