the Egyptian sands. 'How charming,' said I, 'is this solitary
desert in the endless oasis we are compelled to cross!'

'Oasis in the desert, you mean,' said Mrs. Morgan; 'I haven't
noticed any, but I happened to look up this morning as I was putting
on my stockings, and I saw through my port-hole the most lovely
mirage.'

I had been at school with Mrs. Morgan more than twenty years agone,
but she had come to the special enjoyment of the dignities of life
while I still liked doing things. Mrs. Morgan was the kind of
person to make one realize how distressing a medium is middle age.
Contemplating her precipitous lap, to which conventional attitudes
were certainly more becoming, I crossed my own knees with energy,
and once more resolved to be young until I was old.

'How perfectly delightful for you to be taking Cecily out!' said
Mrs. Morgan placidly.

'Isn't it?' I responded, watching the gliding sands.

'But she was born in sixty-nine--that makes her twenty-one. Quite
time, I should say.'

'Oh, we couldn't put it off any longer. I mean--her father has such
a horror of early debuts. He simply would not hear of her coming
before.'

'Doesn't want her to marry in India, I dare say--the only one,'
purred Mrs. Morgan.