There are people who are wholly indifferent about their
surroundings, and lead the life dictated by civilized custom only
because they are slaves of custom, Margaret was not one of these.
She not only adopted all the comforts and luxuries that were
current, she also spent much tune in thinking out new luxuries,
new refinements upon those she already had. She was through, and
through the luxurious idler; she made of idling a career--pursued
it with intelligent purpose where others simply drifted, yawning
when pastimes were not provided for them. She was as industrious
and ingenious at her career as a Craig at furthering himself and
his ideas in a public career.
Like the others of her class she left the care of her mind to
chance. As she had a naturally good mind and a bird-like instinct
for flitting everywhere, picking out the food from the chaff, she
made an excellent showing even in the company of serious people.
But that was accident. Her person was her real care. To her
luxurious, sensuous nature every kind of pleasurable physical
sensation made keen appeal, and she strove in every way to make it
keener. She took the greatest care of her health, because health
meant beauty and every nerve and organ in condition to enjoy to
its uttermost capacity.
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