Part 51

“No, don’t my dear,” said Hilary, with a laugh.

As for me, I went downstairs, and, in absence of mind, bade my cabman drive to the House Opposite. But I have never got there.

A QUICK CHANGE

“Why not go with Archie?” I asked, spreading out my hands.

“It will be dull enough, anyhow,” said Dolly, fretfully. “Besides, it’s awfully bourgeois to go to the theater with one’s husband.”

“Bourgeois,” I observed, “is an epithet which the riffraff apply to what is respectable, and the aristocracy to what is decent.”

“But it’s not a nice thing to be, all the same,” said Dolly, who is impervious to the most penetrating remark.

“You’re in no danger of it,” I hastened to assure her.

“How should you describe me, then?” she asked, leaning forward, with a smile.

“I should describe you, Lady Mickleham,” I replied discreetly, “as being a little lower than the angels.”

Dolly’s smile was almost a laugh as she asked:

“How much lower, please, Mr. Carter?”

“Just by the depth of your dimples,” said I thoughtlessly.

Dolly became immensely grave.

“I thought,” said she, “that we never mentioned them now, Mr. Carter.”

“Did we ever?” I asked innocently.

“I seemed to remember once: do you recollect being in very low spirits one evening at Monte?”

“I remember being in very low water more than one evening there.”

“Yes; you told me you were terribly hard-up.”

“There was an election in our division that year,” I remarked, “and I remitted 30 percent of my rents.”

“You did--to M. Blanc,” said Dolly. “Oh, and you were very dreary! You said you’d wasted your life and your time and your opportunities.”

“Oh, you mustn’t suppose I never have any proper feelings,” said I complacently.

“I think you were hardly yourself.”

“Do be more charitable.”

“And you said that your only chance was in gaining the affection of--”

“Surely, I was not such an--so foolish?” I implored.

“Yes, you were. You were sitting close by me--”

“Oh, then, it doesn’t count,” said I, rallying a little.