e shops and that!

_Culch._ She is--er--vivacious, certainly. (_PODBURY sighs_.) You seem
rather dull to-night, my dear fellow?

_Podb._ Not dull--a trifle out of sorts, that's all. Fact is, I don't
think Venice agrees with me. All this messing about down beastly
back-courts and canals and in stuffy churches--it _can't_ be healthy,
you know! And they've _no_ drainage. I only hope I haven't caught
something, as it is. I've that kind of sinking feeling, and a general
lowness--_She_ says I lunch too heavily--but I swear it's more than
that!

_Culch._ Nonsense, you're well enough. And why you should feel low,
with all your advantages--in Venice as you are, and in constant
intercourse with a mind adorned with every feminine gift!

_Podb._ Hul-lo! why, I thought you called her a pedantic prig?

_Culch._ If I used such a term at all, it was in no disparaging sense.
Every earnest nature presents an--er--priggish side at times. I know
that even I myself have occasionally, and by people who didn't _know_
me, of course, been charged with priggishness.

_Podb._ Have you, though? But of course there's nothing of that about
_her_. Only--well, it don't signify. [_He sighs._

_Culch._ Ah, PODBURY, take the good the gods provide you and be
content! You might be worse off, believe me!

_Podb._ (_discontentedly_). It's all very well for _you_ to talk--with
Miss TROTTER all to yourself. I suppose you're regularly engaged by
this time, eh?

_Culch._ Not quite. There's still a ----. And your probation, that's
practically at an end?

_Podb._ I don't know. Can't make her out. She wouldn't sit on me the
way she does unless she _liked_ me, I suppose. But I say, it must be
awf--rather jolly for you with Miss TROTTER? She's got so much _go_,
eh?

_Culch._ You used to say she wasn't what you call cultivated.

_Podb._ I know I did. That's just what I like about her! At
least--well, we _both_ ought to think ourselves uncommonly lucky
beggars, I'm sure! [_He sighs more heavily than ever._

_Culch._ You especially, my dear PODBURY. In fact, I doubt if you're
half grateful enough!

_Podb._ (_snappishly_). Yes, I am, I tell you. _I_'m not grumbling,
am I? I know as well as you do she's miles too good for me. Haven't I
_said_ so? Then what the devil do you keep on nagging at me for, eh?

_Culch._ I am glad you see it in that light. Aren't you a little
irritable to-night?

_Podb._ No, I'm not. It's those filthy canals. And the way you