"It's in the interest of safety.
People who do not know the mountains would simply go and
get killed in avalanches and hurricanes--and all that.
I suppose that is what the Government wishes to prevent."
"And you're on the side of the Government," said the other,
with a twinkle in her brown eyes. "Truly now--you hated
the whole idea of driving over the Simplon."
Lady Cressage lifted her brows in whimsical assent
as she nodded.
"But do you like this Russian plan any better?"
demanded Celia. "I wish for once you would be absolutely
candid and open with me--and let me know to the uttermost
just what you think." "'For once'?" queried the other.
Her tone was placid enough, but she allowed the significance
of the quotation to be marked.
"Oh, I never wholly know what you're thinking,"
Miss Madden declared. She put on a smile to alleviate the
force of her remarks. "It is not you alone--Edith. Don't
think that! But it is ingrained in your country-women.
You can't help it. It's in your blood to keep things back.
I've met numbers of English ladies who, I'm ready
to believe, would be incapable of telling an untruth.
But I've never met one of whom I could be sure that she
would tell me the whole truth. Don't you see this case
in point," she pursued, with a little laugh, "I could
not drag it out of you that you disliked the Simplon idea,
so long as there was a chance of our going.
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