ear, and you
may do the same with your wives. You may have a cheap wife who doesn't
care for dress, and likes to sit at home and read good books."

"That's just what I do."

"But then they're apt to go wrong and get out of order."

"How do you mean? I shan't get out of order, I hope."

"The wheels become rusty, don't you think? and then they won't go as
they ought. They scold and turn up their noses. What I want to find is
perfect beauty, devoted affection, and L50,000."

"How modest you are."

In all this badinage there was not much to make a rival angry; but Miss
Mildmay, who heard a word or two now and then, was angry. He was
talking to a pretty woman about marriage and money, and of course that
amounted to flirtation. Lord George, on her other hand, now and then
said a word to her; but he was never given to saying many words, and
his attention was nearly monopolised by his hostess. She had heard the
last sentence, and determined to join the conversation.

"If you had the L50,000, Captain De Baron," she said, "I think you
would manage to do without the beauty and the devoted affection."

"That's ill-natured, Miss Mildmay, though it may be true. Beggars can't
be choosers. But you've known me a long time, and I think it's unkind
that you should run me down with a new acquaintance. Suppose I was to
say something bad of you."

"You can say whatever you please, Captain De Baron."

"There is nothing bad to say, of course, except that you are always
down on a poor fellow in distress. Don't you think it's a grand thing
to be good-natured, Lady George?"

"Indeed I do. It's almost better than being virtuous."

"Ten to one. I don't see the good of virtue myself. It always makes
people stingy and cross and ill-mannered. I think one should always
promise to do everything that is asked. Nobody would be fool enough to
expect you to keep your word afterwards, and you'd give a lot of
pleasure."

"I think promises ought to be kept, Captain De Baron."

"I can't agree to that. That's bondage, and it puts an embargo on the
pleasant way of living that I like. I hate all kind of strictness, and
duty, and self-denying, and that kind of thing. It's rubbish. Don't you
think so?"

"I suppose one has to do one's duty."

"I don't see it. I never do mine."

"Suppose there were a battle to fight."

"I should get invalided at once. I made up my mind to that long ago.
Fancy the trouble of it. And when they shoot you they don't