nothing will ever influence

"In my old age, however," Helen sighed, "I'm coming to thinkthat it doesn't much matter in the long run what one does: 　　people always go their own way--nothing will ever influence them."She nodded her head at the supper party. 　　But St. John did not agree. He said that he thought one couldreally make a great deal of difference by one's point of view,books and so on, and added that few things at the present timemattered more than the enlightenment of women. He sometimes thoughtthat almost everything was due to education. 　　In the ballroom, meanwhile, the dancers were being formed intosquares for the lancers. Arthur and Rachel, Susan and Hewet,Miss Allan and Hughling Elliot found themselves together. 　　Miss Allan looked at her watch. 　　"Half-past one," she stated. "And I have to despatch AlexanderPope to-morrow.""Pope!" snorted Mr. Elliot. "Who reads Pope, I should like to know? 　　And as for reading about him--No, no, Miss Allan; be persuaded youwill benefit the world much more by dancing than by writing."It was one of Mr. Elliot's affectations that nothing in the worldcould compare with the delights of dancing--nothing in the worldwas so tedious as literature. Thus he sought pathetically enoughto ingratiate himself with the young, and to prove to them beyonda doubt that though married to a ninny of a wife, and rather paleand bent and careworn by his weight of learning, he was as much aliveas the youngest of them all. 　　"It's a question of bread and butter," said Miss Allan calmly. 　　"However, they seem to expect me." She took up her position andpointed a square black toe. 　　"Mr. Hewet, you bow to me." It was evident at once that Miss Allanwas the only one of them who had a thoroughly sound knowledgeof the figures of the dance.