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be found in most manifestations of sentiment that take place in polite
society. A perfectly plain and unattractive female may, of course, be
sincerely attached to her beautiful friend, but her partisanship must be
somewhat theoretical; it has not the _esprit de corps_ which
characterizes the other class. These last can count victories enough of
their own to be able to sympathize heartily with the triumphs of their
fellows without envying or grudging them one. What does it matter if
Rose has slain her thousands and Lilian her tens of thousands? It is
always so much scored up to our side.
Would you like to assist, invisibly, at one of those twohanded
freeandeasies, where notes are compared and confidences exchanged,
where the fair warriors shoulder their _fans_, and show how fields were
won? Perhaps our vanity would suffer though our curiosity were
gratified. The proverb about listeners has come in since the time of
Gyges, it is true; but his luck was exceptional, and would not often
follow his Ring. Campaspe _en deshabille_ is not invariably kind. It is
a popular superstition that men are apt, at certain seasons, to speak
rather lightly, if not superciliously, of the beings whom they ought to
delight to honor. If so, be sure the medal has its reverse. When you
secured that gardenia from Amy's bouquet, or that ribbon from Helen's
glove trimming, you went home with a placid sense of selfgratulation,
flattering yourself you had done it rather diplomatically, without
compromising your boasted freedom by word or sign. Perhaps, two hours
later, you figured conspicuously in a train of shadowy captives adorning
the conqueror's ideal ovation. A change of color of which you were
unconscious, a tremulous pressure of fingers that you risked
involuntarilya sentence that was meant to be careless and indifferent,
but ended by being earnest and imploringall these were commented upon
in the select committee, and estimated at their proper value.
Very keensighted are those soft almond eyes ambushed behind their
trailing lashes, and from them the sternest stoic may not long conceal
his wound. The Knight of Persia never groaned, or shrank, or drooped his
crest when the quarrel struck him; but Amala needed only to look down to
see his blood red upon the waters of the ford. Some penalty must attach
itself to unauthorized intruders, even in thought, upon the _Cerealia_.
I don't wish to be disagreeable, or to suggest unpleasant misgivings to
the masculine mind, butdo you think we are always compassionated as
much as we deserve? I own to a horrible suspicion that our betrayals of
weakness form matter of exultation, and that our tenderest emotions are
not unfrequently derided.
Clearly this delightful sympathy can only exist where fancies, and
ambitions, and interests do not clash. They seldom need do so: there is
room enough for all. So much disposable devotion is abroad in this

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