Goodsport, sitting on a cushion at her feet, took one and scrutinized the
sole.

"The Solar system," he began, "is interesting in the extreme. It was
invented by Solon, though Platoe also theorized on the immortality of the
sole. His ideas, however have been discarded by modern footmen.

"Locke, is his treatise On the Human Understanding, discusses the subject
fully and with many footnotes, and old Samuel Foote himself cast
footlights on the subject."

"Now, looky here," Warble objected, "I won't have a lecture in my house! I
object to anything of an intellectural nature."

"This has nothing to do with the intellect," Adam assured her. "Quite the
reverse, now, you listen. It's really interesting. The palmist may claim
to read the true character from the lines of the hand, but it is only by
solistry that the real sole is laid bare and the character of a subject in
any walk of life is exposed. The lines of the sole are greatly indicative
of character, for all traits must draw the line somewhere. Now, Mrs.
Petticoat, this line extending from the Mount of Trilby to the outer side
of the sole is the life line. If that appears to be broken it indicates
future death. If more pronounced on one sole than the other, it implies
that the subject has one foot in the grave. You haven't, don't be alarmed.
Here is the headline, straight and continuous, showing a long and level
head."

"Ouch," remarked Warble, "you tickle. Try somebody else," and she drew her
feet under her.