THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 155 



matter of fact I am afraid of her. She poses as a 

 goodnatured, motherly woman, and sad to say I 

 have learned to beware of such — in the general, 

 not in the particular, I hasten emphatically to add. 

 In her vicinity I step lightly and avoid treading on 

 her corns; for her sort never forgets or forgives. 

 The impulsive, look-out-for-yourself, outspoken 

 kind does; one dwells in no fear of that species, 

 male or female. I also am surprised that so tact- 

 ful a lady should blunder into trying a dose of gos- 

 sip on me. Few make that mistake, although no 

 doubt the majority regard such an attitude as a 

 symptom of "queerness." Assertions bearing im- 

 probability on their very face were this morning 

 offered as a pill to be swallowed whole, without 

 question. In rejecting the dose I was tempted to 

 retort that everything Arcadian has forsaken Ar- 

 cadia except its stupidity: fortunately prudence 

 intervened, and as aforesaid we parted on the 

 pleasantest of terms, though my departure was 

 hastened not merely by the rising gale. Provincial 

 society is abominably lacking in simplicity. Friend- 

 ship, for instance — that blessed tie uniting man and 

 woman — it declines to acknowledge as a possibility, 

 going so far as to besmirch it with foul names — 

 for the reason probably that such a helpful and 

 gentle sentiment cannot long exist unmarred within 

 its boundaries. Civilization in its finest flower — 

 which is Simplicity — alone represents friendship be- 

 twixt man and woman. It would not be a bad idea 

 for the Modern Woman, who we are assured is to 

 "Uplift" Mere Man, to try her hand first on en- 



