Miss Corelli that the name was so very like the "Avice Dare" of another writer. When these facts were brought to Mr. Stead's notice he did Miss Corelli the justice to apologize for the statement which had been made in the Review of Reviews.
It is Lady Sibyl who suddenly and violently breaks the thin wall between Tempest's desire to marry her and the formal request that she shall become his wife. She, with just enough glimmering of honor to detest the "marriage by arrangement," informs him of her knowledge that her charms are for sale and that he, Tempest, is to be the accepted purchaser. Her language is plain enough in very truth to demonstrate the hideousness of the bargain, for this is the picture of the bride-to-be that she herself draws for the edification of her future husband:
"I ask you, do you think a girl can read the
books that are now freely published, and that her
silly society friends tell her to read,—'because it is
so dreadfully queer!'—and yet remain unspoilt and
innocent? Books that go into the details of the
lives of outcasts?—that explain and analyze the
secret vices of men?—that advocate almost as a
sacred duty 'free love' and universal polygamy?—that
see no shame in introducing into the circles of
good wives and pure-minded girls, a heroine who
boldly seeks out a man, any man, in order that she
may have a child by him, without the 'degradation'
