"How funny that sounds!"

"Aren't you accustomed to your dignity yet?"

"I meant from you, Mr. Carter."

I smiled. That is Dolly's way. As Miss Phaeton says, she means
no harm, and it is admirably conducive to the pleasure of a
tete-a-tete.

"It wasn't that I wanted to ask you about," she continued, after
she had indulged in a pensive sigh (with a dutifully bright smile
and a glance at Archie's photograph to follow. Her behavior
always reminds me of a varied and well assorted menu). "It was
about something much more difficult. You won't tell Archie, will
you?"

"This becomes interesting," I remarked, putting my hat down.

"You know, Mr. Carter, that before I was married--oh, how long
ago it seems!"

"Not at all."

"Don't interrupt. That before I was married I had several--that
is to say, several--well, several--"

"Start quite afresh," I suggested encouragingly.