-"

"And by analogy, go without trousers," said Elton quietly.

"That might explain a Greek; but scarcely a Scotsman," said Patricia.

"No one has ever been able to explain a Scotsman," said Elton. "We
content ourselves with misunderstanding him."

"We were talking about love," broke in Lady Tanagra, "and I will not
have the conversation diverted." Turning to Patricia she demanded,
"Can you imagine Godfrey in love?"

"I think so," said Patricia quietly, looking across at Elton.
"Only----"

"Only what?" cried Lady Tanagra with excited interest. "Oh, please,
Patricia, explain Godfrey to me! No one has ever done so."

"Don't you think he is a little like the Scotsman we were talking about
just now?" said Patricia. "Difficult to explain; but easy to
misunderstand."

"Oh, Peter, Peter!" wailed Lady Tanagra, looking across at Bowen.
"She's caught it."

"Caught what?" asked Bowen in surprise.

"The vagueness of generalities that is Godfrey," replied Lady Tanagra.
"Now, Patricia, you must explain that 'only' at which you broke off.
You say you can imagine Godfrey in love, only----"

"I think he would place it on the same plane as honour and
sportsmanship, probably a little above both."

Elton looked up from the bread he was crumbling, and gave Patricia a
quick penetrating glance, beneath which her eyes fell.

Lady Tanagra looked at Patricia in surprise, but said nothing.

"Can you imagine Tan in love, Patricia?" enquired Bowen. "We Bowens
are notoriously backward in matters of the heart," he added.

"I shall fall in love when the man comes along who--who----" Lady
Tanagra paused.

"Will compel you," said Patricia, concluding the sentence.

Again Elton looked quickly across at her.

"What do you mean?" demanded Lady Tanagra.

"I think," said Patricia deliberately, "that you are too primitive to
fall in love. You would have to be stormed, carried away by force, and
wooed afterwards."

"It doesn't sound very respectable, does it?" said Lady Tanagra
thoughtfully, then turning to Bowen she demanded, "Peter, would you
allow me to be carried away by force, stormed, and wooed afterwards?"

"I think, Tanagra, you sometimes forget that your atmosphere is too
exotic for most men," said Elton.

"Godfrey," said Lady Tanagra reproachfully, "I have had quite a lot of
proposals, and I won't be denied my successes."

"We were talking about love, not offers of marriage," said Elton with a
smile.

"Cynic,"