No," Elfrida went on decisively, "people with anything in them that is worth saving may love as much as they feel disposed, but they ought to keep their freedom.

And some of them do nowadays." "Do you mean," said Janet slowly, "that they dispense with the ceremony ?" "They dispense with the condition.

They--they don't go so far." "I thought you didn't believe in Platonics," Janet answered, with wilful misunderstanding.
"You know I don't believe in them.

Any more," Elfrida added lightly, "than I believe in this exaltation you impute to the race of a passion it shares with--with the mollusks.

It's pure self-flattery." There was a moment's silence.