But a woman who is natural shocks them, and
they are taken in and pleased by one who poses as more innocent
and impossible than any human being not perfectly imbecile could
remain in a world that conceals nothing.... I despise Grant--I
like him, but despise him."
"He IS small," admitted Lucia.
"Small? He's infinitesimal. He'd be mean with his wife about
money. He'd run the house himself. He should have been a butler."
"But, at least, he's a gentleman." "Oh, yes," said Margaret. "Yes,
I suppose so. I despise him, while, in a way, I respect Craig."
"He has such a tough-looking skin," said Lucia.
"I don't mind that in a man," replied Margaret.
"His hands are like--like a coachman's," said Lucia. "Whenever I
look at them I think of Thomas."
"No, they're more like the parrot's--they're claws. ...That's why
I'm marrying him."
"Because he has ugly hands?"
"Because they're ugly in just that way. They're the hands of the
man who gets things and holds on to things. I'm taking him because
he can get for me what I need." Margaret patted her sister on the
shoulder. "Cheer up, Lucia! I'm lucky, I tell you. I'm getting,
merely at the price of a little lying and a little shuddering,
what most people can't get at any price.
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