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DOLLY DIALOGUES The matron gazed at me. "Only seeing her here," I pursued, "you have no idea of what she is at home. She has chosen to forbid me to come to her house--" "Her house?" "It happens to be more hers than mine," I explained. "To forbid me, I say, more than once to come to her house. No doubt she had her reasons." "Nothing could justify it," said the matron, directing a wondering glance at Mrs. Hilary. "Do not let us blame her," said I. "It is just an unfortunate accident. She is not as fond of me as I could wish, Mrs. Wiggins; and she is a great deal fonder than I could wish of--" I broke off. Mrs. Hilary was walking toward us. I think she was pleased to see me getting on so well with the matron, for she was smiling pleasantly. The matron wore a bewildered expression. "I suppose," said Mrs. Hilary, "that you'll drive back with the Micklehams?" "Unless you want me," said I, keeping a watchful eye on the matron. "Oh, I don't want you," said Mrs. Hilary lightly. "You won't be alone this evening?" I asked anxiously. Mrs. Hilary stared a little. "O, no!" she said. "We shall have our usual party." "May I come one day next week?" I asked humbly. Mrs. Hilary thought for a moment. "I'm so busy next week--come the week after," said she, giving me her hand. "That's very unkind," said I. "Nonsense!" said Mrs. Hilary, and she added, "Mind you let me know when you're coming." "I won't surprise you," I assured her, with a covert glance at the matron. The excellent woman was quite red in the face, and could gasp out nothing but "Goodbye," as Mrs. Hilary affectionately pressed her hand. At this moment Dolly came up. She was alone. "Where's Archie?" I asked. 84

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DOLLY DIALOGUES "He's run away; he's got to meet somebody. I knew you'd see me home. Mrs. Hilary didn't want you, of course?" "Of course not," said I plaintively. "Besides, you'd rather come with me, wouldn't you?" pursued Dolly, and she added, pleasantly to the matron, "Mrs. Hilary's so down on him, you know." "I'd much rather come with you," said I. "We'll have a cozy drive all to ourselves," said Dolly, "without husbands or wives or anything horrid. Isn't it nice to get rid of one's husband sometimes, Mrs. Wiggins?" "I have the misfortune to be a widow, Lady Mickleham," said Mrs. Wiggins. Dolly's eyes rested upon her with an interesting expression. I knew that she was about to ask Mrs. Wiggins whether she liked the condition of life, and I interposed hastily, with a sigh: "But you can look back on a happy marriage, Mrs. Wiggins?" "I did my best to make it so," said she stiffly. "You are right," said I. "Even in the face of unkindness we should strive--" "My husband's not unkind," said Dolly. "I didn't mean your husband," said I. "What your poor wife would do if she cared a button for you, I don't know," observed Dolly. "If I had a wife who cared for me, I should be a better man," said I solemnly. "But you'd probably be very dull," said Dolly. "And you wouldn't be allowed to drive with me." "Perhaps it's all for the best," said I, brightening up. "Goodbye, Mrs. Wiggins." Dolly walked on. Mrs. Wiggins held my hand for a moment. "Young man," said she sternly, "are you sure it's not your own fault?" "I'm not at all sure, Mrs. Wiggins," said I. "But don't be distressed about it. It's of no consequence. I don't let it make me unhappy. Goodbye; so many thanks. Charming girls you have here--especially that 85

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DOLLY DIALOGUES one in the fifth--I mean, charming, all of them. Goodbye." I hastened to the carriage. Mrs. Wiggins stood and watched. I got in and sat down by Dolly. "Oh, Mrs. Wiggins," said Dolly, dimpling, "don't tell Mrs. Hilary that Archie wasn't with us, or we shall get into trouble." And she added to me, "Are you all right?" "Rather!" said I appreciatively; and we drove off, leaving Mrs. Wiggins on her doorstep. A fortnight later I went to call on Mrs. Hilary. After some conversation she remarked: "I'm going to the school again tomorrow." "Really!" said I. "And I'm so delighted--I've persuaded Hilary to come." She paused, and then added: "You really seemed interested last time." "Oh, I was." "Would you like to come again tomorrow?" "No, I think not, thanks," said I carelessly. "That's just like you!" she said severely. "You never do any real good because you never stick to anything." "There are some things one can't stick to," said I. "Oh, nonsense!" said Mrs. Hilary. But there are--and I didn't go. 86

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DOLLY DIALOGUES THE OTHER LADY "By the merest chance," I observed meditatively, "I attended a reception last night." "I went to three," said Lady Mickleham, selecting a sardine sandwich with care. "I might not have gone," I mused, "I might easily not have gone." "I can't see what difference it would have made if you hadn't," said she. "I thought three times about going. It's a curious world." "What happened? You may smoke, you know." "I fell in love," said I, lighting a cigarette. Lady Mickleham placed her feet on the fender--it was a chilly afternoon--and turned her face to me, shielding it from the fire with her handkerchief. "Men of your age," she remarked, "have no business to be thinking of such things." "I was not thinking of it," said I. "I was thinking of going home. Then I was introduced to her." "And you stayed a little, I suppose?" "I stayed two hours--or two minutes,--I forget which"; and, I added, nodding my head at Lady Mickleham, "There was something irresistible about me last night." Lady Mickleham laughed. "You seem very pleased with yourself," she said, reaching for a fan to replace the handkerchief. "Yes, take care of your complexion," said I approvingly. "She has a lovely complexion." Lady Mickleham laid down the fan. "I am very pleased with myself," I continued. "She was delighted with me." "I suppose you talked nonsense to her." "I have not the least idea what I talked to her. It was quite immaterial. 87

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DOLLY DIALOGUES The language of the eyes--" "Oh, you might be a boy!" "I was," said I, nodding again. There was a long silence. Dolly looked at me; I looked at the fire. I did not, however, see the fire. I saw something quite different. "She liked me very much," I observed, stretching my hands out toward the blaze. "You absurd old man!--" said Dolly. "Was she very charming?" "She was perfect." "How? Clever?" I waved my hand impatiently. "Pretty, Mr. Carter?" "Why, of course; the prettiest picture I ever--but that goes without saying." "It would have gone better without saying," remarked Dolly. "Considering--" To have asked "Considering what?" would have been the acme of bad taste. I merely smiled, and waved my hand again. "You're quite serious about it, aren't you?" said Dolly. "I should think I was," said I indignantly. "Not to be serious in such a matter is to waste it utterly." "I'll come to the wedding," said Dolly. "There won't be a wedding," said I. "There are Reasons." "Oh! You're very unlucky, Mr. Carter." "That," I observed, "is as it may be, Lady Mickleham." "Were the Reasons at the reception?" "They were. It made no difference." "It's very curious," remarked Dolly with a compassionate air, "that you always manage to admire people whom somebody else has married." "It would be very curious," I rejoined, "if somebody had not married the people whom I admire. Last night, though, I made nothing of his sudden removal; my fancy rioted in accidental deaths for him." "He won't die," said Dolly. 88

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DOLLY DIALOGUES "I hate that sort of superstition," said I irritably. "He's just as likely to die as any other man is." "He certainly won't die," said Dolly. "Well, I know he won't. Do let it alone," said I, much exasperated. It was probably only kindness, but Dolly suddenly turned her eyes away from me and fixed them on the fire; she took the fan up again and twirled it in her hand; a queer little smile bent her lips. "I hope the poor man won't die," said Dolly in a low voice. "If he had died last night!" I cried longingly. Then, with a regretful shrug of my shoulders, I added, "Let him live now to the crack of doom!" Somehow this restored my good humor. I rose and stood with my back to the fire, stretching myself and sighing luxuriously. Dolly leant back in her chair and laughed at me. "Do you expect to be forgiven?" she asked. "No, no," said I; "I had too good an excuse." "I wish I'd been there--at the reception, I mean." "I'm extremely glad you weren't, Lady Mickleham. As it was I forgot all my troubles." Dolly is not resentful; she did not mind the implied description. She leant back, smiling still. I sighed again, smiled at Dolly, and took my hat. Then I turned to the mirror over the mantelpiece, arranged my necktie, and gave my hair a touch. "No one," I observed, "can afford to neglect the niceties of the toilet. Those dainty little curls on the forehead--" "You've had none there for ten years," cried Lady Mickleham. "I did not mean my forehead," said I. Sighing once again, I held out my hand to Dolly. "Are you doing anything this evening?" she asked. "That depends on what I'm asked to do," said I cautiously. "Well, Archie's going to be at the House, and I thought you might take me to the Phaetons' party. It's quite a long drive, a horrible long drive, Mr. Carter." I stood for a moment considering this proposal. "I don't think," said I, "that it would be proper." 89

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DOLLY DIALOGUES "Why, Archie suggested it! You're making an excuse. You know you are!" and Lady Mickleham looked very indignant. "As if," she added scornfully, "you cared about what was proper!" I dropped into a chair, and said, in a confidential tone, "I don't care a pin. It was a mere excuse. I don't want to come." "You're very rude, indeed. Many women would never speak to you again." "They would," said I, "all do just as you will." "And what's that, Mr. Carter." "Ask me again on the first opportunity." "Why won't you come?" said Dolly, waiving this question. I bent forward, holding my hat in my left hand and sawing the air with my right forefinger. "You fail to allow," said I impressively, "for the rejuvenescence which recent events have produced in me. If I came with you this evening, I should be quite capable--" I paused. "Of anything dreadful?" asked Dolly. "Of paying you pronounced attentions," said I gravely. "That," said Dolly with equal gravity, "would be very regrettable. It would be unjust to me--and very insulting to her, Mr. Carter." "It would be the finest testimonial to her," I cried. "And you'll spend the evening thinking of her?" asked Dolly. "I shall go through the evening," said I, "in the best way I can." And I smiled contentedly. "What's her husband?" asked Dolly suddenly. "Her husband," I rejoined, "is nothing at all." Dolly, receiving this answer, looked at me with a pathetic air. "It's not quite fair," she observed. "Do you know what I'm thinking about, Mr. Carter?" "Certainly I do, Lady Mickleham. You are thinking that you would like to meet me for the first time." "Not at all. I was thinking that it would be amusing if you met me for the first time." I said nothing. Dolly rose and walked to the window. She swung 90