" Marcia was silent a moment. Then a sort of softer gleam came into her angry eye." Tell me some more about her," she said.Adele clapped her hands." Ah, that's splendid," she said. " You're beginning to feel kinder. What we would do without our Lucia I can't imagine. I don't know what there would be to talk about." " She's ridiculous!" said Marcia relapsing a little." No, you mustn't feel that," said Adele. " You mustn't laugh at her ever. You must just richly enjoy her." " She's a snob!" said Marcia, as if this was a tremendous discovery." So am I: so are you: so are we all," said Adele. " We all run after distinguished people like--like Alf and Marcelle. The difference between you and Lucia is entirely in her favour, for you pretend you're not a snob, and she is perfectly frank and open about it. Besides, what is a duchess like you for except to give pleasure to snobs? That's your work in the world, darling; that's why you were sent here. Don't shirk it, or when you're old you will suffer agonies of remorse. And you're a snob too. You liked having seven--or was it seventy?--Royals at your dance." " Well, tell me some more about Lucia," said Marcia, rather struck by this ingenious presentation of the case." Indeed I will: I long for your conversion to Luciaphilism. Now to-day there are going to be marvellous happenings... "