From time to time men have wished to take her from us, but the standard has been inexorable, and none of them have reached it.

When Dacres married the charming American whom he caught like a butterfly upon her Eastern tour, Cecily sent them as a wedding present an alabaster model of the Taj, and I let her do it--the gift was so exquisitely appropriate.

I suppose he never looks at it without being reminded that he didn't marry Miss Farnham, and I hope that he remembers that he owes it to Miss Farnham's mother.

So much I think I might claim; it is really very little considering what it stands for.

Cecily is permanently with us--I believe she considers herself an intimate.