"I shall do no such thing," said Mrs. Hilary.

"And tell her," I continued, "that I am still handsome."

"I shan't say a word about you," said Mrs. Hilary.

"Ah, well, that will be better still," said I.

"She'll have forgotten your very name," remarked Mrs. Hilary.

I opened the door, but a thought struck me. I turned round and
observed:

"I dare say her hair's just as soft as ever. Still--I'll lunch
some other day."



A VERY FINE DAY

"I see nothing whatever to laugh at," said Mrs. Hilary coldly,
when I had finished.

"I did not ask you to laugh," I observed mildly. "I mentioned it
merely as a typical case."

"It's not typical," she said, and took up her embroidery. But a
moment later she added:

"Poor boy! I'm not surprised."