Lord Earlscourt had gone more than once to Paris for a change of scene, and had found it; Lady Earlscourt was thirty-two, and wore evangelical boots.) But, of course, since George Holland's enterprise had turned out so well socially, people who entertained could not be hard on him.

There was the new religion to be counted upon.

It was just as likely as not that he would actually start a new religion, and you can't be hard upon a man who starts a new religion.

There was Buddha, for instance,--that was a long time ago, to be sure; but still there he was, the most important factor to be considered in attempting to solve the great question of the reconcilement of the religions of the East,--Buddha, and Wesley, and Edward Irving, and Confucius, and General Booth; if you took them all seriously where would you be?
"Oh, no, my dear Phyllis!" continued Lady Earlscourt; "you must not persist in your ill-treatment of Mr.Holland.If you do he may marry someone else." Phyllis shook her head.
"I hope he will, indeed," said she.

"He certainly will never marry me." "Do not be obdurate," said Lady Earlscourt.