She sighed, since no one could
hear her, and she went on. The sigh was not only for the hopelessness
of ever reaching such social greatness; it was in part the outward
show of a real regret that it should have come to an untimely end. Her
admiration of princes was as sincere as her longing to be one of them;
she had at least the melancholy satisfaction of sympathizing with them
in their downfall. It brought her a little nearer to them in
imagination if not in fact.
The evolution of the snob has been going on quickly of late, and
quicker than ever since vast wealth has given so many of the species
the balance of at least one sort of power in society. His thoughts are
still the same, but his outward shape approaches strangely near to
that of the human being. There are snobs now, who behave almost as
nicely in the privacy of their homes as in the presence of a duchess.
They are much more particular as to the way in which others shall
behave to them. That is a test, by the bye. The snob thinks most of
the treatment he receives from the world; the gentleman thinks first
how he shall act courteously to others.
The Baroness went on and entered the outer reception room, and looking
before her she could see through the open doors of the succeeding
drawing-rooms, where the windows had been opened or perhaps not closed
on the previous evening.
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