ot
mustard and water. Why had I come out on such a dreadful day? It was
indeed a detestable day of raw fog. She pulled the curtains close, and,
insisting upon my remaining among my cushions, piled the grate with coal
half-way up the chimney. Would I like some eucalyptus?

"My dear Madame Brandt," I cried, "my bronchial tubes and lungs are as
strong as a hippopotamus's."

I wish every one would not conclude that I was going off in a rapid
decline.

Lola Brandt prowled about me in a wistful, mothering way, showing me a
fresh side of her nature. She is as domesticated as Penelope.

"You're fond of cooking, aren't you?" I asked suddenly.

She laughed. "I adore it. How do you know?"

"I guessed," said I.

"I'm what the French call a _vraie bourgeoise_."

"I'm glad to hear it," said I.

"Are you? I thought your class hated the _bourgeoisie_."

"The _bourgeoisie_," I said, "is the nation's granary of the virtues.
But for God's sake, don't tell any one that I said so!"

"Why?" she asked.

"If it found its way into print it would ruin my reputation for
epigram."

She drew a step or two towards me in her slow rhythmic way, and smiled.

"When you say or do a beautiful thing you always try to bite off its
tail."

Then she turned and drew some needlework--plain sewing I believe they
call it--from beneath the Union Jack cushion and sat down.

"I'll make a confession," she said. "Until now I've stuffed away my work
when I heard you coming. I didn't think it genteel. What do you think?"

I scanned the shapeless mass of linen or tulle or whatever it was on her
lap.

"I don't know whether it's genteel," I remarked, "but at present it
looks like nothing on God's earth."

My masculine ignorance of such mysteries made her laugh. She is readily
moved to mild mirth, which makes her an easy companion. Besides, little
jokes are made to be laughed at, and I like women who laugh at them.
There was a brief silence. I smoked and made Adolphus stand up on his
hind legs and balance sugar on his nose. His mistress sewed. Presently
she said, without looking up from her work:

"I've made up my mind."

I rose from my cushioned seat, into which Adolphus, evidently thinking
me a fool, immediately snuggled himself, and I stood facing her with my
back to the fire.

"Well?" said I.

"I am ready to go back to my husband, if he can be found, and, of
course, if he will have me."

I commended her for a brave women. She smiled rath