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The Débutante
Sheisquiteunprincipled;herphilosophyiscarpediemforherselfandlaissezfaireforothers.Shelovesshockingstories:shehasthatcoarsestreakthatusuallygoeswithnaturesthatarebothfineandbig.Shewantspeopletolikeher,butiftheydonotitneverworriesherorchangesher.Sheisbynomeansamodelcharacter.
Theeducationofallbeautifulwomenistheknowledgeofmen.ROSALINDhadbeendisappointedinmanaftermanasindividuals,butshehadgreatfaithinmanasasex.Womenshedetested.Theyrepresentedqualitiesthatshefeltanddespisedinherself—incipientmeanness,conceit,cowardice,andpettydishonesty.Sheoncetoldaroomfulofhermother’sfriendsthattheonlyexcuseforwomenwasthenecessityforadisturbingelementamongmen.Shedancedexceptionallywell,drewcleverlybuthastily,andhadastartlingfacilitywithwords,whichsheusedonlyinlove-letters.
ButallcriticismofROSALINDendsinherbeauty.Therewasthatshadeofgloriousyellowhair,thedesiretoimitatewhichsupportsthedyeindustry.Therewastheeternalkissablemouth,small,slightlysensual,andutterlydisturbing.Thereweregrayeyesandanunimpeachableskinwithtwospotsofvanishingcolor.Shewasslenderandathletic,withoutunderdevelopment,anditwasadelighttowatchhermoveaboutaroom,walkalongastreet,swingagolfclub,orturna"cartwheel."
Alastqualification—hervivid,instantpersonalityescapedthatconscious,theatricalqualitythatAMORYhadfoundinISABELLE.