we're too highly civilised. I feed you, I lodge you, I clothe you"--I
held her off and looked at her--"yes, with outstanding success. You've
a glorious colour, your eyes are like stars, and your frock is a
marvel. In fact, you're almost too good to be true. From your
wonderful, sweet-smelling hair to the soles of your little pink feet,
you're an exquisite production. Whoever did see such a mouth? I
suppose you know I married you for your mouth? And your throat?
And--but I digress. As I was saying, all this is due to me. If I fed
you exclusively on farinaceous food, you'd look pale. If I locked you
out of nights, you'd look tired. If I didn't clothe you, you'd
look--well, you wouldn't be here, would you? I mean, I know we move
pretty fast nowadays, but certain conventions are still observed. Very
well, then. I am responsible for your glory. I bring you here, and
everybody in the room dances with you, except myself. To complete the
comedy, I have only to remind you that I love dancing, and that you are
the best dancer in the room. I ask you."

"That's just what you don't do," said Adele, with a maddening smile.
"If you did...."

"But----"

"Certain conventions," said Adele, "are still observed. Have I ever
refused you?"

"You couldn't. That's why I don't ask you."

"O-o-oh, I don't believe you," said Adele. "If it was Leap Year----"

"Pretend it is."

"--and I wanted to dance with you----"

"Pretend you do."

The music stopped with a crash, and a moment later a Frenchman was
bowing over my wife's hand.

"May I come for a dance later?" he asked.

"Not this evening. I've promised the next four----"

"There will, I trust, be a fifth?"

"--and, after that, I've given my husband the lot. You do understand,
don't you? You see, I must keep in with him. He feeds me and lodges
me and clothes me and----"

The Frenchman bowed.

"If he has clothed you to-night, Madame, I can forgive him anything."

We passed to a table at which Berry was superintending the icing of
some champagne.

"Ah, there you are!" he exclaimed. "Had your evening dance? Good. I
ordered this little hopeful _pour passer le temps_. They've two more
baubles in the offing, and sharp at one-thirty we start on fried eggs
and beer. Judging from the contracts into which my wife has entered
during the last six minutes, we shall be here till three." Here he
produced and prepared to inflate an air-cushion. "The great wh