In church, or in the moment of presentation to majesty, it is appropriate, even essential; but it is dependent, like most things, upon circumstances and environment.

No attitude, for instance, could be more suitable and natural to any one wishing to read the page on which a sitting fellow-creature was engaged.

Charles had found it so.

But, as Lady Hope-Acton sailed into the room, he felt that, however conducive to study, it was not the attitude in which he would at that moment have chosen to be found.

Ruth felt the same.