The night after Lewis had said "Almost any day now" to Vi, he found
himself at a semi-diplomatic dinner next to a young person who, like
himself, seemed to find the affair a bit heavy.

"What did they invite you for?" asked Lewis.

"They couldn't help it," replied the young person, stifling a yawn. "I'm
the wife of the charge of the Brazilian legation. And you?"

"Oh, I'm here just to take Lady Derl home."

The young person's eyes showed a gleam of interest as they glanced up
the table to where Lady Derl sat and reigned an easy queen in that
assembly.

"Oh," she said, "are you? Why you?"

"Well," said Lewis, "I suppose it's because I'm the only man in town
that always remembers Lady Derl's beauty and gray hair at the same
time."

The young person smiled.

"I believe I've heard of you. Leighton is your name, isn't it?"

"It's only five minutes since I was introduced," said Lewis, smiling,
"and you made me say it over three times."

"Ah, yes," said the lady, unperturbed, "but five minutes is a long